How to implement a code editor with syntax highlighting in Next.js

Implementing a code editor with syntax highlighting in a Next.js application involves using a combination of React components and third-party libraries. One popular library for code highlighting is react-syntax-highlighter. Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can implement a code editor in Next.js with syntax highlighting:

Step 1: Set up a Next.js project

If you haven't already, create a new Next.js project using the following commands:

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npx create-next-app my-code-editor

cd my-code-editor

Step 2: Install dependencies

Install the necessary dependencies for syntax highlighting:

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npm install react-syntax-highlighter react-syntax-highlighter/dist/esm/styles/hljs

Step 3: Create a CodeEditor component

Create a new file in your components folder, let's say CodeEditor.js. This component will handle rendering the code editor with syntax highlighting.

jsxCopy code
// components/CodeEditor.js
import { Light as SyntaxHighlighter } from 'react-syntax-highlighter';
import { docco } from 'react-syntax-highlighter/dist/esm/styles/hljs';

const CodeEditor = ({ language, code }) => {
  return (
    <SyntaxHighlighter language={language} style={docco}>
      {code}
    </SyntaxHighlighter>
  );
};

export default CodeEditor;

Step 4: Use CodeEditor in your pages

Now, you can use the CodeEditor component in your pages. Create a sample page in the pages folder to test it:

jsxCopy code
// pages/index.js
import CodeEditor from '../components/CodeEditor';

const Home = () => {
  const code = `const greeting = "Hello, World!";
console.log(greeting);`;

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Code Editor with Syntax Highlighting</h1>
      <CodeEditor language="javascript" code={code} />
    </div>
  );
};

export default Home;

Step 5: Run your Next.js app

Start your Next.js app and see the code editor with syntax highlighting in action:

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npm run dev

Visit http://localhost:3000 in your browser.

This example uses the react-syntax-highlighter library with the docco style. You can explore other styles provided by the library by importing them instead of docco.

Remember to customize the CodeEditor component and the styles according to your preferences and requirements. You can also consider additional features such as line numbers, theme selection, or language auto-detection based on the file extension.