# Nextly

> Open-source Next.js framework with code-first config and visual Schema Builder.

Nextly is a content management framework for Next.js. Define collections and singles in TypeScript (code-first) or build them visually with the admin Schema Builder. Both approaches produce the same output, same APIs, same database schema. Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite. MIT licensed.

For the complete documentation in a single file, see https://nextlyhq.com/llms-full.txt

## Docs

- [Documentation](https://nextlyhq.com/docs): Documentation home with overview, quick links, and starting points
- [Getting Started](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/getting-started): Learn what Nextly is, understand its core concepts, and get up and running quickly
  - [Installation](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/getting-started/installation): Install Nextly in a new or existing Next.js project with step-by-step instructions
  - [Quick Start](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/getting-started/quick-start): Build a blog with posts and categories in 5 minutes using code or the visual builder
  - [Project Structure](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/getting-started/project-structure): How a Nextly project is organized, where key files live, and what each directory does
- [Configuration](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/configuration): Configure collections, singles, storage, security, and more
  - [Nextly Config](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/configuration/nextly-config): Complete reference for every option in nextly.config.ts
  - [Collections](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/configuration/collections): Define content types with multiple entries using collections
  - [Singles](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/configuration/singles): Define single-document content like site settings, headers, and footers
  - [Components](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/configuration/components): Define reusable field groups shared across collections and singles
  - [Fields](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/configuration/fields): Complete reference for every field type, their options, and usage patterns
  - [Environment Variables](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/configuration/environment): All environment variables organized by category with required vs optional indicators
- [Admin Panel](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/admin): Overview of the admin panel including navigation and features
  - [Schema Builder](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/admin/builder): Create collections, singles, and components visually with drag-and-drop
  - [Customization](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/admin/customization): Configure admin panel behavior, plugin placement, and sidebar organization
  - [Branding](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/admin/branding): Customize the admin panel logo, colors, favicon, and Builder visibility
- [Database](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/database): Choose and configure PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite through dedicated adapter packages
  - [PostgreSQL](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/database/postgres): Installation, configuration, connection pooling, SSL, and Docker setup
  - [MySQL](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/database/mysql): Installation, configuration, connection pooling, SSL, and MySQL-specific notes
  - [SQLite](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/database/sqlite): Zero-config database for local development and small projects
  - [Database Support](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/database/support): Compatibility matrix and version support across PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite
- [Guides](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/guides): Practical guides for deployment, migrations, authentication, media, and email
  - [Deployment](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/guides/deployment): Deploy to Vercel, Docker, or any Node.js host
  - [Production Migrations](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/guides/production-migrations): Run schema changes safely in production environments
  - [Authentication](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/guides/authentication): Built-in auth with JWT sessions, RBAC, and API key authentication
  - [Media & Storage](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/guides/media-storage): Cloud storage adapters for S3, Cloudflare R2, MinIO, and Vercel Blob
  - [Email](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/guides/email): Configure SMTP, Resend, or SendLayer for transactional emails
- [API Reference](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/api-reference): Server-side and HTTP APIs for querying and mutating Nextly data
  - [Direct API](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/api-reference/direct-api): Server-side API for querying and mutating data from Next.js server components and route handlers
  - [REST API](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/api-reference/rest-api): HTTP API for client-side applications and external services
- [Plugins](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/plugins): Extend Nextly with plugins that add collections, admin views, hooks, and API endpoints
  - [Form Builder](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/plugins/form-builder): Drag-and-drop form creation with submission tracking and email notifications
- [Templates](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/templates): Starter templates for new Nextly projects
  - [Blank Template](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/templates/blank): Minimal Nextly setup with no preconfigured collections
  - [Blog Template](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/templates/blog): Pre-configured blog with posts, categories, tags, and authors
- [Telemetry](https://nextlyhq.com/docs/telemetry): Anonymous usage telemetry — what we collect and how to opt out

## Resources

- [GitHub](https://github.com/nextlyhq/nextly): Source code, issues, and discussions
- [Blog](https://nextlyhq.com/blog): Updates, tutorials, and guides
- [Changelog](https://nextlyhq.com/changelog): Release history and what's new
- [Features](https://nextlyhq.com/features): Feature overview
- [Community](https://nextlyhq.com/community): Discord and community links
- [Roadmap](https://nextlyhq.com/roadmap): Product roadmap and upcoming features
- [Interactive Demo](https://nextlyhq.com/interactive-demo): Try both code-first and visual approaches in the browser
- [Showcase](https://nextlyhq.com/showcase): Sites and apps built with Nextly
- [Contact](https://nextlyhq.com/contact): Get in touch with the Nextly team

## Optional

- [Rich Text Editor](https://nextlyhq.com/features/editor): Lexical-powered editor with formatting, lists, tables, code blocks, and inline toolbars
- [Asset Management](https://nextlyhq.com/features/assets): Media library with folder organization, drag-and-drop uploads, and pluggable storage adapters
- [Database Adapters](https://nextlyhq.com/features/database): PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite powered by Drizzle ORM with JSONB, full-text search, and connection pooling
- [Access Control](https://nextlyhq.com/features/access-control): RBAC with 3 default roles, field-level read/write permissions, and owner-only rules
- [Reusable Components](https://nextlyhq.com/features/components): Define reusable field groups with defineComponent() or visually in the admin panel
- [Email System](https://nextlyhq.com/features/email): Transactional emails via Resend, SMTP, or SendLayer with templates and variable interpolation
- [Form Builder](https://nextlyhq.com/features/form-builder): Drag-and-drop form creation with 13 field types, submission tracking, and spam protection
- [Hooks & Lifecycle](https://nextlyhq.com/features/hooks): 8 collection lifecycle hooks for data transformation, validation, and side effects
- [Nextly vs Payload CMS](https://nextlyhq.com/compare/payload-cms): Both are code-first TypeScript Next.js frameworks. See where each excels.
- [Nextly vs Strapi](https://nextlyhq.com/compare/strapi): Strapi has a massive ecosystem. See how Nextly offers a tightly integrated Next.js-native alternative.
- [Nextly vs WordPress](https://nextlyhq.com/compare/wordpress): WordPress powers 40%+ of the web. See how Nextly offers a modern developer-first alternative.
- [Nextly vs Sanity](https://nextlyhq.com/compare/sanity): Sanity is a polished hosted platform. See how Nextly offers full data ownership with no vendor dependency.
- [Nextly vs Directus](https://nextlyhq.com/compare/directus): Directus wraps any existing database. See how Nextly offers a Next.js-native alternative.
- [Headless CMS](https://nextlyhq.com/use-cases/headless-cms): Use Nextly as a headless CMS with collections, admin panel, and Direct API or REST
- [Blog Platform](https://nextlyhq.com/use-cases/blog-platform): Build a blog with rich text, categories, authors, and media library
- [Marketing Site](https://nextlyhq.com/use-cases/marketing-site): Page builder with blocks marketers can rearrange, devs define in code
- [Documentation Site](https://nextlyhq.com/use-cases/documentation): Docs with rich text, sections, ordering, and changelog
- [Portfolio & Agency Sites](https://nextlyhq.com/use-cases/portfolio): Projects, services, and testimonials as collections
- [For Developers](https://nextlyhq.com/for-developers): Define schemas in TypeScript, query with a type-safe API, no vendor lock-in
- [For Marketers](https://nextlyhq.com/for-marketers): Build campaigns, manage media, and capture leads from the admin panel
- [For Content Teams](https://nextlyhq.com/for-content-teams): Role-based access, field-level permissions, and reusable components