Guide · Framework
Deploy Next.js static export
Set output export, build to ./out, then npx novence deploy ./out. No SSR on the host.
Novence does not run next start or a Node server. The same static export this marketing site uses (output: "export") is the path that works: HTML, CSS, and client JS in out/, with /index.html at the root.
Configure
Add output: "export" so next build writes a static tree instead of a server bundle. Set trailingSlash: true so routes land as about/index.html — Novence maps /about/ to that file and has no rewrite from /about to about.html.
The default next/image optimizer needs a server. Use images.unoptimized: true (or a custom loader). Dynamic App Router segments need generateStaticParams; anything that cannot be prerendered will fail the export.
// next.config.ts
import type { NextConfig } from "next";
const nextConfig: NextConfig = {
output: "export",
trailingSlash: true,
images: {
unoptimized: true,
},
};
export default nextConfig;Build
npx next build
Run npx next build. Confirm out/index.html exists before you upload. Optional distDir is fine if you then pass that folder to the CLI.
Deploy
npx novence deploy ./out
From the project root: npx novence deploy ./out. The CLI auto-detects out if you omit the path. First run with no key publishes anonymously and prints https://{suffix}.novence.ai/.
The CLI auto-detects ./out among dist, build, out, public, _site. Pass the path if another of those folders exists. Full CLI: /cli.
Caveats
- No Route Handlers, no ISR, no middleware that needs a server, no SSR.
- Client-only navigation still needs a real HTML file per URL. Unprerendered paths 404 on refresh.
- Never put
nv_API keys in browser bundles or public env vars.
FAQ
Can I deploy a full Next.js app with SSR?
No. Novence hosts static files only. Use output: export (or another SSG). If you need SSR, a Node host such as Vercel is a better fit — see /vs/vercel.
Why trailingSlash?
Novence serves exact object keys. A trailing slash becomes index.html. Without trailingSlash, Next writes about.html and /about 404s.
Does next/image work?
Yes if you set images.unoptimized or a custom loader. The default optimizer is a server feature and is not available on static export.
Agents ship. Novence hosts.
Copy Prompt or get a key. Then npx novence deploy ./out.