The SDK Initialization Trap: Why Your Builds Fail at Compile Time

Next.js executes top-level module code during builds for optimization, but major SDKs like Stripe, OpenAI, and Google Cloud validate credentials during initialization—causing builds to crash even when the SDK never actually runs. This timing mismatch is particularly problematic in CI and preview environments where credentials are intentionally restricted. Understanding this infrastructure challenge has become essential for teams adopting serverless and containerized deployment patterns.