Vercel’s Latest Updates: What’s New in 2024

Mon Sep 09 2024

Introduction

Vercel continues to push the boundaries of frontend development with a slew of new features and updates in 2024. These updates are designed to improve developer productivity, enhance site performance, and provide robust security measures. This post will highlight some of the most recent innovations from Vercel, including updates to Next.js, new security tools, and integrations with AI technologies.

Next.js 15 Release Candidate

The Next.js 15 Release Candidate (RC) introduces major improvements to performance and developer experience. It supports React 19, brings advanced caching mechanisms, and provides new tools like the next/after API, which allows developers to run code after a response has been streamed.

Other significant updates include support for incremental adoption of partial prerendering and better bundling of external packages. These improvements help developers build faster, more efficient web applications with ease.

npm install next@rc react@rc react-dom@rc

Introducing Vercel Firewall

Security is a top priority for any online platform, and Vercel has introduced a new Firewall to help safeguard your applications. With over 15 fields to configure, including IP addresses, HTTP headers, and geolocation, the Vercel Firewall allows you to log, block, and challenge malicious traffic.

Vercel also provides a REST API for managing firewall configurations, enabling developers to automate rule creation and modification without manual intervention. This powerful tool ensures your applications remain secure against a wide range of web threats.

Vercel AI SDK

Vercel is embracing the future of AI-powered applications with its AI SDK. The SDK simplifies the process of building intelligent web apps using frameworks like Next.js, Nuxt, and SvelteKit. It integrates seamlessly with leading large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI and Anthropic, making it easier than ever to incorporate generative AI features into your projects.

The SDK includes tools for building streaming chatbots and dynamic, component-based user interfaces powered by AI, providing developers with a powerful suite for creating interactive and responsive web applications.

Enhanced Developer Tools in the Vercel Toolbar

Vercel has upgraded its Toolbar with new features to boost developer productivity. The toolbar now offers Open Graph previews, real-time accessibility audits, and improved interaction timing metrics. These updates make it easier for developers to optimize their site's user experience and ensure accessibility standards are met.

Additionally, the Vercel Toolbar can now be enabled in production environments without configuration, offering seamless collaboration and real-time feedback during development and beyond.

Conclusion

Vercel’s latest updates in 2024 bring a host of new features that streamline development workflows, improve performance, and enhance security. With Next.js 15 RC, Vercel Firewall, AI SDK, and upgraded developer tools, Vercel continues to be a leader in the frontend development space. Stay ahead of the curve by leveraging these tools to build faster, smarter, and more secure web applications.