How I Approach Building Component Systems
“A component library is not about buttons. It’s about language—a shared grammar between design and engineering.”
Every frontend team eventually runs into the same problem: inconsistency. Two modals that open and close in slightly different ways. A button with five visual variants but no clear reason for any of them. A codebase where every new feature feels like reinventing the wheel.
Building a component system isn’t about “standardizing the UI.” It’s about creating a shared mental model that lets design decisions flow naturally into code.
My Principles
I start small—atoms, molecules, organisms. Each layer exists only to make the next one simpler. When the foundation is solid, scaling feels effortless instead of painful.
Ru…
How I Approach Building Component Systems
“A component library is not about buttons. It’s about language—a shared grammar between design and engineering.”
Every frontend team eventually runs into the same problem: inconsistency. Two modals that open and close in slightly different ways. A button with five visual variants but no clear reason for any of them. A codebase where every new feature feels like reinventing the wheel.
Building a component system isn’t about “standardizing the UI.” It’s about creating a shared mental model that lets design decisions flow naturally into code.
My Principles
I start small—atoms, molecules, organisms. Each layer exists only to make the next one simpler. When the foundation is solid, scaling feels effortless instead of painful.
Rules break; constraints guide. I set boundaries that leave room for creativity without letting the system fall apart.
Documentation is a contract, not an afterthought. It binds design, engineering, and whoever inherits the code—including future me.
Every component must be neutral, reusable, and composable. A Button shouldn’t assume where it lives; it should adapt.
Accessibility isn’t a checkbox you tick later. It’s part of the core grammar, right alongside typography and spacing.
Architecture in Practice
I treat the repository like a small ecosystem. Every piece is responsible for its own health.
packages/
├── component-library/
│ ├── src/
│ │ ├── components/
│ │ │ └── Button/
│ │ │ ├── Button.tsx
│ │ │ ├── Button.stories.tsx
│ │ │ └── Button.test.tsx
│ │ └── hooks/
│ │ └── useDebounce.ts
│ └── index.ts
├── utils/
│ ├── format/
│ └── validation/
└── docs/
└── README.md
Clear folders, purposeful files. If something doesn’t have an obvious job, it doesn’t belong.
Workflow and Culture
Every component is a public API: predictable, documented, versioned.
That means PR templates with quality checklists, automated accessibility tests, Storybook MDX as the single source of truth, and disciplined semantic versioning with changelogs.
Vite, Storybook, TypeScript—these aren’t just tools; they’re instruments of clarity.
The Dance Between Design and Engineering
Great systems disappear into the background. They don’t dictate form; they create rhythm.
Design tokens are the DNA. Typography sets hierarchy. Even prop names carry tone—concise, deliberate, minimal.
Engineering is design with structure. Design is engineering with empathy. When the two align, you get flow.
Lessons Learned
- The smaller the component, the harder it is to name well.
- Consistency comes from shared philosophy, not from policing.
- The best systems are opinionated yet kind.
- Your future self is the primary user.
- A system without documentation is just another codebase.
Closing Thoughts
Systems are mirrors. A messy library reflects messy thinking. Build yours with clarity, and everyone who touches it will feel the difference.
I’m currently putting these ideas into an open-source Frontend Toolkit—a growing collection of utilities, patterns, and design foundations. If any of this resonates, come join, fork, or just follow along. The strongest systems are built together.
#frontend #architecture #designsystems #react #engineeringculture