Phase 5 - UI Component Library

Overview

• Tier: Build (Phase 5 of 12)
• Duration: 2-4 days
• Dependencies: Phase 0-4 completed
• Deliverables: Reusable UI components, component documentation, accessibility patterns

Entry Criteria

• Design system tokens available
• Skeleton layout functional
• TypeScript configured
• Tailwind CSS working

Implementation Steps

Step	Task	Scope	Notes
5.01	Build Button component	Essential	Primary, secondary, ghost variants
5.02	Create Card component	Essential	For content display
5.03	Build Section wrapper	Essential	Consistent spacing
5.04	Create Container component	Essential	Responsive widths
5.05	Document Link Component	Essential	Create tutorial guide
5.06	Build Image component	Essential	Wrapper for Astro Image
5.07	Create basic Badge	Essential	For tags/labels
5.08	Add Grid component	Essential	Responsive layouts
5.09	Extend /showcase style guide	Advanced	Component documentation (ADR-049)
5.10	Create Input components	Recommended	Forms, validation
5.11	Build Modal component	Recommended	Accessible dialogs
5.12	Add Tooltip component	Advanced	Hover information
5.13	Create Tabs component	Recommended	Content organization
5.14	Build Accordion	Recommended	Collapsible content
5.15	Add Loading states	Advanced	Skeletons, spinners
5.16	Create Alert component	Recommended	User feedback
5.17	Build Pagination	Recommended	List navigation

Component Management Strategy

Components are organised by atomic design (ADR-003): src/components/{atoms,molecules,structural,islands,a11y,mdx}/. Build Essential components first; add Recommended and Advanced components as your project scope requires. There is no separate file per scope level — a single component file is extended with additional props and variants as needed.

Component Scope Reference

Component	Scope	Notes
Button	Essential	Start with primary/secondary; add ghost/destructive variants as needed
Card	Essential	Extended with additional props for richer layouts
Section	Essential	Shared spacing wrapper
Container	Essential	Responsive width constraints
Image	Essential	Wrapper for Astro’s <Image> component
Badge	Essential	Add color variants incrementally
Grid	Essential	Responsive layout utility
Input	Recommended	Add when contact form or search is needed
Modal	Recommended	Accessible dialog with focus trap
Accordion	Recommended	Collapsible content sections
Tabs	Recommended	Content organization
Alert	Recommended	User feedback messages
Pagination	Recommended	List navigation for blog/projects
Tooltip	Advanced	Add only if UX requires it
Loading states	Advanced	Skeletons/spinners for island components

Common Pitfalls

1. Over-engineering: Creating complex components too early

   • Solution: Start simple, enhance iteratively

2. Missing Accessibility: Forgetting ARIA labels, keyboard nav

   • Solution: Test with keyboard and screen readers

3. Prop Drilling: Too many component props

   • Solution: Use composition over configuration

4. Style Conflicts: Tailwind classes overriding each other

   • Solution: Use consistent ordering, avoid arbitrary values

Exit Criteria

Essential (all projects)

• Core components built (Button, Card, Section, Container, Image, Badge, Grid)
• All components accessible (keyboard nav, ARIA labels)
• TypeScript interfaces defined for all props
• Components render correctly at all breakpoints

Recommended (most projects)

• Form input components built
• Interactive components (Modal, Accordion, Tabs) implemented where needed
• Component usage documented in phase guide or README

Advanced (portfolio/enterprise)

• /showcase style guide extended with your components (ADR-049)
• Visual regression baseline established
• All interactive components have automated accessibility tests

Rollback Strategy

If components need major refactoring:

1. Component API Changes:

   • Keep old version temporarily
   • Add deprecation warnings
   • Migrate usage gradually

2. Style System Changes:

   • Use CSS variables for migration
   • Test in isolated pages
   • Update documentation

3. Breaking Changes:

   • Version components (v1, v2)
   • Provide migration guide
   • Update in phases

AI Assistant Notes

Key Files to Reference

• src/components/{atoms,molecules,structural,islands,a11y,mdx}/* - Component library (atomic design, ADR-003)
• src/pages/showcase.astro - Living style guide / component catalog (ADR-049)
• Component usage in pages

Common Prompts for This Phase

• “Create accessible button component with variants”
• “Build responsive grid system with Tailwind”
• “Extend the /showcase style guide with a new component section”
• “Create modal with focus trap and ARIA”

Context Requirements

• Design system tokens
• Component requirements
• Accessibility standards
• Browser support targets