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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.