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
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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
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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
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High-Signal Rules
- prefer platform base components over reinventing controls
- use
@wirefor 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
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Output Format
When finishing, report in this order:
- Component(s) created or updated
- Data access pattern chosen
- Files changed
- Accessibility / styling / testing notes
- 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>
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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.
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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 |
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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
.examplesuffix) - 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
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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 |

