Recently, I was asked to conduct an audit for a Sitecore headless website built using Sitecore JSS and Next.js. As part of this process, I reviewed various aspects of the solution—from content modeling and rendering strategies to performance, deployment, and developer experience. In this blog post—and in upcoming entries—I’ll be sharing some of the critical areas you should evaluate, along with best practices to follow when auditing or building a Sitecore JSS/Next.js application. Whether you're a Sitecore developer, architect, or technical lead, these insights can help ensure your implementation is scalable, maintainable, and optimized for a modern digital experience.
Curious to learn more? Keep reading!
Architecture!
Quality | Hosting | Deployments
Another critical area to focus on during the audit is frontend code quality. This includes evaluating the overall code structure—such as how the folder hierarchy is organized—and whether modern standards like TypeScript are being consistently applied. It's also important to assess the usage of reusable component modules, as well as the implementation of the rendering strategy when working with frameworks like Next.js. For example, is the project using Static Site Generation (SSG), Server-Side Rendering (SSR), or a hybrid approach? Additionally, it's essential to check for the presence and consistency of both client-side and server-side logging, which are crucial for debugging and maintaining a stable application.
The audit should also extend to hosting and deployment practices. This involves reviewing the hosting stack and the overall infrastructure setup. A thorough CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) evaluation is also necessary. Key points to review include the presence of automated deployment pipelines, environment configurations (e.g., staging, production), health monitoring systems, proper version control and branching strategies, and the availability of a well-defined rollback or revert plan in case deployments fail.
Together, these areas provide a comprehensive view of the application's technical maturity and operational readiness.
Performance!
Performance is another crucial area to assess during a Sitecore headless audit. A well-performing site not only improves user experience but also contributes to better SEO and overall engagement.
Start by reviewing Core Web Vitals using tools like Google Lighthouse or PageSpeed Insights. These metrics provide insight into key performance indicators such as loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. Examine whether the application is leveraging Next.js performance features, such as the use of next/image for optimized image delivery and lazy loading for images and components to reduce initial load time.
Additionally, review the implementation of middleware in Next.js—ensure it's used efficiently without introducing bottlenecks. Analyze the React rendering performance, looking out for unnecessary re-renders or deeply nested component trees that could slow down the UI.
Another factor to evaluate is the number and impact of third-party scripts and tracking snippets. These can quickly bloat your site and negatively affect performance if not managed properly.
A comprehensive performance review helps ensure the application is not only functionally sound but also fast and responsive across all devices and network conditions.
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