Skip to content

Instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

@intellectronica

intellectronica/v0-git.md

Created March 2, 2025 22:28
Show Gist options
  • Save intellectronica/57b14555a13e46034f2a235404bbc1b9 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Save intellectronica/57b14555a13e46034f2a235404bbc1b9 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Download ZIP
Raw
v0-git.md

Migrating a v0.dev Project to GitHub and Vercel (Step-by-Step Guide)

Researched and generated by ChatGPT Deep Research

Overview: Vercel’s v0.dev is an AI-based tool that helps you generate a Next.js project via a chat interface. Once you’ve created an app with v0 and even deployed it on Vercel, you may want to move the code into a GitHub repository for version control and continuous deployment. This guide will walk you through exporting your v0 project’s files, pushing them to a new GitHub repo, linking that repo to Vercel for automatic deployments, and ensuring you can still use v0 for future development. We’ll also cover configuration tips and best practices along the way.

1. Exporting Project Files from v0

v0 generates a complete Next.js codebase for your project in the browser. To work on this code outside v0, you need to export it to your local machine. Vercel encourages users to export the generated code and continue development locally (Vercel Documentation). There are two ways to get your v0 project files:

  • Download the code as a ZIP: In the v0.dev interface, find the option to download your codebase. (For example, click the “Share” button or menu in the top bar – there should be an option like “Download Code” or “Download ZIP”.) Select that, and v0 will download a ZIP file of your entire Next.js project (Best way to export code from v0.dev? : r/boltnewbuilders). Extract this ZIP on your computer to get the project folder.

  • Use the “Add to Codebase” CLI command: Alternatively, v0 provides a one-click way to generate the project via a CLI command. Look for the “Add to codebase” button (often represented by a terminal/CLI icon in the top bar of the v0 interface). Clicking it will give you an npx command, using the Shadcn UI CLI, that looks something like:

    npx shadcn@latest add "https://v0.dev/chat/b/<project_id>?token=<your_token>"

    Copy this entire command. On your local machine, open a terminal and run the command (make sure you have Node.js and npm installed). This will scaffold the project files locally by pulling the code from your v0 project and setting up a Next.js app with the proper configuration and folder structure (Vercel v0.dev: A hands-on review · Reflections). The CLI method often initializes a local Git repository and includes all necessary config files (like package.json, tailwind.config.js, etc.) for you.

Next Steps – Prepare the Code Locally: Once you have the project files on your machine (either by unzipping or after the CLI finishes):

  1. Install dependencies: Navigate into the project folder and run npm install (or yarn/pnpm install if you prefer), which will install all the packages listed in package.json. This ensures the project can run on your machine.

  2. Verify the app runs: (Optional but recommended) Start the development server with npm run dev to ensure everything is working. The app should start on localhost:3000 (or another port if 3000 is in use), matching what you saw on v0.dev.

  3. Add a .gitignore: If the project folder doesn’t already have a .gitignore file (check for one – the CLI-generated project might have included it), create one. At minimum, ignore node_modules, any .next build folder, and environment files. For example:

    node_modules/
.next/
.env.local

    This prevents committing bulky or sensitive files to Git.

Now you have your v0-generated application code ready to be put under version control.

2. Setting Up a New GitHub Repository and Pushing the Code

With the code on your local system, the next step is to move it into a GitHub repository. This gives you proper version control and a place for collaboration. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Create a new repository on GitHub: Log in to your GitHub account and click “New Repository.” Give the repository a name (e.g. the name of your project), choose public or private, and initialize with a README if you want (initializing with a README is optional since you already have code to push). Do not add any starter .gitignore or license at creation if you already added a .gitignore locally.

  2. Initialize Git in your project folder: If you used the v0 CLI and it already initialized a git repo, you can skip this step. If not, open a terminal in your project’s root directory and run:

    git init

    This will initialize a new Git repository locally. Next, stage and commit all files:

    git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit (import from v0.dev)"

    This creates your first commit with all the project’s files.

  3. Connect the local repo to GitHub: Copy the GitHub repo’s remote URL (for example, https://github.com/yourusername/your-repo.git). In your terminal, add this remote and push:

    git branch -M main                     # Ensure you're on the main branch (rename master to main if needed)
git remote add origin https://github.com/<your-username>/<your-repo>.git
git push -u origin main

    This sends your code to GitHub on the main branch. If you refresh the GitHub page, you should now see all your project files there.

  4. Double-check repository contents: Verify that critical files (like package.json, pages in app or pages directory, etc.) are present on GitHub. This is your new source of truth for the project’s code.

3. Connecting GitHub to Vercel for Continuous Deployment

Now that your code is on GitHub, you can set up Vercel to deploy it directly from the repo. This will enable continuous deployment, meaning every push to GitHub can trigger an automatic rebuild and redeployment of your app on Vercel (Deploying GitHub Projects with Vercel). To link your GitHub repository with Vercel:

(image) The Vercel dashboard allows selecting a GitHub repository to import for deployment.

  1. Add a new project on Vercel: Log in to your Vercel account and go to your Dashboard. Click the “New Project” button (usually at the top-right of the dashboard) (Deploying Git Repositories with Vercel). Vercel will list repositories from your connected Git provider accounts. If you haven’t connected GitHub to Vercel before, it will prompt you to do so (authorize the Vercel GitHub App and select the repos it can access).

  2. Import your repository: In the list of repositories, find and select the repo you just pushed your code to (you can use the search bar to filter by name). Click “Import” next to that repository. Vercel will recognize the project and proceed to a configuration screen.

  3. Configure project settings (if needed): Vercel usually auto-detects that this is a Next.js project and selects the appropriate settings. On the Import Project screen, you can adjust options:

    • Project Name: You can rename the project if you want (by default it takes the repo name).
    • Framework Preset: Ensure it’s set to Next.js (should be auto-detected).
    • Root Directory: If your project is not in the root of the repo, specify the subdirectory. (For most cases with v0, the code is at root, so leave it default).
    • Build and Output Settings: Usually no changes needed; Vercel will use npm install and npm run build automatically for Next.js.
    • Environment Variables: If your app needs any environment variables (API keys, etc.), add them here. For example, if v0 created any .env file or if you have API keys for fetching data, define those as Vercel environment vars now. You can also add env vars later in the Project Settings if unsure (Deploying Git Repositories with Vercel).

  4. Deploy: Click the “Deploy” button. Vercel will start the first deployment by pulling the code from GitHub, installing dependencies, and building the project. This might take a minute or two. Once finished, you’ll get a live URL for your app.

  5. Set up custom domain (optional): If you have a custom domain for your project, you can configure it in Vercel after deployment. Otherwise, you can use the default Vercel domain provided (often something like your-project-name.vercel.app).

Continuous Deployment: After this setup, Vercel’s Git integration will automatically create a new deployment for every push to the repository’s branches (Deploying GitHub Projects with Vercel) (Deploying GitHub Projects with Vercel). In practice, that means when you push changes to the main branch, Vercel will build and update your production site. If you push to a feature branch or open a Pull Request, Vercel will provide a Preview Deployment URL for that branch or PR so you can preview changes safely. This workflow ensures any future updates (whether done via v0 or manual coding) can go through GitHub and trigger Vercel deployments, instead of using v0’s one-off deploy.

Note: At this point, you have essentially migrated your hosting to a Git-connected Vercel project. The original deployment from v0 (e.g., the *.v0.build URL) is separate. You may choose to remove or ignore the old v0 deployment. Going forward, use your GitHub repo and the new Vercel project for all updates.

4. Maintaining Compatibility with v0 for Future Development

One big question is: Can you still use v0.dev to develop or update your project after migrating the code? The answer is yes, but with some caveats. v0.dev does not directly sync with your GitHub repository or pull changes from it (How Can I Import The Project I made from v0.dev to Github or Vercel : r/nextjs), so you have to manage updates between v0 and your code manually. Here are some tips to continue leveraging v0 while using your Git repo as the source of truth:

  • Keep your v0 chat session: If you built the initial app in v0, your chat (with the history of prompts and code) is likely still accessible when you log into v0.dev. You can continue the conversation there to ask for new features or changes. For example, you could say “Now add a dark mode toggle” or “Create a new page for user profiles,” and v0 will generate the required code.

  • Export or copy new changes from v0: After v0 generates updates or new components, you’ll need to bring that code into your local project. You can use the same methods as before: use the Download ZIP option again to get updated files, or copy specific code snippets from v0’s code preview into your local files. If v0 created new files or directories, make sure to add those to your project. There is no automatic push from v0 to your GitHub repo – you must manually transfer the code (How Can I Import The Project I made from v0.dev to Github or Vercel : r/nextjs). Once you’ve integrated the changes locally, test them and then commit and push to GitHub as usual (triggering a new Vercel deployment).

  • Use “Add to Codebase” for incremental changes: v0’s Add to Codebase via CLI feature isn’t only for the initial export – it can also help with integrating specific components or UI blocks into an existing project. For instance, if you use v0 to generate a new component (often called a “block”), clicking Add to codebase for that block will give you an npx shadcn@latest add ... command. Run that in your project directory, and it will inject the new component code into your project (placing the files in the appropriate directories). This can be easier than manually copy-pasting multiple files. Just ensure your project’s tech stack (Shadcn UI, Tailwind, etc.) is set up similarly to what v0 expects. This CLI integration is one of the three primary ways to use v0’s output (besides copy-pasting or downloading), and it’s designed to merge v0’s code into an existing codebase (What is Vercel's v0?).

  • Avoid divergent changes that v0 doesn’t know about: Since v0 isn’t aware of changes you make in GitHub or locally, try to avoid scenarios where you and v0 are editing the same part of the code concurrently. For example, if you plan to have v0 modify a certain component, refrain from heavily refactoring that component’s code on your own first – v0’s next suggestion might not match your refactor, making it harder to merge. It’s best to use v0 for generating new UI pieces or boilerplate, and use your local development for fine-tuning, styling, and integrating those pieces.

  • Final check and sync: After using v0 for a new change, always integrate the code into your local project and push to GitHub promptly. This way, your GitHub repository remains the up-to-date version of the project. You cannot “import” changes from your Git repo back into v0, so think of v0 as a one-way assistant. Use it to generate code → export/integrate → commit to Git, repeating as needed. If at some point the project outgrows the need for v0 or the v0 chat context is no longer relevant, you can continue development purely with your own code edits or other tools.

5. Configuration Adjustments and Best Practices

Finally, let’s cover a few configuration tips and best practices to ensure a smooth migration and development process:

  • Environment Variables: If your v0-generated project uses any environment variables (for example, API keys or database URLs that were perhaps set up in v0 for you), make sure to add those to Vercel. You can do this in the Vercel dashboard under Project Settings > Environment Variables. They should be the same keys/names that the app expects. Vercel will inject them during build and runtime. (We mentioned this during the import step as well (Deploying Git Repositories with Vercel), but it’s important for your app to function correctly.)

  • Check project settings in Vercel: After the project is up on Vercel, review the settings. Ensure the Framework = Next.js and the Build Command and Output Directory are default (Next.js defaults to npm run build and .next respectively, which Vercel handles automatically). Also, verify the Production Branch is set to “main” (or whichever branch you use to deploy to production).

  • Maintain consistency with v0’s tech stack: v0 likely set up certain libraries (e.g., Shadcn/UI components, Tailwind CSS, Radix UI for accessibility, etc.). When continuing development, try to use the same libraries and conventions rather than replacing them immediately. This ensures any future code from v0 will fit in without major rewrites. For example, if v0 added a component using Shadcn UI, keep using Shadcn’s styling approach so that new v0 components have a place in your project.

  • Update dependencies as needed: The project created by v0 will have specific dependency versions. It’s a good practice to occasionally update these (especially if you see security alerts or important updates). However, be cautious—update one thing at a time and test, to avoid breaking the generated code. Use version control (and maybe create a branch for updates) so you can revert if an update doesn’t play well with the existing code.

  • Use Git branches for new features: Now that you are on GitHub, you can leverage branching and pull requests. For example, if you use v0 to build a new feature, you could integrate it into a new Git branch, push it, and open a PR. Vercel will provide a preview URL for that PR, so you can test the v0-generated feature live. Once satisfied, merge it into main to deploy to production. This workflow adds a safety net since you (or team members) can review changes before they go live.

  • Backup your v0 chat or code exports: v0 might be in beta and could change; ensure you have saved the important outputs. Your GitHub repo is now the backup of your code. It’s not a bad idea to also save the v0 chat transcript (v0 has a “Share” feature for chats which can generate a link with the full conversation and code (Vercel v0.dev: A hands-on review · Reflections) – you could save that link or content for reference). This way, you have a record of what prompts were used to generate which parts of the code, which can be useful for documentation or in case you need to regenerate a component from scratch.

  • Monitor deployments and logs: After linking to GitHub, keep an eye on your Vercel deployments (in the Vercel dashboard under your project). If a deployment fails, Vercel will show error logs – which could indicate missing dependencies or config. A common gotcha after migrating is forgetting an environment variable, or perhaps the build command differs. Adjust accordingly and redeploy if needed.

  • Gradually phase out reliance on v0 (if desired): As your project grows, you might find it easier to just code directly or use other AI assistants (like GitHub Copilot) within your IDE, especially for logic and complex functionality. v0 is fantastic for quickly generating UI and boilerplate, but you should always review and polish the code it produces. Treat v0 as a boost to productivity, not a replacement for understanding your code. Over time, you may use it less, and that’s okay – your GitHub repo will contain the full history of changes whether they came from v0 or from your own edits.

By following the above steps, you’ve successfully moved your project from v0.dev to a GitHub repository and set up Vercel for continuous deployment. You can continue using v0.dev to prototype and generate new parts of your app, while using GitHub as your source of truth and Vercel for hosting. This gives you the best of both worlds: the convenience of AI-assisted code generation and the robustness of modern DevOps (version control and CI/CD). Happy coding!

Sources & References:

Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment