create-ai-chat-context/templates/nextjs/architecture.md

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# Architecture

> System design and structure for this Next.js project

---

## 🏗️ High-Level Architecture

### Tech Stack

- **Framework:** Next.js (App Router / Pages Router)
- **Frontend:** React, TypeScript
- **Styling:** [Tailwind CSS / CSS Modules / styled-components]
- **State Management:** [React Context / Zustand / Redux]
- **API:** [Next.js API Routes / External API]
- **Database:** [PostgreSQL / MongoDB / Supabase / Firebase]
- **Authentication:** [NextAuth.js / Clerk / Auth0 / Supabase Auth]
- **Deployment:** [Vercel / AWS / Docker]

---

## 📁 Project Structure

```
project/
├── app/                    # App Router (Next.js 13+)
│   ├── (auth)/            # Auth route group
│   ├── (dashboard)/       # Dashboard route group
│   ├── api/               # API routes
│   ├── layout.tsx         # Root layout
│   └── page.tsx           # Home page
│
├── components/            # React components
│   ├── ui/               # Reusable UI components
│   ├── forms/            # Form components
│   └── layouts/          # Layout components
│
├── lib/                  # Utility functions
│   ├── db.ts            # Database client
│   ├── auth.ts          # Auth utilities
│   └── utils.ts         # Helper functions
│
├── hooks/               # Custom React hooks
├── types/               # TypeScript types
├── public/              # Static assets
└── styles/              # Global styles
```

---

## 🔄 Data Flow

### Client-Side Rendering (CSR)
```
User → Component → API Route → Database → Response → Component → UI Update
```

### Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
```
Request → Server Component → Database → HTML → Client
```

### Static Site Generation (SSG)
```
Build Time → getStaticProps → Database → Static HTML → CDN
```

---

## 🔐 Authentication Flow

### Login Process
1. User submits credentials
2. API route validates credentials
3. Session/JWT token created
4. Token stored (cookie/localStorage)
5. User redirected to dashboard

### Protected Routes
- Middleware checks authentication
- Redirects to login if unauthenticated
- Loads user data if authenticated

---

## 🗄️ Database Schema

### Users Table
```typescript
interface User {
  id: string;
  email: string;
  name: string;
  createdAt: Date;
  updatedAt: Date;
}
```

### [Add your other tables here]

---

## 🌐 API Design

### REST Endpoints

**Authentication:**
- `POST /api/auth/login` - User login
- `POST /api/auth/register` - User registration
- `POST /api/auth/logout` - User logout

**Users:**
- `GET /api/users` - List users
- `GET /api/users/[id]` - Get user
- `PUT /api/users/[id]` - Update user
- `DELETE /api/users/[id]` - Delete user

**[Add your endpoints here]**

---

## 🎨 Component Architecture

### Component Hierarchy
```
App
├── Layout
│   ├── Header
│   │   ├── Navigation
│   │   └── UserMenu
│   ├── Main
│   │   └── [Page Content]
│   └── Footer
```

### Component Patterns
- **Server Components:** Data fetching, SEO
- **Client Components:** Interactivity, state
- **Shared Components:** Reusable UI elements

---

## 🔧 State Management

### Global State
- User authentication state
- Theme preferences
- App configuration

### Local State
- Form inputs
- UI toggles
- Component-specific data

### Server State
- API data caching (React Query / SWR)
- Optimistic updates
- Background refetching

---

## 🚀 Performance Optimizations

### Image Optimization
- Next.js Image component
- Lazy loading
- WebP format
- Responsive images

### Code Splitting
- Dynamic imports
- Route-based splitting
- Component lazy loading

### Caching Strategy
- Static page caching
- API response caching
- CDN caching

---

## 🔒 Security Measures

### Authentication
- Secure session management
- CSRF protection
- Rate limiting

### Data Protection
- Input validation
- SQL injection prevention
- XSS protection

### API Security
- API key authentication
- CORS configuration
- Request validation

---

## 📊 Monitoring & Analytics

### Performance Monitoring
- [Vercel Analytics / Google Analytics]
- Core Web Vitals tracking
- Error tracking (Sentry)

### User Analytics
- Page views
- User flows
- Conversion tracking

---

## 🧪 Testing Strategy

### Unit Tests
- Component testing (Jest + React Testing Library)
- Utility function tests
- Hook tests

### Integration Tests
- API route tests
- Database integration tests
- Authentication flow tests

### E2E Tests
- [Playwright / Cypress]
- Critical user flows
- Cross-browser testing

---

## 🚢 Deployment

### Build Process
1. Run tests
2. Build Next.js app
3. Optimize assets
4. Deploy to hosting

### Environment Variables
- `DATABASE_URL` - Database connection
- `NEXTAUTH_SECRET` - Auth secret
- `NEXTAUTH_URL` - App URL
- [Add your env vars]

### CI/CD Pipeline
- GitHub Actions / Vercel
- Automated testing
- Preview deployments
- Production deployments

---

## 📝 Notes

- Update this document when architecture changes
- Document major technical decisions in `technical-decisions.md`
- Keep component structure consistent
- Follow Next.js best practices

---

**Last Updated:** [Date]  
**Maintained By:** [Your Name/Team]