Many of you might have heard about Shadcn UI, a popular component library for React applications. While it has gained significant traction in the developer community, I want to share my personal opinion on why I believe you shouldn't use Shadcn UI for your projects—at least not without customization.
Disclaimer
This is a personal opinion piece. Shadcn UI is a fantastic tool, and this article is about using it wisely, not avoiding it entirely.
Act 1: The Hype
Shadcn UI has been praised for its ease of use, beautiful design, and extensive component library. Many developers (including me!) used it in every project. It attracted me at first, and I was thinking:
"Wow, what a great component library!"
And I was using it in all my projects. Shadcn UI was great! Like magic—vap, vap, vap—and it was done! So easy, so fast, so beautiful. I was amazed at how simple it was: building, customizing, and deploying.
Act 2: The Reality
However, as I continued to use Shadcn UI in more complex projects, I started to notice several design issues. "Why does this site look so bland and not original?" I thought.
The components, while beautiful, felt generic and lacked uniqueness. Many websites started to look the same, leading to a lack of brand identity. I realized that relying heavily on a component library like Shadcn UI can lead to a homogenized web experience.
The Homogenization Problem
Websites built with Shadcn UI often share similar layouts, color schemes, and overall aesthetics. This can make it challenging for businesses to stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
And yes, that's how Shadcn UI and other UI component libraries work—the more simple and open you want it to be, the more generic it will be.
It was great for making some minor projects, but for long-term projects—especially for large companies—I think it's not a good idea to use it as-is.
Act 3: The Despair
After some time, I decided to still use Shadcn UI, but ended up customizing it heavily to make it more unique. I started to explore other options:
- Building custom components from scratch
- Using CSS frameworks like Tailwind CSS creatively
- Exploring other component libraries that offer more flexibility
And good thing—they released a new feature! It's called Registry, which allows you to use community-made components that don't strictly follow Shadcn's design system.
// Example: Using a custom registry component
import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"
import { CustomCard } from "@/registry/custom-card"
export function MyComponent() {
return (
<CustomCard>
<Button variant="custom">Click me</Button>
</CustomCard>
)
}This was great! I can finally use more unique components that aren't strictly following Shadcn's design system.
Act 4: The Conclusion
Key Takeaway
Using Shadcn UI is not a bad idea—I'm still using it! But using it without any customization is a bad idea. Use it wisely.
In conclusion, while Shadcn UI offers a quick and easy way to build beautiful React applications, I believe it's essential to consider the long-term implications of using such a component library. The lack of uniqueness and brand identity can be a significant drawback for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence.
I encourage developers to explore other options and consider building custom components that truly reflect their brand's identity and values.
But hey, after I found 21st.dev and other Shadcn-compatible component registries, it was a game changer for me.
The bottom line: Customize, customize, customize. Make it yours.