I feel like an imposter when it comes to Next.js. Everyone seems to be using it, and I don’t. I last touched it professionally six years ago, though I’ve dabbled with it from time to time since.

I can build frontends and backends. These days I work mostly with Laravel and Livewire. My background is in HTML and CSS. I started with Notepad++, lived through responsive design, SCSS, and all the waves that followed.

I also work with PHP, Laravel, Flutter (Dart), Swift and Node every day. My role stretches across all of that. I don’t just live in JavaScript land, but a lot of jobs seem to act as if JS land is the only world that matters.

Still, when I look at job ads, Next.js comes up again and again. It feels like being fluent in the wrong language. I know if I put a few months into it I’d get comfortable quickly, but that doesn’t help in an interview when the question is direct and the answer is thin.

Weirdly, I’m mostly fine with it. I know I can build things end to end. I’ve done it for years. That confidence doesn’t erase the market reality, but it does keep me steady when the imposter voice pipes up.