You’re diving into the world of Sanity, TypeScript, and GROQ query optimization. Let’s go through some essential guidelines to help you navigate your development process smoothly.

Sanity Development Guidelines

Sanity Schema Rules

1. Choose Descriptive Schema Names

For clarity, use names that describe the purpose of your schemas. Here’s an example:

export default {
  name: 'blogPost',
  title: 'Blog Post',
  type: 'document'
}

Clear names make your code easier to read and maintain.

2. Always Add Descriptions

Descriptions are key for:

Complex fields
Fields with specific validation rules
Fields that impact other parts of your system

Adding descriptions helps everyone understand what each field does and what limitations it has.

3. Set Up Validation Rules

Be sure to validate your fields. Check for:

Required fields
String lengths
Number ranges
Custom business logic

Here’s how you might set up validation:

{
  name: 'title',
  title: 'Title',
  type: 'string',
  validation: Rule => Rule.required().max(80)
}

4. Organize with Fieldsets

Grouping related fields can improve clarity. Here’s an example of how to do that:

fieldsets: [
  {
    name: 'social',
    title: 'Social Media',
    options: { collapsible: true, collapsed: true }
  }
]

5. Keep Icon Usage Consistent

Use icons from @sanity/icons or react-icons consistently across your schemas to maintain a uniform look.

TypeScript Integration

1. Generate Types Automatically

Tools like sanity-codegen can help you automatically create TypeScript types from your schemas. This step is crucial for ensuring type safety.

2. Type Your Queries

Here’s a way to define the types for your queries:

import { SanityDocument } from '@sanity/client'

interface BlogPost extends SanityDocument {
  title: string
  slug: { current: string }
  content: PortableTextBlock[]
}

GROQ Query Best Practices

1. Use Projections Wisely

To boost performance, only fetch the fields you actually need. Here’s an example:

*[_type == "blogPost"] {
  _id,
  title,
  slug,
  "author": author->name
}

2. Handle References Correctly

Make sure to use the arrow operator when working with references:

*[_type == "blogPost"] {
  ...,
  "authorName": author->name,
  "categoryTitles": categories[]->title
}

3. Implement Pagination Properly

To manage large datasets, use pagination. Here’s a simple example:

*[_type == "blogPost"] | order(_createdAt desc) [0...10]

Performance Optimization

1. Use CDN URLs for Images

Always take advantage of Sanity's image CDN and apply any necessary transformations to optimize loading times.

2. Set Up Caching Strategies

Consider these options:

Use Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR) with Next.js.
Set appropriate cache headers.
Utilize Sanity's webhook for on-demand revalidation.

3. Optimize Bundle Size

To improve load times, try these techniques:

Lazy load components in Sanity Studio.
Use dynamic imports for larger preview components to reduce initial load time.

By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to creating a well-structured and efficient application using Sanity, TypeScript, and GROQ. Happy coding!

Best Practices for Sanity Development