Building High-Performance React Components with AI Assistance

React components are the core of modern web apps. As projects grow, so do the challenges of writing efficient, maintainable code. AI tools offer new ways to tackle these challenges. This post covers practical ways to improve component architecture, performance, state management, and testing with AI assistance. We'll go over real code examples and specific techniques you can use in your projects.

1. Component architecture: keeping things tidy

Keeping components small, focused, and reusable is a constant theme. But how do we actually do that in practice? Here's what I've found works:

• Start with a clear purpose for each component. If you can't explain it in a sentence, it might be doing too much.
• Use AI to help spot patterns in your code. I've been using Cursor, and it's pretty good at suggesting ways to break down complex components.
• Don't be afraid to refactor. AI can also help here, suggesting common patterns seen in other codebases.

Here's a quick example:

// Before
function UserProfile({ user, posts, comments }) {
  // Lots of logic here
}

// After
function UserProfile({ user }) {
  return (
    <>
      <UserInfo user={user} />
      <UserPosts userId={user.id} />
      <UserComments userId={user.id} />
    </>
  );
}

And here's how we might visualize this breakdown:

This structure keeps each component focused on a single responsibility, making our code easier to maintain and test.

2. Performance optimization: speed things up

React's pretty fast out of the box, but there's always room for improvement. Here are some suggestions:

• Use React.memo for components that render often but don't change much.
• Lazy load components that aren't immediately visible.
• Be smart about your re-renders, useCallback and useMemo can help.

Or you could just use React Compiler to automatically optimize your React code at build time. It can eliminate unnecessary re-renders and reduce bundle size. Test it out at the React Compiler Playground.

Here's a diagram showing how React Complier can prevent unnecessary re-renders:

This diagram shows:

1. React code enters React Compiler.
2. The compiler optimizes by reducing re-renders, shrinking bundle size, and streamlining the component tree.
3. Optimized code is processed and bundled.
4. Result: An efficient, deployment-ready bundle.

AI can help spot potential performance issues. Cursor is my go-to again for reviewing my code and suggesting optimizations.

3. State management: keeping things in check

Redux, MobX, and Recoil are some examples here but there are more. Here's an example of what can work:

• Start with local state. You'd be surprised how far you can get with just useState.
• For more complex state needs, consider lightweight libraries like Jotai or Zustand.
• Only reach for heavy-duty state management libraries when your app truly requires it.

Here's a diagram showing different levels of state management:

AI can help you decide which approach to use. You can describe your app structure to an AI assistant and ask for state management suggestions. It might not always give you the perfect answer, but it can offer fresh perspectives and ideas you hadn't considered.

The goal is to keep your state management as simple as possible while meeting your app's needs. Then, you can scale your solution as your app grows.

4. Testing: because we all should

Testing React components can be a pain, but it's worth it. Here's a good approach:

• Use Jest/Vitest and React Testing Library. They work well together.
• Test behavior, not implementation. Your tests should care about what the user experiences, not how you've structured your components.
• Use AI to help generate test cases, whether that is ChatGPT, Claude, or any other.

Here's a basic example:

test('renders user name', () => {
  render(<UserProfile user={{ name: 'Alice' }} />);
  expect(screen.getByText('Alice')).toBeInTheDocument();
});

And here's a diagram of a typical test workflow:

5. Real-world example: putting it all together

Let's say we're building a chat application. Here's how we might apply these principles:

import React, { useState, useCallback, memo } from 'react';
import { ChatWindow } from './ChatWindow';
import { UserList } from './UserList';

const Chat = memo(function Chat({ users }) {
  const [selectedUser, setSelectedUser] = useState(null);

  const handleUserSelect = useCallback((user) => {
    setSelectedUser(user);
  }, []);

  return (
    <div className="chat-app">
      <UserList users={users} onSelectUser={handleUserSelect} />
      {selectedUser && <ChatWindow user={selectedUser} />}
    </div>
  );
});

export default Chat;

Here's a diagram of how this component structure might look:

In this example, we're using memo to optimize re-renders, useState for local state management, and useCallback to memoize our event handler. We've also split our UI into smaller, focused components.

Here is what's happening:

1. We're using memo to wrap our Chat component. This ensures that the component only re-renders if its props change.
2. We're using useState to manage the selected user state locally within the Chat component. This is a good example of starting with local state before reaching for more complex state management solutions.
3. The handleUserSelect function is wrapped with useCallback. This memoizes the function, preventing unnecessary re-renders of child components that receive this function as a prop.
4. We've split the UI into two main components: UserList and ChatWindow. This separation of concerns makes our code more maintainable and easier to test.
5. The ChatWindow is only rendered when a user is selected, improving performance by not rendering unnecessary components.

This structure allows for easy testing and maintenance. For example, we could easily write tests for the UserList and ChatWindow components in isolation, as well as integration tests for the Chat component.

Builder.io's Visual Copilot: AI-assisted React development

Builder.io has developed an AI tool to enhance React development workflows. Here's what Visual Copilot offers:

1. AI component generation: creates React component structures adhering to best practices, reducing setup time.
2. Automated performance optimization: analyzes components and applies performance improvements like code splitting and lazy loading without manual intervention.
3. State management recommendations: evaluates application complexity and suggests appropriate state management solutions based on the project's needs.
4. AI-driven test generation: automatically generates test cases, including edge case scenarios, for Jest and react-testing-library.
5. Context-aware code suggestions: offers inline suggestions for React patterns and best practices as you code, improving efficiency and code quality.

Visual Copilot aims to reduce repetitive tasks in React development, so developers can focus more on solving unique problems and creating effective user interfaces.

Wrapping up

The best code is often the most straightforward. Don't over-optimize, and always consider the readability and maintainability of your code.

AI can be a powerful tool in your React development toolkit. It can help you spot patterns, suggest optimizations, and even generate boilerplate code.

As you're building your next React app, try incorporating some of these techniques and see how they work for you.

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