DEV Community: S M Tahosin

How to Call Google Gemini API from Next.js (Free Tier, No Backend Needed)

S M Tahosin — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:53:42 +0000

Here's how I integrated Google Gemini's free API into a Next.js app - calling it directly from the client with zero backend cost.

Why Client-Side?

I initially used a serverless function (API route) to call Gemini. But on Netlify's free tier, functions have a 10-second timeout. Gemini sometimes takes 5-8 seconds, and with cold starts, it was hitting 502 errors.

Solution: Call the Gemini API directly from the browser. Since I'm using the free tier API key (rate-limited by Google), there's no security concern.

Setup

1. Get a Free Gemini API Key

Go to aistudio.google.com. Free tier gives you:

15 requests per minute
1,500 requests per day

2. Environment Variable

NEXT_PUBLIC_GEMINI_API_KEY=your_key_here

3. Call the API

const res = await fetch(
  `https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models/gemini-2.0-flash:generateContent?key=${apiKey}`,
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      contents: [{ parts: [{ text: prompt }] }],
      generationConfig: { maxOutputTokens: 2000, temperature: 0.7 },
    }),
  }
);
const data = await res.json();
const text = data?.candidates?.[0]?.content?.parts?.[0]?.text;

4. Static Export for Netlify

// next.config.ts
const nextConfig = { output: "export" };

No serverless functions needed. Deploy with netlify deploy --prod --dir out.

Live Examples

MaxAI Writer - 6 AI writing tools
PromptCraft AI - AI image prompt generator

Source: github.com/x-tahosin/maxai-writer

Questions? Drop them below!

PromptCraft AI: Free Prompt Generator for Midjourney, DALL-E 3 & Stable Diffusion

S M Tahosin — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:47:15 +0000

If you use Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, or Flux, you know the struggle: writing the perfect prompt.

I built PromptCraft AI to solve this. Describe your image idea in plain English, pick a style and mood, and get 3 platform-optimized prompts instantly.

How It Works

Describe your idea — "A lone astronaut on Mars watching Earth rise"
Pick your platform — Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, or Flux
Choose a style — Photorealistic, Anime, Oil Painting, Cinematic... (15+ options)
Select a mood — Dramatic, Peaceful, Mysterious, Vibrant... (10 options)
Generate — Get 3 optimized prompts, copy-paste ready

Platform-Specific Output

Each platform has different prompt syntax:

Midjourney: /imagine format with --ar, --v, --style params
DALL-E 3: Natural language with specific compositional details
Stable Diffusion: Tag-based with (emphasis:weight) and negative prompts
Flux: Descriptive language with technical parameters

PromptCraft formats everything correctly for each one.

Try It Free

→ promptcraft-ai-gen.netlify.app

5 free generations. Pro ($3.99, one-time) for unlimited.

Source Code

Open source: github.com/x-tahosin/promptcraft-ai

What AI image platform do you use most? Let me know in the comments!

I Built 6 Free AI Writing Tools in One Weekend - No Signup Required

S M Tahosin — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:47:12 +0000

Are you tired of AI writing tools that require signup, credit cards, and monthly subscriptions just to generate a simple email?

I built MaxAI Writer — 6 free AI writing tools that work instantly. No signup. No credit card. Just type and generate.

The Tools

1. AI Resume Builder

Paste your experience, target job title, and get an ATS-optimized resume in seconds.

2. Cover Letter Generator

Provide the job posting details, and get a tailored cover letter that matches the role.

3. Professional Email Writer

Need to write a business email? Just describe the context and tone, done in 3 seconds.

4. LinkedIn Bio Optimizer

Stand out with an AI-crafted LinkedIn profile that highlights your strengths.

5. Product Description Writer

Turn boring feature lists into compelling product copy that converts.

6. Blog Outline Generator

Get structured, SEO-friendly blog outlines with headings and key points.

Try It Free

→ maxai-writer-pro-tools.netlify.app

5 free generations per tool. Pro upgrade ($4.99, one-time) for unlimited access.

Tech Stack

Next.js 16 + React 19
Tailwind CSS v4
Google Gemini 2.0 Flash API
Netlify (static + serverless)
BNB crypto payments (BSC)

Source Code

The project is open source: github.com/x-tahosin/maxai-writer

What AI writing tool would you want to see added next? Drop a comment!