v0 to production checklist
What to add before a v0-generated Next.js app goes live: data, auth, env vars, hydration and server-side checks.
UI first, backend second
v0 is strongest at generating UI. Before launch, confirm where data lives, who can read it, and that server routes check the session before acting.
Server vs client components
In the Next.js App Router, components are server components by default. Anything using state, effects, or window needs 'use client'. Browser-only code during render causes 'window is not defined' or hydration errors.
Hydration mismatches
Values that differ between server and client, such as the current time, random numbers, or localStorage, cause hydration errors. Render them in useEffect or only on the client.
Environment variables
Only variables prefixed with NEXT_PUBLIC_ reach the browser, and they are inlined at build time, so redeploy after changing them. Keep secrets unprefixed and use them only on the server.
Errors and limits
Add error boundaries (error.js in the App Router), rate limits on expensive endpoints like AI calls, and logging you can read in production.
Sources
- Next.js: environment variables
- Next.js: server and client components
- React: hydrateRoot and hydration errors
Have a specific error? Try the error explainer or the pre-launch checklist.