React Workflow
Step 1: Component Planning
- Identify Purpose: Determine what the component will do and its place in the UI.
- Define Props: Decide what data and callbacks the component needs via props.
- Plan State: Consider the internal state the component will manage.
- Interaction Design: Think about how the component will interact with user input and other components.
Step 2: Setup the Development Environment
- Create a React App: Set up a new project with TypeScript using Create React App or another boilerplate.
- Install Dependencies: Add any additional libraries or tools needed for the component (e.g., state management, routing, UI libraries).
Step 3: Define TypeScript Interfaces or Types
- Props Type: Create an interface or type for the props the component will receive.
- State Type: If the component has state, define the shape of the state with an interface or type.
- Event Handlers: Type any event handlers appropriately, specifying the type of event they will handle.
Step 4: Scaffold the Component
- Create Functional Component: Start with a functional component using the
React.FC
generic type with props. - Initialize State: Use the
useState
hook to initialize any state, with types applied.
Step 5: Implement the UI Structure
- JSX: Write out the JSX for the component's UI.
- Styling: Decide on the styling strategy (CSS, inline styles, CSS-in-JS) and apply initial styles.
Step 6: Add Interactivity
- Event Handlers: Implement functions for handling events (e.g.,
onClick
, onChange
), making sure to type the event parameter. - State Updates: Use the
useState
hook for state management and update state in response to events.
Step 7: Integrate Data and Logic
- Props Usage: Use props passed into the component where necessary.
- Context: If needed, consume context using
useContext
hook for global state or theming. - Effects: Use
useEffect
for side effects, lifecycle events, and fetching data.
Step 8: Refine the Component
- Refactoring: Break down the component into smaller sub-components if it gets too complex.
- Optimization: Use
useMemo
, useCallback
, or React.memo
for performance optimizations if necessary.
Step 9: Type-Checking and Validation
- Static Analysis: Run TypeScript compiler to catch any type errors.
- PropTypes: Even with TypeScript, you might use PropTypes for runtime type-checking if the project requires it.
Step 10: Testing
- Unit Tests: Write unit tests for the component's functionality using a library like Jest and React Testing Library.
- Integration Tests: Write tests to ensure the component works correctly within the context of the larger application.
- Visual Testing: Manually test the component in the browser and ensure it responds correctly to user interactions.
Step 11: Documentation
- Comments: Add comments explaining complex logic or important decisions in the code.
- Storybook: If using Storybook, create stories for the component to document its states and variants.
- README: Write documentation on how to use the component, its props, and any important behaviors.
Step 12: Review and Refinement
- Code Review: Have peers review the component's code for clarity and adherence to best practices.
- User Feedback: If possible, gather user feedback on the component's usability and make necessary adjustments.
Step 13: Deployment and Integration
- Build: Compile the project with TypeScript and ensure there are no build errors.
- Integration: Integrate the component into your application, making sure it works with other components.
- Deployment: Deploy the changes to a staging environment for final testing before production.
Step 14: Maintenance
- Monitor: Keep an eye on the component's performance and bug reports.
- Update: Periodically update the component to address tech debt, deprecations, or new requirements.