React Version Support

React version support defines which React versions a design system works with. Support decisions affect which React features can be used, how components are architected, and which consumers can adopt the design system. Managing React support carefully enables broad adoption while embracing new capabilities.

What Is React Version Support

React version support specifies compatible React versions for a design system. This might include multiple major versions (React 17 and 18) or focus on the current version. Support claims should reflect actual testing and maintenance commitment.

React’s evolution introduces new features, deprecations, and behavioral changes. Design systems must evaluate each React release for compatibility and potentially update components to work correctly with new versions.

How React Version Support Works

React support involves configuring peer dependencies, testing across versions, and adapting to React evolution. Each aspect requires ongoing attention.

Peer dependency configuration specifies supported React versions. “peerDependencies”: { “react”: “^17.0.0 || ^18.0.0” } indicates both React 17 and 18 are supported. Peer dependencies tell consumers what to provide.

Testing across React versions validates support. CI matrix testing with different React versions catches compatibility issues. Tests should cover features that behave differently across versions.

Adaptation to React changes maintains support. When React deprecates patterns or introduces new requirements (like Strict Mode or Concurrent Mode), design system components may need updates.

Feature usage decisions affect version support. Using React 18 features like useId or Suspense boundaries requires React 18 minimum. Balancing new features with broader support is an ongoing decision.

Key Considerations

• Test against all supported React versions
• Configure peer dependencies to match tested versions
• Plan for React deprecations and new requirements
• Decide on feature adoption versus version support breadth
• Communicate support clearly in documentation

Common Questions

How should design systems handle React Strict Mode?

React Strict Mode applies additional checks and warnings to help find problems. Design systems should ensure components work correctly in Strict Mode.

Double invocation in Strict Mode calls certain lifecycle methods and hooks twice. Components with side effects in these methods may behave unexpectedly. Ensuring effects are properly handled prevents issues.

Deprecated API warnings appear in Strict Mode. Design systems using deprecated patterns like findDOMNode or string refs should migrate. Strict Mode helps surface these issues.

Testing with Strict Mode enabled catches problems. Running the design system test suite with StrictMode wrapper reveals issues before consumers encounter them.

Documentation can recommend Strict Mode. Encouraging consumers to use Strict Mode and ensuring the design system supports it builds confidence in component quality.

When should design systems adopt new React features?

New React features offer capabilities but affect version support. Several factors inform adoption timing.

Feature stability matters. Waiting until features are stable and well-documented reduces risk. Experimental features may change before final release.

Consumer benefit justifies adoption. Features that significantly improve the design system experience may warrant earlier adoption. Features with minimal benefit might wait.

Support implications should be clear. If adopting useId means requiring React 18, this should be communicated as a breaking change. Consumers understand the tradeoff.

Optional adoption can preserve support. Some features can be used when available while falling back on older React. This pattern maintains broad support while benefiting consumers on newer versions.

Summary

React version support defines which React versions work with a design system. Peer dependency configuration, cross-version testing, and adaptation to React changes maintain support. Decisions about new feature adoption should balance capability improvements with version support breadth.