FRUI: The Minimalist React UI Component Library You've Been Waiting For

In the crowded ecosystem of React UI component libraries, a refreshingly minimalist option has emerged from the Philippines open-source community. FRUI, developed by Chris Blanquera, offers developers a straightforward approach to UI components without the bloat and constraints of more complex frameworks.

A Different Approach to React UI

FRUI stands apart from other UI libraries with its distinctive philosophy - "No layouts, no grids, no themes, no style engine, no design system." Instead, it focuses on delivering a lean collection of essential React components that developers can use without committing to an entire design ecosystem.

This approach addresses a common pain point: many UI libraries force developers to adopt comprehensive design systems that can be difficult to customize or integrate with existing projects. FRUI takes the opposite approach by providing just the components you need, allowing you to integrate them into your preferred styling approach.

Key Features

FRUI's minimalist approach comes with several advantages:

• Zero-Commitment Components: Use only what you need without adopting an entire design system
• TypeScript Support: Built with TypeScript for improved type safety and developer experience
• Lightweight Footprint: Minimal dependencies keep your project lean
• Framework Agnostic Styling: Works with any styling approach, from CSS-in-JS to utility-first frameworks like Tailwind CSS
• Accessible: Components follow accessibility best practices

Available Components

FRUI currently offers several fundamental components:

• Alert: For displaying important messages to users
• Badge: For highlighting counts or statuses
• Button: Customizable button elements
• Loader: Loading indicators
• Confirm: Confirmation dialogs
• Modal: Popup dialog boxes
• Table: Data display component

The library plans to expand its offerings as its user base grows, with a unique approach to component releases. Additional components like Breadcrumbs, Pagination, Progress Bar, Tabs, Accordion, and Tooltip are scheduled to "unlock" as download milestones are reached - adding a gamification element to the library's development.

Getting Started with FRUI

Getting started with FRUI is straightforward. First, install it via npm:

npm install frui

Make sure you have the peer dependencies installed:

{
  "peerDependencies": {
    "react": "^18.0.0",
    "react-dom": "^18.0.0"
  }
}

Then add FRUI to your CSS by importing it:

@import url('frui/frui.css')

The library is designed to work with any icon set, but the documentation examples use Font Awesome, which you can add via:

@import url("https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.2.0/css/all.min.css")

Similarly, while FRUI doesn't mandate any particular styling approach, the documentation examples utilize Tailwind CSS.

About the Creator

FRUI is the brainchild of Chris Blanquera, a seasoned developer with an impressive background. As the former founder of Openovate Labs and co-founder of galleon.ph (both acquired in 2017), Blanquera brings substantial experience to the project.

Currently serving as the CTO of Shoppable.ph, Blanquera has worked with major companies including Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, Autodesk, E-bay, and Nordstrom. His passion for coding has resulted in numerous open-source projects beyond FRUI, including:

• Incept: A low-code framework in TypeScript/React
• r22n: A zero-configuration language translation interface for React
• React Boxicons: A lightweight React icon set

Community and Contribution

FRUI is part of the OSSPhilippines organization, highlighting the growing open-source community in the Philippines. The project welcomes contributors and has clear guidelines for those interested in participating:

• Each GitHub issue should have its own branch
• Commits need to reference the issue being worked on
• Contributors are expected to both write and review code

FRUI offers a pragmatic alternative in the React UI component ecosystem. Its minimalist philosophy may resonate with developers tired of heavyweight UI libraries that impose rigid design systems. By providing just the essential components without unnecessary constraints, FRUI empowers developers to build interfaces their way.

Whether you're looking to reduce bundle size, maintain maximum flexibility in your styling approach, or simply explore a different kind of UI library, FRUI deserves consideration for your next React project.

For more information, check out the GitHub repository or the documentation site.