generating-lwc-components

generating-lwc-components: Lightning Web Components Development

Use this skill when the user needs Lightning Web Components: LWC bundles, wire patterns, Apex/GraphQL integration, SLDS 2 styling, accessibility, performance work, or Jest unit tests.

When This Skill Owns the Task

Use generating-lwc-components when the work involves:

• lwc/**/*.js, .html, .css, .js-meta.xml
• component scaffolding and bundle design
• wire service, Apex integration, GraphQL integration
• SLDS 2, dark mode, and accessibility work
• Jest unit tests for LWC

Delegate elsewhere when the user is:

• writing Apex controllers or business logic first → generating-apex
• building Flow XML rather than an LWC screen component → generating-flow
• deploying metadata → deploying-metadata

---

Required Context to Gather First

Ask for or infer:

• component purpose and target surface
• data source: LDS, Apex, GraphQL, LMS, or external system via Apex
• whether the user needs tests
• whether the component must run in Flow, App Builder, Experience Cloud, or dashboard contexts
• accessibility and styling expectations

---

Recommended Workflow

1. Choose the right architecture

Use the PICKLES mindset:

• prototype
• integrate the right data source
• compose component boundaries
• define interaction model
• use platform libraries
• optimize execution
• enforce security

2. Choose the right data access pattern

Need	Default pattern
single-record UI	LDS / getRecord
simple CRUD form	base record form components
complex server query	Apex @AuraEnabled(cacheable=true)
related graph data	GraphQL wire adapter
cross-DOM communication	Lightning Message Service

3. Start from an asset when useful

Use provided assets for:

• basic component bundles
• datatables
• modal patterns
• Flow screen components
• GraphQL components
• LMS message channels
• Jest tests
• TypeScript-enabled components

4. Validate for frontend quality

Check:

• accessibility
• SLDS 2 / dark mode compliance
• event contracts
• performance / rerender safety
• Jest coverage when required

5. Hand off supporting backend or deploy work

Use:

• generating-apex for controllers / services
• deploying-metadata for deployment
• running-apex-tests only for Apex-side test loops, not Jest

---

High-Signal Rules

• prefer platform base components over reinventing controls
• use @wire for reactive read-only use cases; imperative calls for explicit actions and DML paths
• do not introduce inaccessible custom UI
• avoid hardcoded colors; use SLDS 2-compatible styling hooks / variables
• avoid rerender loops in renderedCallback()
• keep component communication patterns explicit and minimal

---

Output Format

When finishing, report in this order:

1. Component(s) created or updated
2. Data access pattern chosen
3. Files changed
4. Accessibility / styling / testing notes
5. Next implementation or deploy step

Suggested shape:

LWC work: <summary>
Pattern: <wire / apex / graphql / lms / flow-screen>
Files: <paths>
Quality: <a11y, SLDS2, dark mode, Jest>
Next step: <deploy, add controller, or run tests>

---

Local Development Server

Preview LWC components locally with hot reload — no deployment needed. Run the commands in scripts/local-dev-preview.sh to start a local dev session for a component, app, or Experience Cloud site.

Local Dev commands install just-in-time on first run. They are long-running processes that open a browser with live preview. Changes to .js, .html, and .css files auto-reload instantly. Requires an active org connection for data and Apex callouts.

---

Cross-Skill Integration

Need	Delegate to	Reason
Apex controller or service	generating-apex	backend logic
embed in Flow screens	generating-flow	declarative orchestration
deploy component bundle	deploying-metadata	org rollout
create supporting metadata (message channels, objects)	deploying-metadata	metadata deployment

---

Reference File Index

Start here

• references/component-patterns.md — component architecture patterns and bundle design
• references/slds-design-guide.md — SLDS 2 styling, dark mode, CSS hooks
• references/lwc-best-practices.md — high-signal rules and anti-patterns
• references/scoring-and-testing.md — 165-point scoring rubric across 8 categories
• references/jest-testing.md — Jest unit test patterns and async rendering helpers
• references/slds-blueprints.json — machine-readable SLDS component blueprints
• references/cli-commands.md — SF CLI commands for LWC development

Accessibility / performance / state

• references/accessibility-guide.md — WCAG, ARIA, keyboard navigation patterns
• references/performance-guide.md — lazy loading, debouncing, rerender safety
• references/state-management.md — reactive state patterns and LMS
• references/template-anti-patterns.md — common HTML template mistakes to avoid

Integration / advanced features

• references/lms-guide.md — Lightning Message Service patterns
• references/flow-integration-guide.md — Flow screen component design
• references/advanced-features.md — Spring '26 features: TypeScript, lwc:on, GraphQL mutations
• references/async-notification-patterns.md — toast, notifications, async flows
• references/triangle-pattern.md — parent-child-sibling communication triangle

Asset templates

• assets/basic-component/basicComponent.js — wire service, error/loading states, event dispatching
• assets/datatable-component/datatableComponent.js — datatable with inline editing
• assets/flow-screen-component/flowScreenComponent.js — Flow screen with input/output properties
• assets/form-component/formComponent.js — form validation and DML patterns
• assets/graphql-component/graphqlComponent.js — GraphQL wire adapter with cursor-based pagination
• assets/jest-test/componentName.test.js.example — Jest test template (copy and rename, remove .example suffix)
• assets/message-channel/lmsPublisher.js — LMS publisher pattern
• assets/message-channel/lmsSubscriber.js — LMS subscriber pattern
• assets/modal-component/modalComponent.js — modal with focus trap and ESC handling
• assets/record-picker/recordPicker.js — record picker with search
• assets/state-store/store.js — reactive state store for cross-component state
• assets/typescript-component/typescriptComponent.ts — TypeScript-enabled component (Spring '26)
• assets/workspace-api/workspaceComponent.js — workspace API for tab and focus management
• assets/apex-controller/LwcController.cls — Apex controller with @AuraEnabled(cacheable=true) patterns

Scripts

• scripts/local-dev-preview.sh — local dev server commands for component, app, and site preview

---

Score Guide

Score	Meaning
150+	production-ready LWC bundle
125–149	strong component with minor polish left
100–124	functional but review recommended
< 100	needs significant improvement