How we migrated from CRA to Next.js AppRouter in 5 pull requests

Description and use

Migrated from CRA to Next.js AppRouter in five pull requests: steps, tools, and outcomes.

Problem

The team needed to replace Create React App (CRA) with Next.js AppRouter to improve routing, performance, and deployment workflow.

Outcome

The migration was completed in five pull requests, resulting in faster builds, improved SEO, and a more maintainable routing system.

Workflow

• 1. Created a new Next.js app and copied CRA source files into the new project.
• 2. Replaced React Router routes with AppRouter file structure, moving pages into the /app directory.
• 3. Updated API calls to use Next.js API routes and removed client-only fetch logic.
• 4. Adjusted build scripts and environment variables for Next.js deployment.
• 5. Tested locally, ran CI, and merged the five pull requests to complete the migration.

Evidence

We migrated from CRA to Next.js AppRouter in 5 pull requests

Source