Next.js frontend paired with Ghost CMS as the content backend
nextjs-ghostcms-blog-starter — Next.js Blog Template
By davidamunga
A blog starter template using Next.js as the frontend, Ghost CMS as the content backend, and Disqus as the comment service.
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What stands out
A quick read of the recorded project description.
Connect to the Ghost Content API via the CONTENT_API_KEY and BLOG_URL environment variables
Integrates Disqus as the article comment service
README provides a Heroku deployment entry point for a Ghost instance
Provides a Vercel deploy button to create a project directly from the repository
Template Details
This is a Next.js-based blog starter template, initialized with create-next-app, with content sourced from Ghost CMS and comments integrated via Disqus. The repository provides a deployment entry point for a Ghost instance (Heroku template) and requires creating a .env file in the project root, filling in the two variables CONTENT_API_KEY and BLOG_URL to connect to the Ghost Content API.
Usage involves installing dependencies and then running the development server to preview locally on port 3000; the README also provides a button to deploy to Vercel. The template itself does not include a Ghost instance; you need to prepare a Ghost backend and configure the API key yourself. The repository was last updated in March 2021 and does not provide a dependency version list, so specific framework versions are not listed here.
Is it right for your project?
Use Cases
- Build a standalone Next.js frontend for an existing Ghost site
- Need a lightweight blog starter project with comment functionality
- Deploy a blog on Vercel with content provided by Ghost
Suitable For
- Developers who already have a Ghost instance or are willing to deploy Ghost themselves
- Teams familiar with Next.js and needing blog starter code
- Projects that want to use Disqus for comments and not build a comment system themselves
Getting started & customization
Use these recorded setup notes alongside the repository instructions for your chosen version.
- 1
Create a .env file in the project root and write CONTENT_API_KEY and BLOG_URL
- 2
Use yarn install to install dependencies, then start the development server with npm run dev or yarn dev
- 3
The Ghost backend must be prepared yourself; refer to the Heroku deployment template in the README
- 4
Disqus comments require configuring site information yourself according to Disqus service requirements
- 5
The repository was updated in 2021; before use, it is recommended to verify the current availability of dependencies and external services
License & source material
Usage conditions & limitations
Free to use · keep license noticeThis entry covers the free version under the MIT license in a public repository; the free scope is the code of that version and does not mean external services or third-party assets are free.
Must comply with when using
- Allows free use, modification, commercial use, and distribution of that version's code.
- When distributing copies or substantial portions of the code, retain the original author's copyright notice and the full MIT license notice.
- The code is provided as is; warranties and limitations of liability are governed by the original license and applicable law.
Additional costs & items to verify
- Demo images, fonts, icons, and other third-party assets must be checked against their respective licenses and cannot be judged solely by the code's MIT license.
- External services such as domains, hosting, databases, payments, or AI may incur additional charges.
- The template depends on external services: the content backend must use Ghost CMS, and the comment functionality must use the Disqus service; neither is included with the template and both must be prepared and configured yourself.
- Before use, you must create a .env file in the project root and fill in the configuration variables from your Ghost instance, otherwise you cannot connect to the content backend.
- You must provide the Ghost Content API key (CONTENT_API_KEY), which must be obtained from a self-hosted or managed Ghost instance.
- You must provide the Ghost blog URL (BLOG_URL), pointing to the actually running Ghost instance.
- You need to deploy or already have a Ghost instance; the README only provides a Heroku deployment entry point, and the template itself does not include a Ghost backend.
View Original Text Basis
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge
Original License Text
that has [Ghost CMS](https://ghost.org) as its backend and uses Disqus service as Comments
Original README
Once done setup a .env file on the root of the project with the following variables from your Ghost Setup.
Original README
CONTENT_API_KEY=YOUR_GHOST_API_KEY
Original README
BLOG_URL=YOUR_BLOG_URL
Original README
https://github.com/davidamunga/nextjs-ghostcms-blog-starter/blob/master/LICENSE.mdhttps://github.com/davidamunga/nextjs-ghostcms-blog-starter/blob/master/README.mdYou can quickly setup a Ghost Instance on Heroku as below or use your own instance
Original README
Compiled by DeepSeek based on repository license and README ·2026-10-13. Results only cover the materials read; dependencies, images, fonts, and subsequent term changes are subject to their respective original texts.
Project checks & description sources
Template Information
- Source platforms
- GitHub
- Documentation and maintenance reference score
- Partly documented · 70 / 100
- Technologies
- Next.js · React
- Website type
- Blog · Starter
How this score is calculated
Our heuristic uses license records (up to 30), a demo link (12), a preview (10), stars (15), recorded maintenance (15), description completeness (8), feature records (5) and classification data (5). It is not a code, security or performance test, or a Google score. A link does not establish tested functionality.
What to verify for this project
- Repository update recorded
- 2021-03-08
- Screenshot last checked
- 2026-10-13
A demo link is listed. Check it with your own content and viewport sizes; its presence does not confirm that forms, authentication or payments work.
The catalog identifies Next.js as the primary stack. Check the actual dependency manifest and lockfile for versions and hosting requirements. These notes use recorded metadata, not a code audit or a deployment test.
Use a selection guide →How this description was prepared
AI-assisted description based on catalog records and repository material. Repository authors are not automatically the reviewers of this description.
Review declaration: codex-user-requested-batch-review-20261015 · 2026-10-15
Inspect the recorded source material
SHA-256: e3c3afc936162b09134e982e0312fc75d021fd966aecb3f4cc44ede60947455a
2026-10-13T01:19:53.941Z
Source file / repositoryThis is a [Next.js](https://nextjs.org/) project bootstrapped with [`create-next-app`](https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/packages/create-next-app) that has [Ghost CMS](https://ghost.org) as its backend and uses Disqus service as Comments ## Ghost CMS Setup Config You can quickly setup a Ghost Instance on Heroku as below or use your own instance []( https://heroku.com/deploy?template=https://github.com/snathjr/ghost-on-heroku) Once done setup a .env file on the root of the project with the following variables from your Ghost Setup. ```bash CONTENT_API_KEY=YOUR_GHOST_API_KEY BLOG_URL=YOUR_BLOG_URL ``` ## Getting Started Install all the dependencies ```bash yarn install ``` Run the development server: ```bash npm run dev # or yarn dev ``` Open [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000) with your browser to see the result. ## Deploy on Vercel <a href="https://vercel.com/new/git/external?repository-url=[https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fvercel%2Fnext.js%2Ftree%2Fcanary%2Fexamples%2Fhello-world](https://github.com/DavidAmunga/nextjs-ghostcms-blog-starter.git)"><img src="https://vercel.com/button" alt="Deploy with Vercel"/></a>
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