shadcn/ui
Copy-paste components, owned by your codebase
shadcn/ui is my default component foundation for new Next.js projects. Components live in your repo, not a node_module, which means I can theme, fork, and extend them without fighting a vendored API. Combined with Radix primitives and Tailwind tokens, it produces accessible, on-brand UI fast.
Years
Projects
Proficiency
My take
Why I use shadcn/ui
shadcn/ui flips the component-library model: you copy the source, you own it, you change it. That removes the worst pain of UI libraries (waiting for upstream to fix your bug) while keeping the best parts (Radix accessibility, sane defaults). For most product UI, it gets me to a polished, themable surface faster than anything else.
Want the broader stack philosophy? Read about how Sri picks tools or browse engineering insights.
Honest assessment
Strengths & tradeoffs
No tool is perfect. Here's what shines and what to watch for.
Strengths
- You own the component source, no vendored API surface
- Built on Radix primitives, accessibility is solid by default
- Tailwind-native theming with CSS variables
- Excellent CLI for adding and updating components
- Active ecosystem of community blocks and extensions
Tradeoffs (honestly)
- Updates require re-running the CLI, not a version bump
- More files in your repo than a package-based UI library
- Theming requires familiarity with Tailwind tokens and CSS vars
- Not a true design system on its own, you still build patterns
Fit assessment
When to reach for shadcn/ui
Pick the right tool for the job.
Best fits
SaaS dashboards and admin tools
Marketing sites with bespoke brand requirements
Internal tooling that needs to look professional fast
Greenfield Next.js projects
Not ideal for
Teams that prefer a fully managed component library upgrade path
Non-React stacks
Projects that need a fully native mobile component library
Common use cases
Resources
Learn more
Curated official docs, tutorials, and writing on shadcn/ui.
Services
Where I apply shadcn/ui
Engagements where this technology shows up regularly.
Full-Stack Development
Modern web applications built with performance, accessibility, and developer experience at the core. Specializing in React ecosystems, serverless architectures, and real-time systems.
Performance Optimization
Systematic performance improvement that users can feel. I identify bottlenecks, implement optimizations, and establish practices for maintaining performance over time.
Case Studies
shadcn/ui in production
Real engagements where this technology shaped the outcome.
SaaS Platform Performance Overhaul
Complete performance overhaul of a B2B SaaS platform that was losing customers due to slow load times and reliability issues.
AI Startup MVP to Launch
Served as fractional technical co-founder for an AI startup, building the MVP from scratch and helping close their first enterprise customers.
Browse the full case study archive.
Stack
Pairs well with shadcn/ui
Tools and platforms I commonly combine with this one.
Frameworks
More in this category
Frameworks that shape how I build apps and APIs.
Need help with shadcn/ui?
Whether you're starting fresh or optimizing an existing implementation, I can help you get the most out of this technology. Read more in insights or get in touch.