"Good design is as little design as possible." – Dieter Rams
As a developer who builds multiple projects, having a reliable set of UI component sources is crucial for maintaining consistency and speed. In this first part of my UI component sources series, I'll share the shadcn/ui-based libraries that have become essential to my daily workflow.
Why shadcn/ui as the Foundation?
Before diving into the extensions, let's acknowledge why shadcn/ui has become the gold standard:
- Copy-paste friendly - Own your components
- Tailwind CSS integration - Perfect styling control
- Accessibility first - Built on Radix UI primitives
- TypeScript support - Type-safe by default
- Customizable - Easy to modify and extend
My Top 10 shadcn/ui Extensions
1. Origin UI
What I use it for: Advanced form components and data display elements
Origin UI provides sophisticated components that feel native to shadcn/ui but offer more complex functionality. Their data tables and form builders have saved me countless hours on admin dashboards.
2. Animate UI
What I use it for: Smooth animations and micro-interactions
Perfect for adding that extra polish to user interfaces. Their animation presets work seamlessly with shadcn components, making it easy to add delightful transitions without heavy animation libraries.
3. ReUI
What I use it for: E-commerce and marketing components
Specialized components for landing pages and product showcases. Their pricing cards and feature sections are particularly well-designed and conversion-optimized.
4. 21st.dev
What I use it for: Modern layout patterns and containers
Cutting-edge layout components that embrace the latest CSS features. Great for creating contemporary, grid-based designs that feel fresh and modern.
5. React Bits
What I use it for: Utility components and hooks
A treasure trove of small, focused components and custom hooks that solve common React patterns. Perfect for those "I need a simple component for X" moments.
6. Magic UI
What I use it for: Eye-catching hero sections and interactive elements
Stunning visual components that make websites stand out. Their gradient effects and interactive backgrounds are perfect for creating memorable first impressions.
7. Kibo UI
What I use it for: Dashboard and admin interface components
Specialized in data-heavy interfaces with excellent chart integrations and dashboard layouts. Essential for any project requiring data visualization.
8. Spectrum UI
What I use it for: Professional business components
Clean, corporate-friendly components perfect for B2B applications. Their navigation patterns and content layouts maintain a professional aesthetic.
9. Aceternity UI
What I use it for: Creative and experimental components
Pushing the boundaries of what's possible with React components. Great for projects that need to stand out with unique visual elements.
10. Skiper UI
What I use it for: Rapid prototyping components
Fast, lightweight components perfect for quick prototypes. When I need to validate an idea quickly, Skiper UI gets me there fastest.
Bonus: Cult UI
What I use it for: Trendy, social media-inspired components
Perfect for consumer-facing applications that need to feel current and engaging. Their social proof components and engagement patterns are particularly effective.
My Component Selection Process
When choosing components from these libraries, I follow a simple framework:
- Consistency First - Does it match my existing design system?
- Accessibility - Is it built with proper ARIA attributes?
- Performance - Will it impact my bundle size significantly?
- Customization - Can I easily modify it to fit my needs?
- Maintenance - Is the library actively maintained?
What's Coming in Part 2?
In the next part of this series, I'll cover:
- Headless UI libraries (Radix, Ariakit, React Aria)
- Animation libraries (Framer Motion, GSAP)
- Icon libraries and custom icon systems
Conclusion
These shadcn/ui extensions have transformed how I approach frontend development. Instead of building everything from scratch, I can focus on the unique aspects of each project while maintaining high-quality, accessible components.
The key is not to use every library in every project, but to know which tool is right for each job. Start with shadcn/ui as your foundation, then selectively add these extensions based on your specific needs.
What are your favorite UI component sources? Let me know on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Next up: Part 2 - Beyond shadcn/ui: Headless Libraries and Animation Tools
