Guide · Open source
How to use react-styleguidist: setup, components and style guide
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
React Styleguidist is an open-source development environment for React components. It lets you develop and view each component separately, outside your main app, and generates a living style guide page that documents them. This guide explains what it is, what you need before starting, and how to get it running and use it, using the project's own README as the reference.
React Styleguidiststyleguidist/react-styleguidist · ★ 11k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Check prerequisites. Confirm that Node.js and either npm or yarn are installed on your machine.
- 2Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/styleguidist/react-styleguidist to get the source code.
- 3Follow the README setup. Use the README to complete the installation and configuration that applies to your project.
- 4Develop components separately. Build and view each component on its own, outside your main application.
- 5Review the style guide. Open the generated living style guide page to check that each component's props and examples are documented.
- 6Share the catalog. Make the style guide available to designers and developers so they can browse the components.
What is react-styleguidist?
React Styleguidist is a development environment for React components. Instead of building a component inside a full application, you can develop and view it on its own.
It also generates a living style guide page that documents your components, so the catalog stays in step with the code. Teams use it to build a shared set of UI pieces that designers and developers can browse.
- Develop and view each component separately, outside your main app
- Generate a living style guide page that documents components
- Give designers and developers a browsable catalog of UI pieces
Who should use react-styleguidist?
The tool is built specifically for React components, so it fits React developers who want to build components outside a full application. It is also a good match for design system maintainers who want to document component props and examples.
It is not the right choice if your project does not use React. It is also not a finished app or a ready-made UI component library, and it is not a managed documentation service, because the README describes a self-hosted setup.
- Good fit: React developers building components outside a full application
- Good fit: teams wanting a browsable, always-current catalog of UI components
- Good fit: design system maintainers documenting props and examples
- Not a fit: projects that do not use React
- Not a fit: people who need a finished app or ready-made component library
- Not a fit: teams wanting a fully managed documentation service
What you need before you start
The project lists Node.js, plus npm or yarn, as prerequisites. Make sure these are installed and working on your machine before you set up react-styleguidist.
The install method described in the project's material is through a package manager. Check the README for the current setup steps that apply to your project.
- Node.js
- npm or yarn
Get the react-styleguidist source
The README shows how to clone the repository to get the source code. Run the command below in the folder where you want the project to live.
The clone command comes from the README. Follow the README for any further setup, since the exact configuration steps are not covered in the material used for this page.
git clone https://github.com/styleguidist/react-styleguidistDocument your components in the style guide
Once the tool is set up, each component is developed and viewed on its own. The generated style guide page then documents those components, including their props and examples.
Because the guide is generated from your components, the catalog stays current as the code changes. Keep examples close to the components they describe so the guide stays useful for designers and developers.
- Develop each component separately, outside your main app
- Review the generated style guide to check props and examples
- Share the guide so designers and developers can browse the catalog
How does react-styleguidist compare to other tools?
Comparable projects include Storybook, Docz and Histoire. All of them help you develop and document UI components outside an app, so the choice depends on your team's needs and existing tooling.
Compare the tools by checking how each one fits your React setup, how you want to document components, and how much self-hosting you are prepared to manage.
- Storybook
- Docz
- Histoire
What people use it for
- Building a React component in isolation before wiring it into a full application
- Creating a browsable catalog of UI components for a team
- Documenting component props and examples for a design system
- Giving designers and developers a shared view of existing UI pieces
Frequently asked questions
Is react-styleguidist free to use?
react-styleguidist is released under the MIT licence. Check the LICENSE file in the repository for the full terms before you use it in your project.
What do I need to install react-styleguidist?
The project lists Node.js, plus npm or yarn, as prerequisites. The README describes a self-hosted setup, so you will host the style guide yourself.
How do I install react-styleguidist?
The README shows how to clone the repository with git clone https://github.com/styleguidist/react-styleguidist. Follow the README for the rest of the setup.
Does react-styleguidist work without React?
No. The tool is built specifically for React components, so it is not suitable for projects that do not use React.
What are the alternatives to react-styleguidist?
Comparable projects include Storybook, Docz and Histoire. Each helps you develop and document UI components outside an app.
Is react-styleguidist a hosted documentation service?
No. The README describes a self-hosted setup, so it is not a fully managed documentation service.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
Use react-styleguidist if you build React components and want to develop them outside a full app and publish a browsable, always-current style guide that you host yourself. Pick a different tool if your project does not use React, you need a finished app or ready-made component library, or you want a fully managed documentation service.
Install options & downloads