Building an internal UI component library is akin to creating a product for real-world customers. Here are the key steps and considerations for a smooth rollout:

1. Treat It Like a Product

While your component library may be mandatory for internal teams, treating it as a product can make adoption easier. Write comprehensive documentation, create a demo site, and promote it internally.

Documentation should not just describe the components but also offer practical code samples showcasing real-world use cases by other teams. Internal teams will feel more confident using the library when they see practical examples of how components function in actual applications.

2. Avoid Becoming a Bottleneck

One of the biggest risks in rolling out an internal component library is becoming the bottleneck in the development process. Components are unlikely to meet 100% of the requirements for other teams. If teams have to wait on your team for updates or changes, friction arises. To avoid this, allocate part of your team to handle rapid requests and maintain responsiveness.

Be prepared for components to need modifications for other teams’ specific use cases. Build flexibility into the system and don’t force teams to conform to rigid structures that don’t meet their requirements. A one-size-fits-all approach will only alienate teams, leading them to either abandon the library or create workarounds.

3. Allow Contributions

Encourage contributions from other teams. This will not only extend the capabilities of the library but also foster a sense of ownership among other teams. A clear process for contributing should be in place. This ensures that contributions are well-organized and maintain high quality.

Make sure that design and developer feedback is part of the library’s evolution. Establish channels where teams can propose changes or improvements, ensuring the library stays dynamic and aligned with evolving needs.

4. Backward Compatibility Is Key

Backward compatibility is critical for avoiding friction when teams are using or updating the library. Breaking backward compatibility without ample warning or a well-planned migration strategy can grind development to a halt.

If breaking changes are unavoidable, they should be clearly communicated across the organization. Create a detailed “breaking changes” section in your documentation so that teams updating from older versions can easily find what needs to be fixed without sorting through months of release notes. Additionally, avoid breaking functionality unless absolutely necessary. Always strive to expand component capabilities without removing essential features or imposing new requirements.

5. Embed Developers and Designers

To remain responsive and close to the needs of your “customers” (i.e., the internal teams using your library), embed your developers and designers within those teams. The goal is to integrate their workflows with your library. This direct involvement helps you stay aware of the actual pain points and ensures your components are being used as intended.

Working closely with designers is especially important. When your component library matches the design guidelines being handed to developers, you reduce friction. If developers are handed designs that require bending or hacking the components to fit, they’re more likely to abandon the library altogether. By aligning design processes with the components in the library, you can ensure that both sides are working with the same tools and goals in mind.

6. Component Libraries Are Hard

Creating a generalized UI library that suits multiple teams’ needs is challenging. UI components can vary widely depending on different use cases. Without a proper understanding of these use cases, the library may not generalize well.

To avoid this pitfall, it’s often better to focus on domain-specific, line-of-business (LOB) components. These should be tailored to your company’s business needs. Relying on third-party libraries for general UI tasks can save time and energy, allowing your team to focus on specific, high-impact components rather than trying to build a full suite of generalized UI elements from scratch.

Building and rolling out an internal UI component library requires careful planning and coordination across teams. By treating the library like a product, staying responsive, and allowing for contributions, you increase the chances of success. While challenging, a well-executed component library can provide significant long-term value by increasing consistency, reducing development time, and improving collaboration across your organization.