Sometimes you need to learn lessons the hard way. I just spent two days building custom UI components from scratch before remembering that component libraries and themes exist for a reason.
The Trap of DIY
It started innocently enough:
- “I just need a simple button component”
- “This modal should be straightforward”
- “How hard can a dropdown be?”
Two days later, I was still tweaking shadows, managing state, and dealing with edge cases that component libraries solved years ago.
The Revelation
After stepping back and implementing a proper component library, everything became standardized:
- Consistent design language across the entire application
- Accessibility features built-in
- Dark mode support out of the box
- Responsive behavior that actually works
- Documentation and examples readily available
What I Should Have Done
Instead of diving into custom implementations, I should have:
- Evaluated existing solutions first: Shadcn/ui, Material UI, Ant Design, etc.
- Picked one that matches the project needs: Not all libraries are equal
- Customized from there: Themes and variants exist for a reason
- Focused on the actual product: Not reinventing basic UI patterns
The Silver Lining
Those two days weren’t completely wasted. I now have a much deeper appreciation for:
- The complexity hiding in “simple” components
- The value of battle-tested solutions
- The importance of standardization
- Why component libraries are worth their weight in gold
Moving Forward
Now everything is standard, consistent, and maintainable. The lesson? Start with established solutions and customize from there. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.
Sometimes the best code is the code you don’t write.