Component Library Development

Practical guide for creating reusable Aurelia 2 component libraries, covering architecture patterns, distribution strategies, and best practices without strong opinions.

Creating reusable component libraries enables code sharing across projects and contributes to the Aurelia ecosystem. This guide covers practical approaches to building, packaging, and distributing Aurelia 2 component libraries.

Library Architecture Options

Monolithic Library

Single package containing all components:

my-ui-library/
├── src/
│   ├── button/
│   ├── input/
│   ├── modal/
│   └── index.ts
└── package.json

Benefits: Simple to manage, single install Trade-offs: Larger bundle if using only some components

Modular Library

Separate packages for each component or component group:

@my-ui/
├── button/
├── input/
├── form-controls/
└── overlays/

Benefits: Granular imports, smaller bundles Trade-offs: More complex management, multiple packages

Hybrid Approach

Main package with optional modular packages:

Project Setup

Basic Structure

Package.json Configuration

Component Development Patterns

Base Component Structure

Component Registration

Create a configuration helper for easy registration:

Barrel Exports

Styling Strategies

Users can customize by setting CSS variables:

Shadow DOM + CSS Modules

Themeable Design System

Build Configuration

TypeScript Configuration

Vite Build Alternative

Distribution Strategies

NPM Package

CDN Distribution

Build UMD bundles for CDN usage:

Usage Examples

Include usage examples for better adoption:

Testing Your Library

Component Testing

Integration Testing

Test library configuration and registration:

Documentation

README Template

Usage

Register All Components

Register Individual Components

Components

Button

Properties:

  • variant: 'primary' | 'secondary' | 'danger'

  • size: 'small' | 'medium' | 'large'

  • disabled: boolean

Theming

Override CSS custom properties:

Maintenance Considerations

Bundle Size Optimization

  • Use tree-shaking friendly exports

  • Minimize dependencies

  • Provide both full and modular imports

TypeScript Support

  • Include comprehensive type definitions

  • Export component interfaces

  • Provide good IntelliSense experience

Accessibility

  • Include ARIA attributes by default

  • Support keyboard navigation

  • Provide accessible color contrasts

Performance

  • Lazy load heavy components

  • Optimize CSS delivery

  • Minimize runtime overhead

Publishing Checklist

This guide provides flexible patterns for component library development while avoiding prescriptive decisions about specific architectural choices. Choose the approaches that best fit your project's needs and constraints.

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