This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by uratmangun
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Introduction
Have you ever found yourself repeatedly setting up the same Next.js project structure over and over again? Creating new repositories, configuring TypeScript, setting up Tailwind CSS, and establishing your preferred folder structure can be tedious and time-consuming. What if there was a better way?
In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through a project I built that solves this exact problem: a Next.js Template Clone Generator. This interactive web application allows developers to quickly create new repositories from a pre-configured template using the GitHub CLI, all with a beautiful, user-friendly interface.
The Problem We're Solving
As developers, we often face these challenges when starting new projects:
- Repetitive Setup: Manually creating the same folder structure, configuration files, and boilerplate code for every new project
- Inconsistent Standards: Different projects end up with slightly different configurations, making it harder to maintain consistency across your portfolio
- Time Waste: Precious development time spent on setup instead of actual feature development
- Human Error: Forgetting to include important configurations or making typos in setup commands
The solution? A template repository combined with an intuitive generator interface that makes cloning and customizing new projects a breeze.
Project Overview
The kiro-nextjs template is a carefully crafted Next.js starter that includes:
- Next.js 15 with App Router
- TypeScript for type safety
- Tailwind CSS for styling
- Biome for linting and formatting
- Kiro Configuration for AI-assisted development
- pnpm as the preferred package manager
But the real magic happens in the landing page itself — it's not just a static "getting started" page. It's an interactive tool that generates the exact command you need to clone the template.
Deep Dive into the Code
Let's break down the main component that powers this generator:
The Component Structure
"use client";
import { useState } from "react";
export default function Home() {
const [repoName, setRepoName] = useState("my-new-repo");
const [visibility, setVisibility] = useState<"public" | "private">("public");
const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false);
const hasSpaces = repoName.includes(" ");
const command = `gh repo create ${repoName || "my-new-repo"} --template uratmangun/kiro-nextjs --${visibility} --clone`;
// ...
}
The component uses React's useState hook to manage three pieces of state:
- repoName: The name of the new repository the user wants to create
- visibility: Whether the repository should be public or private
- copied: A boolean to track whether the command has been copied to clipboard
Input Validation
One of the key features is real-time input validation:
const hasSpaces = repoName.includes(" ");
GitHub repository names cannot contain spaces, so we check for this and provide immediate feedback to the user. This prevents frustration from failed commands and teaches users about GitHub's naming conventions.
Dynamic Command Generation
The command is dynamically generated based on user input:
const command = `gh repo create ${repoName || "my-new-repo"} --template uratmangun/kiro-nextjs --${visibility} --clone`;
This uses template literals to construct the GitHub CLI command with:
- The user's chosen repository name (with a fallback to "my-new-repo")
- The template repository reference
- The visibility flag (public or private)
- The
--cloneflag to automatically clone the new repository locally
Copy to Clipboard Functionality
const copyToClipboard = async () => {
await navigator.clipboard.writeText(command);
setCopied(true);
setTimeout(() => setCopied(false), 2000);
};
This async function uses the modern Clipboard API to copy the command. It also provides visual feedback by:
- Setting
copiedto true immediately - Resetting it to false after 2 seconds
This creates a smooth user experience where the copy button icon changes to a checkmark temporarily.
The User Interface
Responsive Design
The interface is built with a mobile-first approach using Tailwind CSS:
<div className="flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center bg-zinc-50 font-sans dark:bg-zinc-950">
<main className="flex w-full max-w-2xl flex-col gap-6 px-6">
Key design decisions:
- Centered layout: The content is vertically and horizontally centered for a clean, focused experience
-
Maximum width constraint:
max-w-2xlensures readability on large screens -
Dark mode support: Every color class includes a
dark:variant for seamless dark mode
Input Field with Validation Feedback
<input
type="text"
value={repoName}
onChange={(e) => setRepoName(e.target.value)}
placeholder="Repository name"
className={`w-full rounded-lg border bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm text-zinc-900 placeholder:text-zinc-400 focus:outline-none focus:ring-1 dark:bg-zinc-900 dark:text-zinc-100 dark:placeholder:text-zinc-500 ${hasSpaces
? "border-amber-500 focus:border-amber-500 focus:ring-amber-500"
: "border-zinc-300 focus:border-emerald-500 focus:ring-emerald-500 dark:border-zinc-700 dark:focus:border-emerald-500"
}`}
/>
The input field dynamically changes its border color:
- Amber/Yellow: When the input contains spaces (warning state)
- Emerald/Green: When the input is valid (success state)
This provides immediate visual feedback without being intrusive.
The Command Display
<div className="relative rounded-lg bg-zinc-900 p-4 dark:bg-zinc-800">
<code className="block pr-10 text-sm text-emerald-400">
{command}
</code>
<button
type="button"
onClick={copyToClipboard}
className="absolute right-2 top-2 rounded p-1.5 text-zinc-400 hover:bg-zinc-700 hover:text-zinc-200"
aria-label="Copy command"
>
{/* Icon changes based on copied state */}
</button>
</div>
The command is displayed in a code block with:
- A dark background that contrasts with the page
- Emerald-colored text for that classic terminal feel
- An absolutely positioned copy button in the top-right corner
- Proper padding to prevent text from overlapping with the button
Kiro Integration
One of the most exciting aspects of this project is its integration with Kiro, an AI-powered development assistant. The template includes a .kiro directory with several configuration files:
Steering Rules
Steering rules are markdown files that guide Kiro's behavior:
- Package Manager Preference: Enforces pnpm as the primary package manager with yarn as fallback
- UI Color Guidelines: Prefers non-purple primary colors for consistency
- Shell Preferences: Configures fish shell syntax for terminal commands
- Development Server Policy: Prevents automatic server startup for better resource control
Agent Hooks
The template includes an auto-commit-push hook that automates the git workflow:
- Stages all changes
- Generates conventional commit messages with emojis
- Pushes to the remote repository
- Creates pull requests when on feature branches
This automation significantly speeds up the development workflow while maintaining consistent commit standards.
How to Use the Template
Prerequisites
Before using the template generator, ensure you have:
- GitHub CLI (gh) installed and authenticated
- Node.js (version 18 or higher recommended)
- pnpm installed globally
Step-by-Step Guide
- Visit the Template Page: Navigate to the deployed application
- Enter Repository Name: Type your desired repository name (no spaces allowed)
- Select Visibility: Choose between public or private
- Copy the Command: Click the copy button
- Run in Terminal: Paste and execute the command in your terminal
gh repo create my-awesome-project --template uratmangun/kiro-nextjs --public --clone
- Start Developing: Navigate to your new project and start coding!
cd my-awesome-project
pnpm install
pnpm dev
Technical Decisions and Trade-offs
Why GitHub CLI Instead of a Web API?
Using the GitHub CLI (gh) instead of the GitHub API offers several advantages:
-
Authentication: Users are already authenticated through
gh auth login - Simplicity: No need to handle OAuth flows or API tokens in the frontend
-
Local Cloning: The
--cloneflag automatically clones the repository - Familiarity: Developers are comfortable with CLI tools
Why Client-Side Rendering?
The component uses "use client" directive because:
- Interactivity: The form requires real-time state updates
- Clipboard API: Requires client-side JavaScript
- No SEO Requirements: This is a tool, not content that needs indexing
Color Palette Choices
The design uses a carefully selected color palette:
- Zinc: Neutral grays for backgrounds and text
- Emerald: Success states and the command text
- Amber: Warning states (like spaces in repo names)
This follows the steering rule of avoiding purple as a primary color while maintaining excellent contrast and accessibility.
Extending the Template
Adding More Options
You could extend the generator to include additional GitHub CLI options:
const [description, setDescription] = useState("");
const [homepage, setHomepage] = useState("");
const command = `gh repo create ${repoName} --template uratmangun/kiro-nextjs --${visibility} ${description ? `--description "${description}"` : ""} ${homepage ? `--homepage "${homepage}"` : ""} --clone`;
Supporting Multiple Templates
For organizations with multiple templates:
const [template, setTemplate] = useState("kiro-nextjs");
const templates = [
{ value: "kiro-nextjs", label: "Next.js Starter" },
{ value: "kiro-react", label: "React Starter" },
{ value: "kiro-node", label: "Node.js API Starter" },
];
Adding Analytics
Track which options are most popular:
const copyToClipboard = async () => {
await navigator.clipboard.writeText(command);
// Track the event
analytics.track("command_copied", {
repoName,
visibility,
timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
});
setCopied(true);
setTimeout(() => setCopied(false), 2000);
};
Best Practices Demonstrated
1. Accessibility
The component includes proper accessibility features:
<button
type="button"
onClick={copyToClipboard}
aria-label="Copy command"
>
The aria-label ensures screen readers can announce the button's purpose.
2. Type Safety
TypeScript is used throughout:
const [visibility, setVisibility] = useState<"public" | "private">("public");
This ensures only valid visibility values can be set.
3. User Feedback
Multiple feedback mechanisms:
- Visual border color changes for validation
- Warning messages for invalid input
- Icon changes for copy confirmation
- Hover states for interactive elements
4. Dark Mode Support
Every visual element has dark mode variants:
className="bg-zinc-50 dark:bg-zinc-950"
className="text-zinc-900 dark:text-zinc-100"
Conclusion
Building a template clone generator might seem like a small project, but it demonstrates several important concepts:
- Developer Experience Matters: Tools that save time and reduce friction are invaluable
- Interactive Documentation: Instead of static instructions, provide interactive tools
- Validation and Feedback: Help users succeed by preventing errors before they happen
- Modern React Patterns: Hooks, controlled components, and async operations
- Thoughtful Design: Accessibility, dark mode, and responsive layouts
The kiro-nextjs template and its generator represent a modern approach to project scaffolding. By combining a well-configured template with an intuitive interface, we've created a tool that makes starting new projects a joy rather than a chore.
Resources
Try It Yourself
Ready to streamline your Next.js development workflow? Visit the template repository and give it a try:
gh repo create my-next-project --template uratmangun/kiro-nextjs --public --clone
Happy coding! 🚀
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by uratmangun
uratmangun | Sciencx (2025-11-29T22:42:31+00:00) Building a Next.js Template Clone Generator: A Complete Guide to Streamlining Your Development Workflow with Kiro. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/11/29/building-a-next-js-template-clone-generator-a-complete-guide-to-streamlining-your-development-workflow-with-kiro/
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