Writing about frontend development, Cloudflare, the web platform, and life outside the screen.https://thomasdesmond.me/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-pages-cloudflare-pages/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-pages-cloudflare-pages/Learn about my experience with deploying a Next.js app on Cloudflare Pages and the limitations faced while doing so.Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/are-you-ai-demo/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/are-you-ai-demo/I built areyouaidemo.com in early 2025 to learn Cloudflare Workers AI and Vectorize. Describe an image, see how the AI describes it, and find out how closely you think like a machine.Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-on-vps/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-on-vps/Deploy Next.js on a VPS for full control and customization. Learn the setup process, testing key features, and deployment considerations in this in-depth articleWed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/aws-amplify-nextjs-pages/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/aws-amplify-nextjs-pages/Should you deploy your Next.js app to AWS Amplify?Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/azure-swa-nextjs-pages/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/azure-swa-nextjs-pages/Find out how well Azure Static Web Apps supports a Next.js 13 Pages-based appWed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-every-feature-part1/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-every-feature-part1/Join me in exploring every feature of Next.js and testing hosting providers to determine their compatibility with Next.js features.Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/frontend-convenience-layer/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/frontend-convenience-layer/Improve your web development workflow with Vercel and Netlify's convenience layer, offering a range of features for development, review, deployment, production, and scaling.Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/sitecore-migration-advisor/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/sitecore-migration-advisor/The Migration Advisor is a tool built by the Sitecore Developer Relations team to help customers migrate to XM Cloud and the rest of the Sitecore Composable DXP.Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/upgrade-nextjs-jss/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/upgrade-nextjs-jss/Improve your site's performance with Sitecore JSS Next.js version 21.2.*. Read this guide to learn about the changes and benefits of upgrading.Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/og-image-nextjs-netlify/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/og-image-nextjs-netlify/Open Graph Image guide for a Next.js App Directory app hosted on Netlify. Display a static open graph image.Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/og-image-nextjs-vercel/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/og-image-nextjs-vercel/The simple way to get a static og:image in a Next.js App directory app hosted in Vercel.Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/web-components-sitecore-components/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/web-components-sitecore-components/XM Cloud Components Builder is in early access and is the recommended approach to build components for your XM Cloud apps. Components Builder is a Frontend as a Service (FEaaS) that lets you create visual components in a WYSIWYG editor. Those components you build are Web Components!Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/next-okta-refresh-token/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/next-okta-refresh-token/Learn how to seamlessly implement refresh tokens in Next.js using NextAuth.js and Okta as the provider.Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-hosting-alternatives/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-hosting-alternatives/Looking for hosting alternatives to Vercel for your Next.js app? Explore Netlify, AWS Amplify, & Microsoft Azure Static Web Apps. Find the right hosting solution for your needsFri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/app-dir-first-impressions/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/app-dir-first-impressions/Should you migrate to the new Next.js App Directory architecture? Here are my first impressions of the new architecture giving insights on documentation, Server Components vs. Client Components, and package support.Mon, 06 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/use-client-nextjs/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/use-client-nextjs/Knowing the difference between Client Components and Server Components is important in Next.js App Router is essential. Learn what use client in Next.js does to your componentsWed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mantine-nextjs-13/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mantine-nextjs-13/Learn how to setup Mantine UI in your Next.js 13 application in the app directoryMon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-app-architecture/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-app-architecture/The new Next.js app folder based architecture is in beta. It makes significant changes to component rendering, data fetching, and routing in your Next.js applications.Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextauth-callbacks/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextauth-callbacks/Need more custom functionality in your NextAuth.js implementation. Callbacks might be the answer to you. Perform logic triggered by other actions in NextAuth.jsFri, 30 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/react-server-components-nextjs/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/react-server-components-nextjs/React Server Components have received full support in Next.js App Directory architecture. Learn what React Server Components are and why you should start using them now.Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-nextauth-okta/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-nextauth-okta/Adding authentication to your Next.js application? This article covers everything auth with Next.js, Okta, and the latest version of NextAuth.jsMon, 17 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/frontend-development-xm-cloud/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/frontend-development-xm-cloud/Jump in to learn the frontend development workflows when building with Sitecore's XM CloudSat, 01 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/component-level-data-fetching/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/component-level-data-fetching/Component-level data fetching is a unique feature of Sitecore JSS with Next.js. It lets you build better-architected frontend applications by allowing for more independent modular components. Jump into the article to learn how to build better Sitecore JSS with Next.js apps.Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/component-driven-design/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/component-driven-design/Break down your frontend into modular interchangeable components with Component Driven DesignWed, 20 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/automate-style-guide-prettier/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/automate-style-guide-prettier/The Prettier JavaScript library wants to automate your style guide. Let it automatically format your TypeScript, HTML, GraphQL, JSON, and more.Thu, 19 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/vercel-edge-use-cases/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/vercel-edge-use-cases/Vercel's Edge Functions let you push logic to the CDN layer. Learn 3 ways you can use this cool new feature in your app.Tue, 10 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/adding-form-with-tally/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/adding-form-with-tally/Adding a form to your Jamstack site is easy with Tally.so. Easy form building and many integrationsWed, 27 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/what-is-a-cdn/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/what-is-a-cdn/A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a globally distributed network of servers with the purpose of delivering content across the web.Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/do-you-need-graphql-client/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/do-you-need-graphql-client/What really goes into making a GraphQL request? Do you need a dedicated client for your frontend? Is GraphQL-Request or Apollo Client necessary?Mon, 24 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/web-performance-indicators/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/web-performance-indicators/With so many different ways to measure the performance of your site it can get overwhelming quickly. Learn the 3 core web performance metrics that matter and how to measure them yourself.Thu, 09 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/flexible-static-site-generation/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/flexible-static-site-generation/Next.js, a frontend framework capable of static site generation, just released version 12.0, and it's apparent that the goal of Next.js is to make static site generation as flexible as possible.Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/composable-dxp-for-the-developer/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/composable-dxp-for-the-developer/If current predictions come true, composable DXP is the future. Companies, marketers, developers are going to need to adapt to these changes.Tue, 12 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/rendering-options-on-the-web/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/rendering-options-on-the-web/Server Side Rendering (SSR), Client Side Rendering (CSR), and Static Site Generation (SSG) let's talk about the big three rendering options for the web. Descriptions of each, SEO considerations, and go more deeply into performance indicators, and more.Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-vs-code-extensions/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-vs-code-extensions/VS Code extensions can help you develop faster and more efficiently. Try these extensions in your development environment.Tue, 13 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/converting-wordpress-to-nextjs/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/converting-wordpress-to-nextjs/A look at the motivations to convert thetombomb.com from WordPress to Next.js. And what I learned along the way.Tue, 08 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-optimizing-getstaticpaths-with-fallback/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-optimizing-getstaticpaths-with-fallback/The fallback property of getStaticPaths() has three values: false, true, & blocking. Learn how to use the fallback property to improve your static site generation build times in Next.js.Tue, 04 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-build-times-and-incremental-static-regeneration/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/nextjs-build-times-and-incremental-static-regeneration/Next.js has an incredible Incremental Static Regeneration capability that can drastically improve build times and reduce the need for doing full Static Site Generation builds every time a change is made.Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/choosing-graphql-client/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/choosing-graphql-client/Let's dive into a comparison of popular JavaScript GraphQL clients: Apollo Client, Relay, GraphQL-Request, & NanographqlThu, 25 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/google-analytics-nextjs/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/google-analytics-nextjs/This tutorial covers how to add Google Analytics to your static Next.js website and track all page views and navigation.Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/typescript-there-are-no-integers/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/typescript-there-are-no-integers/How do we deal with having no integer type in Typescript?Thu, 08 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/stubbing-location-reload-in-jasmine-tests/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/stubbing-location-reload-in-jasmine-tests/location.reload was giving me all sorts of trouble in my tests. Let's look how I fixed it.Wed, 09 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/comparing-null-and-undefined-javascript/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/comparing-null-and-undefined-javascript/You have probably seen null but may not be familiar with undefined. We'll compare the two hereFri, 04 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/const-in-javascript-is-weird/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/const-in-javascript-is-weird/const acts different in Javascript than I am used to in C#Fri, 21 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/managing-observables-with-subsink/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/managing-observables-with-subsink/Managing RxJS Observables in Angular can be difficult, with SubSink subscribing and unsubscribing is easy.Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/must-have-vscode-extensions/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/must-have-vscode-extensions/The extension I use everyday with development in Angular and Typescript. These can help you become more productiveMon, 27 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/2-same-angular-projects-different-errors/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/2-same-angular-projects-different-errors/I created two brand new projects and they were acting very differently from one another. I learned my lesson on how to fix it and share that lesson here.Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/speaking-at-agile-devops-2020/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/speaking-at-agile-devops-2020/I was accepted to speak about Mob Programming at the Agile + DevOps West 2020 ConferenceTue, 07 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/app-core-shared-feature-modules/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/app-core-shared-feature-modules/With so many modules in Angular it can be hard to tell them apart. Let's compare all of themWed, 13 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/c-sharp-asp-net-core-course-available/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/c-sharp-asp-net-core-course-available/Want to learn how to create an API with C# and ASP.NET Core? My course on Thinkster.io is available now.Tue, 05 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/i-am-a-podcaster/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/i-am-a-podcaster/I have been on 2 podcasts now, one video and one audio. It was fun to be on both and I hope to contribute more in the future.Thu, 31 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/structural-directives-in-angular/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/structural-directives-in-angular/Let's review *ngIf and *ngFor in AngularThu, 24 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/what-is-tdd/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/what-is-tdd/Learn about Test Driven Development (TDD) and the Red-Green-Refactor principleTue, 22 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/pnsqc-talk-complete/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/pnsqc-talk-complete/My talk was a success at PNSQC. It was a great experience and I hope to attend the coference again.Wed, 16 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/creating-quality-mob-programming-pnsqc/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/creating-quality-mob-programming-pnsqc/I spoke at the 2019 Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference about how Mob Programming creates quality software. I wrote a published white paper to go along with this talk as well.Tue, 27 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/asp-net-course/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/asp-net-course/My ASP.NET Core API course is currently being worked on and will be released very soon on Thinkster.ioSat, 27 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/weather-ride-on-ios/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/weather-ride-on-ios/The Weather Ride mobile app has been released on the iOS store for Apple devicesFri, 12 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/weather-ride-app-ui-overhaul/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/weather-ride-app-ui-overhaul/There has been a major UI update for the Motorcycle Weather Ride App, check it out now.Tue, 19 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/space-explorer-alexa-skill/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/space-explorer-alexa-skill/Ask Amazon Alexa how many astronauts are in space right now!Wed, 16 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/shape-of-teams-mob-programming/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/shape-of-teams-mob-programming/I have heard of T, E, & I shaped developers. I want to share how Mob Programming creates upside down trapazoid shaped developers.Thu, 27 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/my-first-mobile-app-motorcycle-weather-ride/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/my-first-mobile-app-motorcycle-weather-ride/I built and published my first mobile app Weather Ride an app for motorcycle riders to check the weather available on Android and iOS.Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/make-it-work-right-fast/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/make-it-work-right-fast/Incremental steps to creating quality software, first make it work, then make it right, last make it fastThu, 17 May 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/visual-studio-live-vegas-2018/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/visual-studio-live-vegas-2018/The highlights of attending Visual Studio Live 2018 in Las Vegas.Sat, 17 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-benefits-part-4/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-benefits-part-4/Divide and Conquer as well as Accountability are two major beneftis of mob programmingThu, 14 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-benefits-part-3/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-benefits-part-3/In this post we look at temporarily joining another mob & redundant knowledge when mob programming.Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/microsoft-cognitive-services-emotion-api/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/microsoft-cognitive-services-emotion-api/I played around with Microsofts Cognitive services and had a lot of fun.Tue, 18 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-benefits-part-2/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-benefits-part-2/Mob programming has many benefits in this post lets look at Idea Generation & Efficient use of timeWed, 12 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/backpacking-lost-coast/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/backpacking-lost-coast/The Loast Coast Trail has been one of my favorite backpacking trips ever, and I wanted to share my experience.Thu, 15 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/microsoft-build-2017/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/microsoft-build-2017/Microsoft Build 2017 was tons of fun. Here were the most exciting takeaways.Wed, 17 May 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-multi-mob-to-single-mob/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-multi-mob-to-single-mob/Let's compare what it is like to work on a multi mob project versus a single mob projectThu, 20 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/programming-with-the-happy-path/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/programming-with-the-happy-path/Let's take the happy path first. Their are always many cases to consider but start easy and build up from there.Tue, 18 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/testing-eventwaithandle/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/testing-eventwaithandle/I struggled with testing EventWhatHandle in C# and wanted to share how I was able to wrap a test aroud the code.Mon, 03 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-benefits-part-1/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/mob-programming-benefits-part-1/Part 1 of a series about Mob Programming Benefits, this post covers idea sharing & building strong teams.Sat, 18 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/alexa-skill-intent-schema/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/alexa-skill-intent-schema/The IntentSchema is an important part of your Alexa Skill. Here is what I learned building my first Alexa Skill.Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/palomar-mountain-snow-hiking/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/palomar-mountain-snow-hiking/A beautiful day hiking through the snow on Palomar Mountain in Southern CaliforniaWed, 01 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/arroyo-tapiado-mud-caves/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/arroyo-tapiado-mud-caves/Exploring the vast mud caves in Anza Borrego State Park. A worthwhile trip!Wed, 25 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/palm-canyon-backpacking/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/palm-canyon-backpacking/A day of backpacking and a night of camping in Palm Canyon in Anza Borrego State ParkSun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/saturday-motorcycle-ride/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/saturday-motorcycle-ride/I recently got my first motorcycle a 1993 Honda Nighthawk and got to go for my first long ride.Mon, 14 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://thomasdesmond.me/posts/arches-national-park-canyonlands-utah/https://thomasdesmond.me/posts/arches-national-park-canyonlands-utah/A tour of my visit to Arches National Park in Utah. See all the cool hikes and spots I explored.Fri, 14 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT