next.js 14 add middleware.js short circuits "/" path

[mocraimer]

[REQUIRED] Environment info

firebase-tools:
13.11.2

Platform:
Windows 11

[REQUIRED] Test case

create a next.js app (version 14.2.4) under src add middleware.json with following contents
`import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
import { i18nConfig } from '@/app/i18n/config';

export function middleware(request) {
const { pathname } = request.nextUrl;

// Skip middleware for static files and api routes
if (
pathname.startsWith('/_next') ||
pathname.startsWith('/api') ||
pathname.includes('/assets/') ||
pathname.includes('.')
) {
return NextResponse.next();
}

// Handle root path redirects
if (pathname === '/') {
const locale = getLocale(request);
return NextResponse.redirect(new URL(/${locale}, request.url));
}

// Check if the path starts with a locale
const pathnameIsMissingLocale = i18nConfig.locales.every(
locale => !pathname.startsWith(/${locale}/) && pathname !== /${locale}
);

if (pathnameIsMissingLocale) {
const locale = getLocale(request);
return NextResponse.redirect(
new URL(/${locale}${pathname}, request.url)
);
}

return NextResponse.next();
}

export const config = {
matcher: [
'/',
'/((?!api|_next|assets|.\..).*)'
]
};

// Helper function remains the same
function getLocale(request) {
const localeCookie = request.cookies.get('NEXT_LOCALE');
if (localeCookie?.value && i18nConfig.locales.includes(localeCookie.value)) {
return localeCookie.value;
}

const acceptLanguage = request.headers.get('accept-language');
if (acceptLanguage) {
const preferredLocale = acceptLanguage
.split(',')[0]
.split('-')[0]
.toLowerCase();

if (i18nConfig.locales.includes(preferredLocale)) {
   return preferredLocale;
 }

}

return i18nConfig.defaultLocale;
}`

deploy this to a firebase hosting site (no app connected) go to "/" path of site and see you get a link to open firebase hosting, if you add any other pages you can still navigate to those.

[REQUIRED] Steps to reproduce

see above

[REQUIRED] Expected behavior

the index.js under pages folder should be rendered.

[REQUIRED] Actual behavior

you get a link to open firebase hosting, if you add any other pages you can still navigate to those.