ApprovalTimeline Component: Implementation With Storybook

by Alex Johnson 58 views

This article details the implementation of the ApprovalTimeline component using Svelte 5, DaisyUI for styling, and Storybook for comprehensive testing and documentation. The goal is to create a reusable, accessible, and well-documented UI component that enhances the b2b/approvals functionality of the library.

Introduction to the ApprovalTimeline Component

The ApprovalTimeline component is designed to visually represent the approval workflow process within a business-to-business (B2B) application. This component will provide users with a clear understanding of the stages an approval request goes through, the current status, and any relevant actions or timestamps. By implementing this component with Svelte 5 and DaisyUI, we aim to leverage modern web development practices and create a visually appealing and user-friendly interface. The ApprovalTimeline component not only enhances usability but also ensures maintainability and scalability of the application.

Key Objectives and Requirements

The primary objective is to develop a fully functional ApprovalTimeline component that adheres to the following requirements:

  1. Svelte 5 Patterns: Utilize the latest Svelte 5 features, including runes ($props, $derived, $state), to manage component state and reactivity efficiently.
  2. DaisyUI Styling: Employ DaisyUI classes statically to ensure consistent and visually appealing styling across the application. Avoid dynamic string interpolation for improved performance and maintainability.
  3. TypeScript Interfaces: Define TypeScript interfaces for all component props to ensure type safety and improve the developer experience.
  4. Comprehensive Storybook Stories: Create Storybook stories that demonstrate all component variants, states, and prop combinations. This ensures thorough testing and provides clear documentation for developers.
  5. Coding Standards and Style Guide: Adhere to the project's coding standards and style guide to maintain consistency and readability across the codebase.
  6. Accessibility Features: Incorporate accessibility features such as ARIA labels and keyboard navigation to ensure the component is usable by all users, including those with disabilities.
  7. Responsive Design Support: Implement responsive design principles to ensure the component adapts well to various screen sizes and devices.

Technical Implementation

The implementation of the ApprovalTimeline component involves several key steps, including setting up the component structure, defining props and states, applying DaisyUI styling, and creating Storybook stories. Each of these steps is crucial to ensuring the component meets the project's requirements and provides a seamless user experience.

Component Structure and Setup

The component will be located in the hexawebshare/src/components/b2b/approvals/ directory and will consist of the following files:

  • ApprovalTimeline.svelte: The main component file containing the Svelte 5 implementation.
  • ApprovalTimeline.stories.svelte: The Storybook stories file for testing and documenting the component.

ApprovalTimeline.svelte

This file will contain the primary logic and structure of the ApprovalTimeline component. It will utilize Svelte 5 runes for managing props and states, and DaisyUI classes for styling. The component will be structured to handle different states such as loading, disabled, and error, and will provide visual cues to the user regarding the approval process.

ApprovalTimeline.stories.svelte

This file will contain the Storybook stories that demonstrate the various use cases and states of the ApprovalTimeline component. These stories will include interactive examples, different prop combinations, and accessibility testing to ensure the component is robust and user-friendly.

Svelte 5 and Runes

Svelte 5 introduces the concept of runes, which are special symbols that allow developers to manage component state and reactivity more efficiently. The $props, $derived, and $state runes will be used extensively in the ApprovalTimeline component to handle input props, derived values, and internal component state.

  • $props: This rune is used to define the component's input props. By using TypeScript interfaces to define the props, we ensure type safety and provide clear documentation for developers.
  • $derived: This rune is used to create derived values that are automatically updated whenever their dependencies change. This is useful for computing values based on props or state without manual updates.
  • $state: This rune is used to define internal component state. Changes to state variables trigger automatic updates in the component's UI.

DaisyUI Styling

DaisyUI is a popular Tailwind CSS component library that provides a wide range of pre-styled components and utilities. The ApprovalTimeline component will leverage DaisyUI classes statically to ensure consistent and visually appealing styling. This approach avoids dynamic string interpolation, which can lead to performance issues and maintainability challenges.

Static DaisyUI Classes

By using DaisyUI classes directly in the component's template, we can ensure that the styling is predictable and efficient. For example, instead of dynamically constructing class names based on state, we can use static class names like daisy-step, daisy-step-primary, and daisy-step-secondary to represent different steps in the approval timeline.

TypeScript Interfaces

TypeScript interfaces are crucial for defining the structure and types of component props. By using interfaces, we can ensure type safety and provide clear documentation for developers. The ApprovalTimeline component will have a TypeScript interface that defines the shape of the props it accepts.

Example Props Interface

interface ApprovalTimelineProps {
 steps: {
 label: string;
 status: 'pending' | 'approved' | 'rejected';
 timestamp?: Date;
 }[];
 currentStep: number;
}

This interface defines the shape of the ApprovalTimelineProps object, which includes an array of steps, each with a label, status, and optional timestamp. It also includes a currentStep prop that indicates the current step in the timeline.

Storybook Stories

Storybook is a powerful tool for developing and testing UI components in isolation. The ApprovalTimeline.stories.svelte file will contain stories that demonstrate the various use cases and states of the component. These stories will include:

  • Default Variant: A basic example of the component with a few steps.
  • Prop Combinations: Stories that demonstrate different combinations of props, such as different step statuses and timestamps.
  • Different States: Stories that show the component in loading, disabled, and error states.
  • Interactive Examples: Stories that allow users to interact with the component and see how it responds to different actions.
  • Accessibility Testing: Stories that use Storybook's accessibility add-ons to ensure the component is accessible to all users.

Example Story

<script>
 import ApprovalTimeline from './ApprovalTimeline.svelte';

 const steps = [
 { label: 'Submitted', status: 'approved', timestamp: new Date() },
 { label: 'Reviewed', status: 'pending' },
 { label: 'Approved', status: 'rejected', timestamp: new Date() },
 { label: 'Completed', status: 'pending' },
 ];
</script>

<ApprovalTimeline steps={steps} currentStep={1} />

This story demonstrates the ApprovalTimeline component with a set of steps, each with a label and status. The currentStep prop indicates the current step in the timeline.

Accessibility Considerations

Accessibility is a crucial aspect of UI component development. The ApprovalTimeline component will incorporate several accessibility features to ensure it is usable by all users, including those with disabilities.

ARIA Labels

ARIA labels will be used to provide additional context and information to screen readers. For example, each step in the timeline will have an ARIA label that describes its status and any relevant actions.

Keyboard Navigation

The component will support keyboard navigation, allowing users to navigate through the steps using the keyboard. This is particularly important for users who cannot use a mouse or other pointing device.

Responsive Design

Responsive design ensures that the component adapts well to different screen sizes and devices. The ApprovalTimeline component will use DaisyUI's responsive classes to ensure it looks good on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

Media Queries

Media queries will be used to adjust the layout and styling of the component based on the screen size. For example, on smaller screens, the steps in the timeline may be displayed vertically instead of horizontally.

Testing and Documentation

Comprehensive testing and documentation are essential for ensuring the quality and maintainability of the ApprovalTimeline component. Storybook will be used to create interactive examples and test the component in isolation.

Unit Tests

Unit tests will be written to verify the component's behavior and ensure it meets the specified requirements. These tests will cover various scenarios, including different prop combinations and component states.

Component Documentation

Clear and concise documentation will be provided for the component, including information on its props, usage, and accessibility features. This documentation will be included in the project's documentation site and will be accessible to developers who need to use the component.

Impact and Benefits

The implementation of the ApprovalTimeline component will have a significant impact on the b2b/approvals functionality of the library. It will provide users with a ready-to-use, accessible, and well-documented UI component that enhances the user experience and improves the efficiency of approval workflows.

Enhanced User Experience

The component will provide a clear and intuitive visual representation of the approval process, making it easier for users to understand the status of their requests and any required actions.

Improved Efficiency

By providing a clear and concise overview of the approval process, the component will help users to quickly identify bottlenecks and take appropriate action, improving the overall efficiency of the workflow.

Increased Accessibility

The component's accessibility features will ensure that it is usable by all users, including those with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and ensuring that the application is accessible to a wider audience.

Conclusion

The implementation of the ApprovalTimeline component using Svelte 5, DaisyUI, and Storybook is a significant step towards enhancing the b2b/approvals functionality of the library. By following best practices in component development, including the use of runes, static styling, TypeScript interfaces, and comprehensive testing, we can ensure that the component is robust, maintainable, and user-friendly. This component will provide a valuable addition to the library, offering users a clear and intuitive way to track the progress of their approval requests. For further reading on Svelte 5 runes, you can visit the official Svelte documentation on Svelte 5 Runes.