Merging Classic and Modern Fluent UI in SharePoint Framework (SPFx) Development

Fluent UI has become an integral part of developing user interfaces for Microsoft’s ecosystem, especially when working with SharePoint Framework (SPFx). The evolution of Fluent UI from Classic to Modern has brought about significant changes in how developers build web parts and applications for SharePoint, and understanding how to navigate both versions is crucial for efficient and scalable SPFx development. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between Classic Fluent UI React and Modern Fluent UI React, their compatibility with SPFx, and the role of React’s evolution in shaping the future of SharePoint development.

Table of Contents

1. Overview of Fluent UI
2. Key Differences: Classic vs. Modern Fluent UI
3. The Evolution of React and Its Impact on SPFx
4. SharePoint Framework (SPFx) Compatibility with Fluent UI
5. Best Practices for Using Fluent UI in SPFx Projects
6. Conclusion

1. Overview of Fluent UI

Fluent UI is Microsoft’s design system created to offer a consistent, accessible, and scalable user interface across its ecosystem, including Office 365, SharePoint, and Teams. It provides a library of React components that follow Microsoft’s Fluent Design System. Over the years, Fluent UI has evolved into two distinct versions:

• Classic Fluent UI: Primarily used in legacy SharePoint and Office 365 applications.
• Modern Fluent UI: Designed for contemporary web applications, optimized for performance and flexibility.

2. Key Differences: Classic vs. Modern Fluent UI

Fluent UI React offers two versions of the framework: Classic and Modern. These two have different approaches to components, theming, and compatibility with SPFx.

Classic Fluent UI React

• Target Audience: Legacy SharePoint environments, older SPFx projects.
• React Version: Supports older versions of React (prior to 16.8).
• Components: Contains traditional, pre-built components designed specifically for Microsoft 365 apps.
• Theming: Basic theming, focused on Microsoft 365 design language.
• Accessibility: Built with the high accessibility standards of Microsoft’s enterprise applications in mind.

Example of Classic Fluent UI in SPFx:

import { PrimaryButton, TextField } from '@fluentui/react';

function MyWebPart() {
  return (
    <div>
      <TextField label="Name" />
      <PrimaryButton text="Submit" />
    </div>
  );
}

Modern Fluent UI React

• Target Audience: Modern SharePoint projects and developers using up-to-date React practices.
• React Version: Optimized for React 16.8+ with hooks and functional components.
• Components: Redesigned components with a more flexible API and better performance.
• Theming: Advanced theming capabilities, offering more customization for modern applications.
• Performance: Supports tree-shaking, code-splitting, and is optimized for large-scale applications.

Example of Modern Fluent UI in SPFx:

import { Button, Input } from '@fluentui/react-components';

function MyWebPart() {
  return (
    <div>
      <Input placeholder="Enter your name" />
      <Button appearance="primary">Submit</Button>
    </div>
  );
}

Key Differences Summary:

3. The Evolution of React and Its Impact on SPFx

React’s evolution has significantly influenced how developers approach SharePoint Framework (SPFx) projects. From the introduction of hooks to concurrent rendering, React’s advancements have helped streamline state management, improve performance, and enhance the overall developer experience within SPFx.

Key React Milestones Impacting SPFx:

• React 16.8 (Hooks): The introduction of hooks simplified state management, especially for SPFx web parts. It allowed developers to avoid class-based components and make the code more concise and easier to maintain.
• React 17 (Smooth Upgrades): Made non-breaking updates easier, which is essential for SPFx projects where long-term stability is crucial.
• React 18 (Concurrent Rendering): Brought performance optimizations that benefit modern SPFx applications, especially those dealing with dynamic data loading and complex interfaces.

React’s Importance in SPFx:

• Functional Components: By utilizing functional components in SPFx, developers can leverage hooks to manage state and effects, making the code cleaner and more maintainable.
• Performance Improvements: React’s concurrent rendering capabilities have greatly improved the performance of SPFx web parts, especially in environments with high user interaction.
• Future-Proofing Projects: Adopting modern React patterns in SPFx ensures that your project remains maintainable and scalable as both React and SPFx continue to evolve.

4. SharePoint Framework (SPFx) Compatibility with Fluent UI

Fluent UI is deeply integrated into SPFx development, and its compatibility with SPFx depends on the version of Fluent UI being used.

Classic Fluent UI React in SPFx

Classic Fluent UI is a perfect match for legacy SPFx solutions, providing a stable and well-documented set of components that integrate seamlessly with SharePoint Online and older Microsoft 365 products. Developers using Classic Fluent UI benefit from:

• Built-in Compatibility: Pre-built components that are ready to use in SPFx without major modifications.
• Stable API: Fewer updates and breaking changes, making it easier to maintain in long-term projects.

Modern Fluent UI React in SPFx

Modern Fluent UI is designed to be more flexible and optimized for performance, making it ideal for modern SPFx web parts. Benefits include:

• Advanced Features: Modern Fluent UI supports tree-shaking and hooks, which reduce bundle sizes and improve performance.
• Modern Development Practices: Built for React 16.8+, it enables developers to take advantage of functional components, hooks, and other modern React features in SPFx.

5. Best Practices for Using Fluent UI in SPFx Projects

To get the most out of Fluent UI in your SPFx projects, consider the following best practices:

1. Choose the Right Version of Fluent UI

• For Legacy Projects: Stick with Classic Fluent UI if you’re working with older versions of SPFx or need backward compatibility.
• For Modern Projects: Use Modern Fluent UI if you’re building new web parts or if your project is based on modern SharePoint experiences.

2. Use Functional Components and Hooks

With Modern Fluent UI built around functional components, ensure that you’re taking full advantage of hooks in your SPFx web parts. This will not only make your code more efficient but also easier to manage and scale.

3. Optimize Performance with Modern Fluent UI

Modern Fluent UI offers significant performance benefits. Use tree-shaking, code-splitting, and lazy loading techniques to reduce the footprint of your web parts and ensure a smooth user experience.

4. Test Compatibility with SharePoint Online

Always test your Fluent UI components within SharePoint Online environments, especially when upgrading from Classic to Modern Fluent UI. This will ensure that your components work correctly and align with the overall SharePoint experience.

6. Conclusion

Fluent UI plays a vital role in creating user-friendly, accessible, and visually appealing interfaces within SharePoint Framework (SPFx) projects. With the introduction of Modern Fluent UI, developers now have more flexibility, performance optimizations, and modern features that allow them to build scalable and maintainable SPFx solutions. However, understanding when to use Classic vs. Modern Fluent UI is essential to ensure project success, especially when dealing with legacy systems or adopting new development practices.

By leveraging React’s evolution and the strengths of each version of Fluent UI, developers can create robust SPFx web parts that are future-proof, performant, and aligned with Microsoft’s design standards.

Summary of Commands:

• Classic Fluent UI: npm install @fluentui/react
• Modern Fluent UI: npm install @fluentui/react-components
• SPFx: Use functional components and hooks for modern projects

This comprehensive guide provides the foundation for making informed decisions when integrating Fluent UI with SPFx projects, ensuring that your development is both efficient and aligned with modern web standards.