Modern software teams often face recurring challenges while delivering features at speed without compromising maintainability. One effective solution is building reusable component libraries—especially when working with frontend frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue. However, integrating the development of these shared assets during Scrum sprints requires clarity, discipline, and alignment between cross-functional teams.

This blog explains how Scrum teams can successfully incorporate the development of reusable component libraries into their sprint cycles without derailing commitments or technical focus.

Why Reusable Components Matter

Reusable components reduce redundant code, improve consistency in design and behavior, and help teams onboard faster. They are especially critical in organizations adopting design systems or building across multiple platforms or products. Creating these components as part of regular sprint work ensures they evolve naturally with product needs.

However, unlike a typical feature, a reusable component requires forward-thinking: it must be generic enough for multiple use cases, thoroughly tested, and documented properly. That’s why it’s important to align the process of building component libraries with Scrum Master training best practices.

Planning for Component Work in Sprint Backlog

Start by treating component library development as a first-class citizen in your product backlog. If teams always deprioritize this work, technical debt and inconsistencies will accumulate.

• Define reusable components as product backlog items (PBIs) or technical stories.
• Ensure each component includes usage scenarios, test cases, and integration notes.
• Collaborate with UI/UX teams to maintain design alignment.

These PBIs should be discussed during sprint planning just like any other feature work. Teams may estimate them based on complexity, variability in use cases, and required documentation.

Balancing Feature Delivery with Component Development

Component library work should not be an afterthought or assigned only during "slack time." Instead, aim for balance:

• Allocate a percentage (e.g., 10-20%) of sprint capacity for reusable work.
• Identify overlap—components needed for current stories can be extracted and generalized.
• Use technical refinement sessions to flag repeated UI/logic patterns early.

This helps the team stay focused on product delivery while steadily growing a library of reusable, production-ready components. Scrum Masters can guide this balance by reinforcing sprint goals and identifying when over-engineering is creeping in.

Design Contracts and Collaboration

Reusable components should follow shared patterns, props/inputs standards, and lifecycle expectations. In cross-team environments, lack of alignment often results in unusable "reusable" code.

Adopt component design contracts:

• Define input/output specs with clear naming and types.
• Include edge case behavior and error handling as part of the definition.
• Use Storybook, Bit, or similar tools for showcasing and testing components.

This becomes particularly important for organizations scaling agile with SAFe Scrum Master certification practices, where multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs) may rely on shared component libraries.

Definition of Done for Component Libraries

Component library items should have a strong Definition of Done (DoD) that includes:

• Unit test coverage (minimum 80% is a good baseline).
• Documentation with code examples and usage guidelines.
• Cross-browser and device testing (for frontend libraries).
• Peer code reviews with accessibility and performance checks.
• Versioning and changelog entries for every addition or update.

Scrum teams familiar with CSM certification training often apply DoD rigorously, but this is especially vital for shared code bases where assumptions can lead to cascading regressions.

Refactoring Existing Features into Components

One of the easiest ways to build component libraries incrementally is by identifying repetitive patterns in existing features and extracting them. This often arises during code reviews, retrospectives, or bug triaging. Instead of duplicating similar components, make the following moves:

• Create a new generic component (e.g., Modal, Dropdown, Table).
• Replace all existing instances across the app with the new component.
• Add storybook entries and usage examples.

Track these refactors through dedicated tickets, and treat them with the same review process as new features. This approach minimizes code sprawl and drives architectural consistency.

Version Control and Dependency Management

If your component library lives in its own repository or as a separate package, version control becomes critical. Use semantic versioning (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH) to communicate changes clearly.

• Patch = bug fix, no breaking changes.
• Minor = new features, backward-compatible.
• Major = breaking change, migration required.

Use Git tags, changelogs, and CI pipelines to automate deployment to internal registries (e.g., Nexus, Artifactory, GitHub Packages). For frontend teams, consider publishing the component library as an npm package, especially when working across micro-frontends or multi-app ecosystems.

Test-Driven Development for Component Libraries

Components must be predictable and isolated. That makes them ideal for test-driven development (TDD). Build unit and snapshot tests before implementing the final logic. Use test frameworks like Jest, React Testing Library, or Cypress (for integration).

This not only builds quality but reinforces testable APIs and decoupled design. Scrum teams that adopt TDD often find that writing documentation becomes easier, as the tests describe behavior already.

Collaboration Across Teams and Tribes

In larger organizations, component libraries serve multiple products and squads. To scale their use:

• Nominate library maintainers or a dedicated Guild.
• Use RFCs (Request for Comments) for major component changes.
• Review contributions through structured approval workflows.

This is similar to patterns taught in SAFe Scrum Master training where teams align through Communities of Practice (CoPs) and architectural syncs.

Final Thoughts: Agile Ownership of Shared Code

Reusable components aren’t just a technical concern—they’re a product of disciplined teamwork, thoughtful process, and iterative improvement. By intentionally allocating time during sprints and defining clear acceptance criteria, teams can continuously build a scalable, maintainable, and performant design system.

Scrum Masters trained through certified scrum master training can guide their teams to strike the right balance between delivering immediate value and investing in reusable, high-quality infrastructure.

To deepen your knowledge on Agile development, you might explore resources like Martin Fowler’s take on Component Reuse and Storybook for UI component development.

With a strong Agile culture, effective sprint planning, and shared ownership, reusable component libraries can be one of the most powerful enablers of team velocity and long-term maintainability.

 

Also read - Handling Version Control and Release Branching in Scrum Teams

Also see - Using Docker for Consistent Dev Environments in Scrum