shadcn/ui: Why It's Not Just Another Component Library
shadcn/ui: Why It's Not Just Another Component Library
shadcn/ui isn't a traditional component library—it's a collection of copy-paste components that you own. Here's why it's brilliant.
The Philosophy
Instead of npm install huge-ui-library
, you:
- Copy components you need
- Customize them directly
- Own your code
- No breaking changes
Getting Started
Installation
npx shadcn-ui@latest init
Add Components
npx shadcn-ui@latest add button
npx shadcn-ui@latest add card
npx shadcn-ui@latest add dialog
Use Them
import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"
export function App() {
return <Button variant="outline">Click me</Button>
}
Why Developers Love It
1. You Own The Code
// It's YOUR component now
// components/ui/button.tsx
export function Button({ className, variant, size, ...props }) {
// Customize anything you want
// Add your business logic
// No library constraints
}
2. Built on Radix UI
- Accessible by default
- Keyboard navigation
- Screen reader support
- WAI-ARIA compliant
3. Styled with Tailwind
- Consistent design system
- Dark mode built-in
- Responsive by default
- Easy customization
Real-World Examples
Custom Theme
/* globals.css */
:root {
--primary: 224 71% 40%;
--radius: 0.5rem;
}
.dark {
--primary: 224 71% 70%;
}
Composed Components
// Combine primitives into custom components
export function StatCard({ title, value, change }) {
return (
<Card>
<CardHeader>
<CardTitle>{title}</CardTitle>
</CardHeader>
<CardContent>
<div className="text-2xl font-bold">{value}</div>
<Badge variant={change > 0 ? "success" : "destructive"}>
{change}%
</Badge>
</CardContent>
</Card>
)
}
My Favorite Components
1. Command Menu (⌘K)
<CommandDialog open={open} onOpenChange={setOpen}>
<CommandInput placeholder="Search..." />
<CommandList>
<CommandGroup heading="Suggestions">
<CommandItem>Calendar</CommandItem>
<CommandItem>Search Emoji</CommandItem>
</CommandGroup>
</CommandList>
</CommandDialog>
2. Data Table
Full-featured with sorting, filtering, pagination - all customizable.
3. Form with Validation
const form = useForm<FormData>({
resolver: zodResolver(formSchema),
})
<Form {...form}>
<FormField
control={form.control}
name="email"
render={({ field }) => (
<FormItem>
<FormLabel>Email</FormLabel>
<FormControl>
<Input {...field} />
</FormControl>
<FormMessage />
</FormItem>
)}
/>
</Form>
Comparison with Others
vs Material-UI
- MUI: Heavy, opinionated, hard to customize
- shadcn: Lightweight, flexible, you own it
vs Ant Design
- Ant: Great for admin panels, very styled
- shadcn: Modern, minimal, customizable
vs Chakra UI
- Chakra: Runtime styles, larger bundle
- shadcn: Compile-time, zero runtime
Best Practices
- Create a components registry
// components/index.ts
export * from './ui/button'
export * from './ui/card'
export * from './ui/dialog'
- Extend, don't modify
// components/custom/submit-button.tsx
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
export function SubmitButton({ loading, ...props }) {
return (
<Button disabled={loading} {...props}>
{loading ? <Spinner /> : props.children}
</Button>
)
}
- Use CSS variables for theming Easy theme switching without JavaScript.
Common Patterns
Loading States
<Button disabled={isLoading}>
{isLoading && <Loader2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />}
Submit
</Button>
Responsive Dialogs
// Use Sheet on mobile, Dialog on desktop
const Component = isMobile ? Sheet : Dialog
My Experience
After 6 months with shadcn/ui:
- Ship 3x faster than custom components
- 50% less code than other libraries
- Zero breaking changes (you own the code!)
- Perfect Lighthouse scores
When NOT to Use
- Need 100+ components immediately
- Don't want to customize anything
- Prefer CSS-in-JS over Tailwind
- Want managed updates
The Future
shadcn/ui represents a shift in how we think about component libraries. Instead of black boxes, we get blueprints. It's not just a library—it's a philosophy that respects developers.
Copy, paste, customize, ship. That's the shadcn way.
About Ansh Gupta
Frontend Developer with 3 years of experience building modern web applications. Based in Indore, India, passionate about React, TypeScript, and creating exceptional user experiences.
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