Why we shipped four rendering modes
SSR + WASM, SSR only, SSR + HTMX, and full WASM. One isn't enough. Here is why.
The original Next.js had one mode: SSR. Then it added SSG. Then ISR. Then RSC. Then... you get the idea. We did not want to ship a framework with ten modes and a flowchart.
Instead, we picked four and made each one excellent:
- SSR + WASM is the default. Server-rendered HTML, hydrated with a tiny WASM runtime that gives you client-side islands. - SSR only has no client JavaScript at all. Good for documentation sites, blogs, and anywhere you don't need interactivity. - SSR + HTMX is for teams that want progressive enhancement without giving up server rendering. - Full WASM SPA is for when you genuinely need an app. The whole thing runs in the browser.
Pick the one that fits. Change it later in one line of config.