React-stories for Mere Mortals
Tags: webdev, react, npm, typescript
Published: 2024-01-30 22:02:06

## React Stories for Mere Mortals
**Once upon a codebase, in the mystical land of React, there emerged a hero... or rather, a heroic component: `react-stories`.**


![Screen capture of react-stories](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/svpmcuih11ji4m4qg07b.png)

In the realm of web development, where the epic sagas of user interfaces unfold, `react-stories` has carved its niche. It's not just another React component; it's a beacon of storytelling in an ocean of static content.


![Component hero](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0wcc4l2dha7abh8ktl41.png)
## What's This Heroic Component About?
`React-stories` is the Gandalf of React components, guiding developers through the enchanted forest of creating story formats similar to what you'd see on Instagram or Facebook. You know, those little circles that your friends click on, and voila! A montage of their day in bite-sized pieces.

But _why_, you ask? Because stories are not just for social media giants anymore. They've become a staple in engaging users, showcasing products, and sharing content in an interactive, fleeting fashion. `React-stories` brings this power to your React applications, allowing you to wield the might of stories with the ease of a few lines of code.

![Magical tech stack](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/phmyygkgrf434bcdn7s0.png)
## The Magical Tech Stack
Crafted in the forges of modern technology, react-stories is built with a stack as mighty as the component itself:

1. **React:** The backbone, because, well, it's a _React_ component.

2. **TypeScript:** For the spell of strong typing, keeping bugs at bay.

3. **Storybook:** The mystical tome where components are visualised in isolation.

4. **Jest & React Testing Library:** The guardians ensuring the component's robustness through trials and tests.

This ensemble doesn't just make `react-stories` a piece of code; it turns it into a reliable, scalable, and maintainable ally for developers.

## How It Was Forged
Creating `react-stories` wasn't like a stroll in the Shire. It involved thoughtful design and meticulous crafting. The process went something like this:

1. **Identify the Quest:** Recognising the need for an easy-to-use story component in React.

2. **Gather the Tools:** Choosing TypeScript for type-safety, Storybook for component documentation, and Jest for testing.

3. **The Forging:** Writing the code, with each line tempered like a blacksmith crafting a sword.

4. **Trials by Fire:** Testing, because what good is a sword if it breaks at the first orc?

5. **Enchantment:** Adding features like customisable styles and controls, making it not just functional but also delightful to use.

## In the Developer's Arsenal
So, how do mere mortals (aka developers) use this celestial gift? Simple:

1. **Install the Component:** With a chant (or command) as simple as `npm install @casm101/react-stories`.

2. **Implement the Stories:** Add the `<ReactStories/> `component in your app, feed it a list of stories, and behold the magic.

3. **Customise Your Tales:** Style it, control it, make it your own. React-stories is flexible enough to match your application's theme and design.

Here is a simple example:

```typescript
import React from 'react';
import { StoryViewer } from '@casm101/react-stories';

const stories = [
  {
    url: 'path/to/image.jpg',
    type: 'image',
    duration: 5000
  },
  {
    url: 'path/to/video.mp4',
    type: 'video'
  }
  // ...more stories
];

const MyComponent = () => (
  <ReactStory stories={stories} />
);

export default MyComponent;
```

## A Storyteller's Conclusion
`React-stories` is more than just a component; it's a storyteller's tool in the digital age. Whether you're a seasoned wizard in web development or a hobbit taking your first steps, `react-stories `offers an enchanting way to engage your audience.

Remember, in the end, every application is a story, and react-stories helps you tell it in an interactive, captivating way. So, go forth and let your React applications tell their tales!

Check out the `react-stories` component [here](https://github.com/Casm101/react-stories).

**Disclaimer!** _The images in the post are generated using AI technology (Dall·e 3) but the article is all mine!_