Unveiling the Hidden Complexities of Feature Development
Introduction
When we look at a design mock-up, it's easy to underestimate the complexity of turning that design into functional code. This post aims to shed light on the often-overlooked challenges that developers face when implementing features based on design mock-ups.
The Illusion of the 'Happy Path'
Design mock-ups usually depict the ideal user journey, often referred to as the "happy path." In this ideal scenario, everything works perfectly: buttons click, forms submit, and pop-ups appear exactly as planned. However, this happy path is more of a "lucky path"—it's based on the assumption that all elements will work seamlessly together, which is rarely the case in real-world scenarios.
The Reality Behind a 'Simple' Form
Let's consider a seemingly straightforward example: a modal dialog that allows users to select an item from a dropdown, add some notes, and then click a "submit" button.
While the mock-up might make it look simple, the actual implementation raises several questions not addressed in the UI:
Where do the dropdown options come from?
Should the "submit" button be disabled while loading?
What are the validation rules for each field?
What API endpoint should the form hit, and what headers are expected?
…
Initially, We could roughly have some code snippet like this:
const SimpleForm = () => {
const [isOpen, setOpen] = useState<boolean>(false);
const [modalView, setModalView] = useState("form");
const handleClick = () => setOpen(true);
const onSubmit = async ({ option, text }) => {
await sendRequest({ option, text });
};
return (
<>
<button onClick={handleClick}>Open Form</button>
{isOpen && (
<Modal>
{modalView === "form" && <FormView onSubmit={onSubmit} />}
{modalView === "confirmation" && <ConfirmationView />}
</Modal>
)}
</>
);
};
Enhancements for Better UX
As you delve deeper, you'll realize that several "enhancements" are needed for a more user-friendly experience:
Disabling the button while submitting
Showing a notification for failed requests and allowing retries
Meeting accessibility requirements
Displaying hints and validation errors
…
When integrating with other components, you may encounter additional challenges, such as package version conflicts or z-index issues.
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