Build and Deploy a Full Stack Google Drive Clone with Next.js 15

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to build and deploy a full-stack Google Drive clone using Next.js 15. This project will help you gain hands-on experience with modern web development practices, including user authentication, file uploads, and dynamic routing. By the end, you will have a functional storage management platform inspired by leading services like Google Drive and Dropbox.

Step 1: Setup and Metadata

• Create a new Next.js project:

  npx create-next-app@latest storage-management
  cd storage-management
  

• Install necessary dependencies:

  npm install tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer appwrite
  

• Initialize Tailwind CSS:

  npx tailwindcss init -p
  

• Configure your tailwind.config.js to include paths to your files:

  module.exports = {
    content: ['./pages/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}', './components/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}'],
    theme: {
      extend: {},
    },
    plugins: [],
  };
  

Step 2: Configure ESLint and Prettier

• Install ESLint and Prettier:

  npm install --save-dev eslint prettier eslint-config-prettier eslint-plugin-prettier
  

• Create an ESLint configuration file (.eslintrc.json):

  {
    "extends": ["next/core-web-vitals", "plugin:prettier/recommended"]
  }
  

Step 3: Set Up the Design System and Theming

• Install Tailwind CSS for custom theming:
  • Design your color palette using Tailwind's utility classes.
• Create a global styles file (globals.css) and import Tailwind CSS:

  @tailwind base;
  @tailwind components;
  @tailwind utilities;
  

Step 4: Build the Authentication Layout

• Create an Auth layout in your components folder.
• Include necessary form fields for user authentication.

Step 5: Create a Reusable Auth Form

• Design the form to handle both sign-in and sign-up.
• Implement form validation using a library like Formik or React Hook Form.

Step 6: Set Up Appwrite

• Create an account on Appwrite and set up your project.
• Configure your Appwrite endpoint in your Next.js application.

Step 7: Implement OTP Modal

• Create a modal component for One-Time Password (OTP) verification.
• Handle state management for OTP input.

Step 8: Develop Layout, Navigation, and Sidebar

• Create a main layout component that includes a sidebar and navigation menu.
• Ensure responsive design for both desktop and mobile views.

Step 9: Mobile Navigation Setup

• Implement a mobile-friendly navigation component using Tailwind CSS.
• Add toggle functionality for mobile navigation.

Step 10: Finalize Authentication

• Connect the authentication form with Appwrite API.
• Handle user sessions and state management.

Step 11: Implement File Upload Functionality

• Create a file upload component.
• Use Appwrite's storage API to upload files and manage user uploads.

Step 12: Create Dynamic File Routes

• Set up file routes to display uploaded files dynamically.
• Use Next.js dynamic routing features for file details.

Step 13: Design File Card Component

• Create a reusable File Card component to display file details.
• Include file actions such as download, rename, and delete.

Step 14: Implement Actions Dropdown

• Add a dropdown menu for file actions.
• Use Tailwind CSS for styling the dropdown.

Step 15: Implement File Renaming

• Create a modal for renaming files.
• Connect the modal to Appwrite API to update file names.

Step 16: Create File Details Page

• Set up a dedicated page for displaying detailed file information.
• Include file metadata such as size, type, and upload date.

Step 17: Implement File Sharing Feature

• Allow users to share files via email or link.
• Integrate sharing functionality with Appwrite.

Step 18: Create File Deletion Functionality

• Implement confirmation dialog for deleting files.
• Connect deletion actions to the Appwrite API.

Step 19: Enable File Filtering and Global Search

• Create filtering options for users to sort files.
• Implement a global search bar to find files quickly.

Step 20: Implement Sorting Options

• Add sorting functionalities based on file name, date, or size.
• Use state to manage sorting preferences.

Step 21: Build the Dashboard Page

• Design a dashboard to summarize uploaded files and user activity.
• Incorporate statistics using charts or graphs.

Step 22: Deployment

• Deploy your application using Vercel or another hosting service.
• Follow the hosting service's guidelines to connect with your GitHub repository.

Conclusion

You have successfully built and deployed a Google Drive clone using Next.js 15. This project covers key aspects of full-stack development, including user authentication, file handling, and dynamic routing. Explore further by adding features like user profiles or enhanced search capabilities.