NextBlock™ is built so the CMS you deploy, the open-source starter, and the developer tools feel like one clear product. A shared Nx workspace and typed blocks keep code clean and teams moving fast.
One codebase
Shared foundation
Marketing pages, CMS screens, and the starter template grow together instead of drifting apart.
Typed content
Blocks with guardrails
Zod schemas and typed contracts make every custom block safe to build and ship.
Editorial UX
Product-grade editing
The Tiptap layer gives writers a rich editing screen without hiding the power of clean HTML.
Monorepo Layout and Dependency Flow
The apps/nextblock folder holds the production Next.js app. This includes the public site and the private CMS admin area. The apps/create-nextblock tool (published on npm as create-nextblock) mirrors that setup so teams can start with proven patterns right away.
- @nextblock-cms/ui - UI parts, design tokens, and shared buttons
- @nextblock-cms/utils - Translations, safety checks, and image helpers
- @nextblock-cms/db - Safe migrations, typed database queries, and schemas
- @nextblock-cms/editor - The reusable Tiptap v3 block editor
- @nextblock-cms/sdk - Typed tools to build and check custom blocks
- @nextblock-cms/ecommerce - The digital store package when activated
- @nextblock-cms/cortex - Cortex AI: AI inside the editor and the MCP server, when activated
In the monorepo clone, run npx nx graph to see how code flows across the workspace. Shared path aliases and Tailwind styles help keep designs aligned across all pages.
NB platform core
One Next.js 16 app on Supabase
CMS & content modeling
PostgreSQL
JSONB blocks
Every page, post, and product is an ordered list of typed blocks. One Zod schema per block keeps the data valid.
Live editor & publishing
Live preview
Editors work in a Notion-style editor with drafts and revisions. Publishing reads straight from PostgreSQL, so there is no redeploy.
Premium modules
Commerce Pro
Products, checkout, taxes, shipping.
Cortex AI
AI in the editor + MCP server. 30-day free trial.
The core CMS is free and open source. Modules switch on with a license and use the same blocks and editor.
One visual system. CMS, editor, and unlimited extensibility.
Block Registry as Product Surface
The block registry file is the source of truth for the built-in blocks. It holds Zod schemas, starter content, and editor components. Today it includes everything from text and headings to sections, post grids, checkout forms, and product cards. Custom blocks you design in the CMS live in the database and go through the same block renderer.
Sections support nested columns, so you can build real page layouts rather than flat lists. Typed helper functions keep custom layouts safe and easy to maintain.
The Editing Layer
The editor package wraps Tiptap into a rich editing surface. It offers slash commands, floating menus, drag handles, tables, checklists, and code blocks. It preserves clean HTML so teams are never locked into a closed format.
Inside the CMS Shell
Inside the CMS folder, each feature follows a clear pattern: item lists, create forms, edit screens, and server actions that wrap database updates. This gives editors a smooth flow while keeping credentials safe on the server.
Open Core Without Product Drift
The core CMS is free and open source under the AGPL. The premium modules, Commerce Pro and Cortex AI, are public AGPL code too, and their features switch on with a license key. This keeps the core lightweight while unlocking advanced tools when you need them. Each module starts with a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.
Why It Holds Together
The Nx monorepo keeps libraries clean. The Next.js framework ensures fast page loads. Supabase migrations define database rules, and Tiptap gives writers a great authoring screen. When you run npm create nextblock, you get a complete, working system from day one. A coding agent such as Claude Code or Cursor can also scaffold the project for you, as the install guide explains.