Documentation

This guide walks you through setting up LaunchNext.dev and deploying to production.

Installation

After purchase you’ll get access to the full source code. Clone or download the repo, then install dependencies with your preferred package manager:

npm install

Requires Node ≥ 18. Run from the project root after cloning or unzipping.

Use with AI IDE or VS Code

You can use any AI-powered IDE (Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code with Copilot, etc.) to understand and work with the template. After downloading and unzipping launchNext-template.zip:

Open your IDE (VS Code, Cursor, or any AI IDE).
Use File → Open Folder and select the unzipped project folder.
Open the AI chat (e.g. Cursor Chat, Copilot Chat, or your IDE’s AI panel).
Switch to Ask mode (read-only) so the AI can analyze the codebase without making changes.
Paste the prompt below to get an overview of the project, structure, and how everything fits together.

Prompt to paste in AI chat (Ask mode):

Explain everything in this folder: the project structure, main technologies, how auth and the database work, and how to run and deploy it. Walk me through the key files and flows.

The AI will read the codebase and give you a clear explanation. Use Ask mode first to explore; switch to Agent or Edit mode when you’re ready to make changes.

Environment

Copy .env.example to .env.local and set your MongoDB URI, JWT secret, and any optional keys (e.g. payment keys, email).

Project structure

The app uses the Next.js App Router. Key folders: app/ for routes and layouts, components/ for UI, lib/ for utilities and DB, models/ for Mongoose schemas.

Authentication

The template includes email/password auth with JWT in httpOnly cookies. You can extend it with OAuth (e.g. Google) via NextAuth or similar.

Database

MongoDB is used with Mongoose. Connection is handled in lib/db.ts with retries. Add your own models in models/.

Deployment

Deploy to Vercel, Railway, or any Node host. Set environment variables in your platform. For Vercel, connect your repo and add MONGODB_URI and JWT_SECRET.

Use with AI IDE or VS Code

You can use any AI-powered IDE (Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code with Copilot, etc.) to understand and work with the template. After downloading and unzipping launchNext-template.zip:

Open your IDE (VS Code, Cursor, or any AI IDE).

Use File → Open Folder and select the unzipped project folder.

Open the AI chat (e.g. Cursor Chat, Copilot Chat, or your IDE’s AI panel).

Switch to Ask mode (read-only) so the AI can analyze the codebase without making changes.

Paste the prompt below to get an overview of the project, structure, and how everything fits together.

Prompt to paste in AI chat (Ask mode):

Explain everything in this folder: the project structure, main technologies, how auth and the database work, and how to run and deploy it. Walk me through the key files and flows.

The AI will read the codebase and give you a clear explanation. Use Ask mode first to explore; switch to Agent or Edit mode when you’re ready to make changes.