n. Nico Loperena
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Do You Need a React or Next.js Developer? A Plain Answer for Central Florida Teams

When a business actually needs a React, Next.js, or Astro developer, when it doesn't, and what to ask before hiring one in Orlando or remote.

A lot of job posts and project requests in Orlando say "React developer" because someone heard it's what modern sites use. Sometimes that's right. Sometimes it's the wrong tool.

I build with React, Next.js, and Astro every week. Here's how I'd decide.

You probably need React or Next.js if

  • People log in and do things. A customer portal, a dashboard, an internal tool.
  • Screens change a lot based on what the user does. Filters, builders, multi-step forms.
  • You're building a product, not just a website.

Next.js adds routing, server rendering, and a backend layer on top of React. It's what I reach for on portals and apps. The Nexrena client portal and admin are Next.js.

You probably need Astro if

  • It's mostly content. Service pages, products, a blog.
  • Speed and search matter more than app-like behavior.
  • You want React only in the few spots that need it, like a quote builder.

Forza's 200+ product catalog and the FPUSA site both run on Astro. Fast pages, good for search, and React where it earns its place.

You might not need either if

You need a five page brochure site and you'll never change it. That's fine. Don't pay for an app when you need a flyer.

The part people forget: the backend

React is the part you see. Most of the hard work is behind it. The API, the database, the integrations, the deploy.

When you hire, ask about that side too. Node and Express. PostgreSQL. How they handle forms, auth, and data that has to be right. That's where a senior full-stack engineer is different from someone who only does front end.

Questions to ask before hiring

  1. Show me something you built in React that people log into.
  2. Show me a content site you built that ranks.
  3. What did you use for the backend and why?
  4. How did you deploy it, and who fixes it when it breaks?

Where I fit

I'm a senior full-stack engineer in Kissimmee. React, Next.js, Astro, Node, TypeScript, PostgreSQL. Deployed on Vercel and Heroku through GitHub. Open to remote senior roles in the US, and happy to meet in person around Orlando.

You can see the work in the office or read about hiring a developer in Kissimmee.

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