Filip Rakowski

Building a component library for modern challenges

What if the best way to use a component library was to copy its source code? This talk challenges the NPM package model for a more flexible future.

Building a component library for modern challenges
#1about 5 minutes

The limits of prop-based component customization

While component libraries promise acceleration, they often rely on an overwhelming number of props for customization that still fall short of real-world needs.

#2about 4 minutes

The high cost of complex customization abstractions

To go beyond simple props, libraries introduce complex, proprietary abstractions like CSS-in-JS or variable systems that increase cognitive load and learning curves.

#3about 4 minutes

Why opinionated frameworks are not a universal solution

Opinionated UI libraries are not universally effective, as they are often too complex for small projects and not flexible enough for large, pixel-perfect enterprise applications.

#4about 5 minutes

The root problem is shipping upgradeable components

The core issue with UI libraries is the flawed assumption that components should be upgradeable packages, which necessitates fragile abstractions and leads to frequent breaking changes.

#5about 4 minutes

A new approach using copy-pasteable components

A better approach is to provide copy-pasteable components that developers own, which eliminates complex abstractions and provides unlimited customization.

#6about 3 minutes

Combining UI primitives and copy-paste for reusability

A hybrid model solves reusability by shipping granular base components as UI primitives from a package while keeping larger, composed components copy-pasteable.

#7about 2 minutes

Key takeaways for choosing a UI library

Choose libraries based on research for your specific job, not just popularity, and favor simple, less opinionated tools that are more versatile and less risky.

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Matching moments

Understanding web components and their core technologies
02:09 MIN

Understanding web components and their core technologies

Accessibility with Web Components

Creating a cohesive user experience with design systems
15:48 MIN

Creating a cohesive user experience with design systems

Microfrontends at Scale

Building consistent UIs with an enterprise component framework
18:14 MIN

Building consistent UIs with an enterprise component framework

Navigating the Corporate Jungle: Life as a Developer in a large Company

Sharing UI components and ensuring design consistency
21:19 MIN

Sharing UI components and ensuring design consistency

Independently together: how micro-applications improve developer experience + app performance

Solving UI inconsistency across multiple frontend frameworks
00:04 MIN

Solving UI inconsistency across multiple frontend frameworks

Building a framework-independent component library

Structuring a production project with web components
13:55 MIN

Structuring a production project with web components

Frameworkless: How to use Web-Components in production?

Building with Web Components and the Lit library
10:36 MIN

Building with Web Components and the Lit library

Making of paint.js.org—a Web Component-based Productivity PWA

Overcoming collaboration challenges in UI component development
00:48 MIN

Overcoming collaboration challenges in UI component development

Unlocking Seamless Collaboration: Design-First APIs for UI Components

Featured Partners

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