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UI Development/UI Architecture/Component Development Workflow

Planning & Requirements Phase

Define component requirements, determine category, and review designs before implementation.

Planning & Requirements Phase

Overview

The planning phase is crucial for successful component development. It helps avoid costly rework, ensures consistent implementation, and aligns the component with both user needs and our design system. Studies show that addressing requirements issues early can reduce development costs by up to 100x compared to fixing them after deployment.

Why Planning Matters

The planning phase is crucial for successful component development. It helps avoid costly rework, ensures consistent implementation, and aligns the component with both user needs and our design system. Studies show that addressing requirements issues early can reduce development costs by up to 100x compared to fixing them after deployment.

Step 1: Define Component Requirements

Before writing any code, it's important to clearly understand the component's purpose, behavior, and constraints. This step creates alignment between design, development, and product teams while ensuring the component will meet user needs.

When defining requirements, consider these key aspects:

  • Primary Purpose: What core user need does this component address?
  • Usage Context: In what screens/features will this component appear?
  • Data Requirements: What information will this component display or collect?
  • Visual Requirements: How should it look in different states and platforms?
  • Interaction Requirements: How will users interact with it? What feedback should it provide?
  • Accessibility Requirements: What specific a11y features are needed? (Screen reader support, keyboard navigation, etc.)
  • Performance Requirements: Are there specific performance thresholds it must meet?
  • Platform Considerations: Are there platform-specific behaviors to account for?

AI Collaboration: Requirements Definition

Working with AI Collaborators

AI can be particularly helpful during the requirements definition phase by identifying patterns from similar components, suggesting comprehensive prop types, and raising considerations you might otherwise overlook. Using structured prompts ensures consistent and thorough AI assistance.

# Component Requirements Definition
 
## Component Context
- **Component Name**: [Name of the component]
- **Purpose**: [Describe what the component does and the user need it addresses]
- **Usage Context**: [Describe where it will be used in the application]
- **User Interactions**: [Describe how users will interact with it]
- **Design Reference**: [Link to design or mockup if available]
 
## Please help me identify:
1. Complete set of props with types and default values
2. All possible visual states (default, hover, active, disabled, loading, error)
3. Accessibility requirements specific to this component
4. Performance considerations and optimizations
5. Integration points with our existing component architecture
6. Edge cases I should account for
7. Testing strategies for this component
 
## Additional Context
- Our project uses TypeScript and React Native
- We follow a design token system for styling
- We prioritize accessibility and cross-platform consistency

Step 2: Determine Component Category

Why Component Categorization Matters

Properly categorizing components helps maintain a clean architecture, improves reusability, and ensures components are built at the right level of abstraction. This organization makes it easier for developers to find existing components, understand their intended use cases, and maintain consistent standards across the codebase.

Our component architecture uses a three-tier system that separates components based on their complexity, composition, and relationship to business domains. The following decision tree will help you determine the appropriate category for your component:

Use these questions to determine the appropriate category for your component:

  1. Does it contain business logic or domain-specific rules?

    • If yes → Business Component
    • Example: A ProductCard that formats prices according to business rules

  2. Does it accept domain-specific objects as props?

    • If yes → Business Component
    • Example: A UserProfile that takes a User object with specific properties

  3. Is it composed of multiple foundation components working together?

    • If yes → Pattern Component
    • Example: A Form that combines Input, Select, and Button components

  4. Does it implement complex UI behaviors or interactions?

    • If yes → Pattern Component
    • Example: A Modal with focus trapping and keyboard interactions

  5. Is it a single-purpose, atomic UI element?

    • If yes → Foundation Component
    • Example: A Button that handles basic press interactions

Step 3: Design and API Review

The Value of Pre-Implementation Reviews

Taking time to review component designs and APIs before starting implementation helps identify potential issues early, ensures alignment with design standards, and prevents costly rework. This collaborative review process also promotes knowledge sharing and improves the overall quality of the component library.

Before writing code, it's valuable to thoroughly review both the visual design and the programmatic API of your component. This ensures the component will be both visually correct and developer-friendly.

A good design review follows these steps:

  1. Gather All Design Assets

    • Design mockups and prototypes
    • Design system documentation
    • Existing similar components

  2. Review with Cross-Functional Team

    • Include designers, developers, and accessibility specialists
    • Review on multiple device sizes if applicable
    • Validate interaction patterns against established patterns

  3. Document Decisions and Edge Cases

    • Note any approved deviations from standards
    • Document responsive behavior expectations
    • Record special handling for edge cases

  4. Validate Technical Feasibility

    • Ensure the design can be implemented efficiently
    • Identify any technical constraints or challenges
    • Discuss alternatives if necessary

Planning Phase Summary

The planning phase sets the foundation for successful component development. By thoroughly defining requirements, properly categorizing components, and reviewing designs before implementation, you can:

  • Avoid costly rework later in the development process
  • Ensure alignment between design and development teams
  • Create components that are consistent with existing patterns
  • Build in accessibility and performance from the start
  • Create clear documentation that helps other developers

Next Steps

Once you've completed the planning phase:

  1. Document Your Decisions: Record all requirements, categorization decisions, and API designs in a shared location
  2. Get Sign-off: Ensure all stakeholders agree with the plan before proceeding
  3. Prepare for Development: Set up your development environment and gather necessary resources
  4. Move to Development Phase: Proceed to the Development Phase to begin implementation

Component Development Workflow

Step-by-step workflow for creating, testing, and maintaining UI components with AI collaboration patterns and quality assurance processes.

Development Phase

Create component structure, implement functionality, apply design tokens, and add accessibility.

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