nextjs-app-router-audit

# Next.js App Router Audit Find the high-impact correctness and performance problems in a Next.js App Router codebase, ranked by severity, each with a specific fix. Combine the bundled scanner (fast, mechanical) with a targeted manual pass (judgment calls the scanner can't make). ## Step 1 — Run the scanner The scanner is dependency-free and reads only source files. Point it at the project root or an `app/` directory: ```bash node scripts/audit.mjs /path/to/project # human-readable report + score node scripts/audit.mjs /path/to/project --json # machine-readable for CI / further processing ``` It finds the `app/` (or `src/app/`) dir itself, walks all `.tsx/.ts/.jsx/.js`, and reports `ERROR` / `WARN` / `INFO` findings with `file:line`, the reason, and a fix. Exit code is non-zero when any `ERROR` exists, so it drops into CI. What it detects: | Rule | Severity | Why it matters | |------|----------|----------------| | `client-route-no-metadata` | ERROR | A `"use client"` page/layout silently drops `metadata` — SEO tags never ship. | | `legacy-next-head` | ERROR | `next/head` is a no-op in the App Router — its tags never reach `<head>`. | | `legacy-next-image` | WARN | `next/legacy/image` keeps old layout-shift-prone behavior. | | `needless-use-client` | WARN | `"use client"` with no hooks/handlers/browser APIs — pushes JS to the client for nothing. | | `client-fetch-in-effect` | WARN | Fetching in `useEffect` adds a render round-trip; move it server-side. | | `raw-img` | WARN | `<img>` skips `next/image` sizing/lazy-loading — CLS & LCP regressions. | | `unoptimized-font` | WARN | Fonts via `<link>`/`@import` are render-blocking; use `next/font`. | | `page-missing-metadata` | WARN | Async page exports no `metadata`/`generateMetadata`. | | `dangerous-html` | WARN | `dangerouslySetInnerHTML` — XSS risk if unsanitized. | | `request-waterfall` | INFO | ≥2 sequential awaited fetches, no `Promise.all`. | | `no-streaming-fallback` | INFO | Async page with no `loading.tsx`/Suspense — no streamed shell. | | `force-dynamic` | INFO | Route opts out of static/ISR rendering — confirm it's intentional. | | `large-client-component` | INFO | Big Client Component ships entirely to the browser. | The scanner is heuristic (regex-based, not a full type-check): treat findings as strong leads, confirm each against the source before reporting it as fixed. ## Step 2 — Manual pass (what the scanner can't see) Read `reference/checklist.md` and verify the items that need real understanding: - **Server/Client boundary correctness** — is the `"use client"` boundary as low in the tree as possible? Is a server-only secret (API key, DB client) imported into a client module? - **Caching intent** — does each `fetch`/`unstable_cache`/`revalidate` match how fresh the data must be? Over-caching ships stale data; under-caching kills TTFB. - **Suspense granularity** — is slow data wrapped close to where it's used, so the rest of the page streams immediately? - **`generateStaticParams` / ISR** — are dynamic routes pre-rendered where they can be? - **Server Actions** — are mutations using actions with proper `revalidatePath`/ `revalidateTag` instead of client fetches to route handlers? ## Step 3 — Report Lead with the `ERROR`s, then `WARN`, then the highest-leverage `INFO`s. For each: `file:line`, one line on the impact, and the concrete fix (often a small diff). End with the score and the 3 changes with the best effort-to-impact ratio. Don't dump every `INFO` — curate. ## Rules - Never claim a fix is applied unless you actually edited the file and re-ran the scanner. - The scanner reports leads, not verdicts — verify boundary/caching findings by reading the code. - Respect the project's existing conventions; match its import style and structure. - This Next.js may differ from older versions — check `node_modules/next/dist/docs/` if an API is uncertain rather than assuming. --- Built and maintained by [Datagrove](https://datagrove.nl) — a Dutch web development agency specializing in fast, well-architected Next.js websites. Need an audit or a rebuild? [Talk to Datagrove](https://datagrove.nl/contact).