opentrons-typescript
DevelopmentTypeScript conventions, React patterns, testing, styling, and import rules for the Opentrons monorepo JS/TS packages. Use when working with TypeScript or React files in app/, components/, shared-data/, step-generation/, protocol-designer/, protocol-visualization/, opentrons-ai-client/, or other JS/TS packages.
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Opentrons Monorepo — TypeScript Conventions
Node.js, Pnpm, Python setup, teardown, and troubleshooting are in the always-apply monorepo-setup rule.
Monorepo Structure
Pnpm workspaces monorepo with 15 TypeScript packages. No Lerna/Nx/Turbo — uses Pnpm workspaces + TypeScript project references.
Packages
| Package | Directory | Type |
|---|---|---|
@opentrons/app | app/ | React app |
@opentrons/app-shell | app-shell/ | Electron shell |
@opentrons/app-shell-odd | app-shell-odd/ | Electron shell (ODD) |
@opentrons/components | components/ | React UI components library |
@opentrons/api-client | api-client/ | Pure TS library |
@opentrons/react-api-client | react-api-client/ | React hooks library |
@opentrons/discovery-client | discovery-client/ | Pure TS (Node) |
@opentrons/shared-data | shared-data/ | Pure TS/JS data library |
@opentrons/step-generation | step-generation/ | Pure TS library |
@opentrons/labware-library | labware-library/ | React app |
@opentrons/labware-designer | labware-designer/ | React app |
opentrons-ai-client | opentrons-ai-client/ | React app |
protocol-designer | protocol-designer/ | React app |
@opentrons/protocol-visualization | protocol-visualization/ | React library (protocol viz, WIP) |
@opentrons/usb-bridge-client | usb-bridge/node-client/ | Pure TS (Node) |
Dependency Graph
shared-data is the foundation. Nothing should import "up" the tree:
shared-data
├── step-generation
├── components
├── api-client → react-api-client
└── discovery-client
↓
protocol-visualization (scaffold; depends on components + shared-data + step-generation)
↓
app, protocol-designer, labware-library, opentrons-ai-client (leaf apps)
TypeScript Configuration
All packages extend tsconfig-base.json:
- Target/Module: ESNext
- Strict: true (no
any, strict null checks) - JSX: preserve (Vite handles transform)
- Declarations: emitDeclarationOnly, composite for project references
- Module resolution: node
Each package defines rootDir: "src", outDir: "lib", and references its dependencies.
Code Style (Prettier)
Enforced by Prettier with @ianvs/prettier-plugin-sort-imports:
- No semicolons
- Single quotes (double quotes in JSX)
- Trailing commas: ES5
- Print width: 80, Tab width: 2
- Line endings: LF
Import Conventions
Order (auto-sorted by Prettier plugin)
- React imports (
import { useState } from 'react') - Third-party packages
@opentrons/*packages- Package-local absolute imports (
/app/*,/protocol-designer/*,/ai-client/*) - Relative imports
import type(type-only imports, same sub-ordering)- Asset imports (images, CSS)
Cross-Package Imports
Use the @opentrons/ scope. These resolve to source via Vite aliases in dev/test:
import { Flex, SPACING } from '@opentrons/components'
import { getPipetteSpecsV2 } from '@opentrons/shared-data'
import type { PipetteName } from '@opentrons/shared-data'
Intra-Package Absolute Imports
Each app has a path alias (configured in tsconfig + Vite):
app/→/app/*protocol-designer/→/protocol-designer/*opentrons-ai-client/→/ai-client/*
// Good — absolute import within app
import { useRobot } from '/app/resources/robots'
// Bad — deep relative paths across features
import { useRobot } from '../../../resources/robots'
// Acceptable — relative for nearby files in the same feature
import { utils } from './utils'
No Default Exports
ESLint enforces import/no-default-export. Always use named exports. Exceptions: config files (vite.config.mts, *.stories.tsx).
Lodash
Import individual functions only:
// Good — imports a specific function
import mapValues from 'lodash/mapValues'
// Bad — imports entire library
import { mapValues } from 'lodash'
Type Imports
Always use import type for type-only imports:
import type { LabwareDefinition2 } from '@opentrons/shared-data'
React Component Patterns
Function Declarations (not arrows)
interface MyComponentProps {
title: string
onClose: () => void
}
export function MyComponent({ title, onClose }: MyComponentProps): JSX.Element {
return <div>{title}</div>
}
- Named function declarations, not arrow functions, for components
- Props interface named
<ComponentName>Props - Always destructure props in the function signature
Atomic Design Hierarchy
Components are organized as atoms/ → molecules/ → organisms/ → pages/. Custom ESLint rule opentrons/no-imports-up-the-tree-of-life prevents importing up the hierarchy:
- atoms must NOT import from molecules, organisms, or pages
- molecules must NOT import from organisms or pages
- organisms must NOT import from pages
Application Boundaries (app/ specific)
The app package separates Desktop and ODD (On-Device Display) UIs. ESLint rule opentrons/no-imports-across-applications prevents cross-contamination between /Desktop/, /ODD/, and shared code.
Component Library (@opentrons/components)
Do not use primitives from the shared component library when you create a new component from zero.
Primitives are located in components/src/primitives.
Use primitives if you update an existing component or fix an existing component for layout and common UI:
import {
COLORS,
DIRECTION_COLUMN,
Flex,
Icon,
SPACING,
StyledText,
} from '@opentrons/components'
Hooks
useSelector/useDispatchfromreact-reduxuseTranslationfromreact-i18nextfor i18n- Custom hooks prefixed with
use* - Never call hooks conditionally
- ESLint enforces
react-hooks/rules-of-hooks(error) andreact-hooks/exhaustive-deps(warn)
Styling
CSS Modules (preferred for new code)
- File:
<componentname>.module.css(lowercase, no separators) - Classes:
snake_case(enforced by Stylelint:/^[a-z0-9_]+$/) - Use CSS custom properties from the design system (spacing, colors, typography, border-radius)
- Use
clsxfor conditional classes - Never use inline styles in components (only in
*.stories.tsx)
styled-components (legacy)
Some packages still use styled-components@5.3.6. Do not introduce new styled-components — use CSS Modules for new code.
Design System Tokens
/* Spacing */
padding: var(--spacing-8);
gap: var(--spacing-16);
/* Colors */
color: var(--grey-60);
background: var(--white);
/* Typography */
font-size: var(--font-size-p);
font-weight: var(--font-weight-semi-bold);
/* Border radius */
border-radius: var(--border-radius-8);
/* Width/height — use explicit rem values, NOT variables */
width: 15rem;
Testing
Framework
- Vitest 2.1.9 (not Jest) —
vi.fn(),vi.mock(),vi.mocked() - @testing-library/react 16.3.0 —
screen,fireEvent,renderHook - @testing-library/user-event 14.6.1
- vitest-when 0.5.0 for conditional mocking
- jsdom test environment (global
vitest.config.mts)
Test File Structure
FeatureOrComponent/
├── index.tsx (or module.ts)
└── **tests**/
└── FeatureName.test.tsx
renderWithProviders
React component tests MUST use renderWithProviders (wraps Redux Provider + QueryClientProvider + optional i18n), not plain render:
import { renderWithProviders } from '/app/__testing-utils__' // or /protocol-designer/__testing-utils__
import { i18n } from '/app/i18n'
import type { ComponentProps } from 'react'
const render = (props: ComponentProps<typeof MyComponent>) => {
return renderWithProviders(<MyComponent {...props} />)[0]
}
describe('MyComponent', () => {
let props: ComponentProps<typeof MyComponent>
beforeEach(() => {
props = { /* defaults */ }
})
afterEach(() => {
vi.clearAllMocks()
})
it('renders the button', () => {
render(props)
expect(screen.getByRole('button')).toBeInTheDocument()
})
it('renders the text', () => {
render(props)
screen.getByText('Opentrons Flex')
})
})
Mocking
vi.mock()at file top for module mocksvi.mocked(fn).mockReturnValue(...)for typed mocksvi.clearAllMocks()inafterEach(always)
Queries
- Prefer
screen.getByRole,screen.getByText,screen.getByTestId - Never use
container.querySelector data-testidformat:ComponentName_ElementType
Makefile Targets
Per-Package (run from the package directory)
Each package has a Makefile with some or all of:
| Target | Description |
|---|---|
make dev | Start Vite dev server |
make build | Production build |
make clean | Remove build output |
make test | Run tests (delegates to root) |
make test-cov | Run tests with coverage |
Root Makefile (run from monorepo root)
| Target | Description |
|---|---|
make setup-js | Install all JS deps (pnpm) |
make test-js | Run ALL JS tests |
make test-js-<project> | Run tests for one project (e.g., make test-js-protocol-designer) |
make lint-js | ESLint + Prettier check |
make lint-js-eslint | ESLint only |
make lint-js-prettier | Prettier only |
make lint-css | Stylelint all CSS |
make format-js | Auto-format with Prettier |
make format-css | Auto-fix CSS with Stylelint |
make check-js / make build-ts | TypeScript type-check (tsc --build) |
make clean-ts | Clean TS build output |
make circular-dependencies-js | Check circular imports (madge) |
Running Tests Directly
# Single file
pnpm vitest app/src/organisms/__tests__/MyComponent.test.tsx
# Entire package
pnpm vitest protocol-designer/
# Watch mode
pnpm vitest --watch app/src/
# Specific project via Make
make test-js-app tests="src/organisms/__tests__/MyComponent.test.tsx"
Linting Specific Files
pnpm eslint path/to/file.tsx
pnpm stylelint path/to/file.module.css
pnpm prettier --check path/to/file.tsx
pnpm prettier --write path/to/file.tsx # auto-fix
Event Handlers
import type { MouseEvent } from 'react'
// Named handlers for complex logic
const handleClick = (e: MouseEvent<HTMLButtonElement>): void => {
e.preventDefault()
onClick()
}
return <button onClick={handleClick}>Click me</button>
// Direct reference for simple cases
return <button onClick={onClick}>Click me</button>
// Bad — unnecessary wrapper
return <button onClick={() => onClick()}>Click me</button>
Always specify type on buttons in forms:
<button type="button" onClick={handleAttach}>Attach</button>
<button type="submit">Submit Form</button>
Constants & Magic Numbers
Extract all constants — avoid inline magic numbers:
// Good
const UNIT_MB = 1024 * 1024
const MAX_FILES = 5
export const FILE_SIZE_LIMITS = {
pdf: 10 * UNIT_MB,
csv: 2 * UNIT_MB,
} as const
// Bad
const sizeMB = Math.round(sizeLimit / (1024 * 1024))
Use object lookups for simple mappings instead of switch statements.
Component Architecture
Separate router logic from presentation for testability:
// Router-aware wrapper
function AppWithRouter() {
const location = useLocation()
return <AppContent isOnChatPage={location.pathname === '/chat'} />
}
// Pure presentation (easily testable)
function AppContent({ isOnChatPage }: { isOnChatPage: boolean }) {
return <div>{!isOnChatPage ? <Footer /> : null}</div>
}
Common Pitfalls
- Do NOT use
any— strict TypeScript is enforced - Do NOT use default exports (except config files and stories)
- Do NOT use class components — functional only
- Do NOT use arrow functions for component definitions
- Do NOT use implicit truthiness for null checks — use explicit
!= null - Do NOT import the full lodash package — use granular imports
- Do NOT use inline styles in components
- Do NOT use
querySelectorin tests - Do NOT introduce new styled-components — use CSS Modules
- Do NOT import up the atomic design hierarchy (atoms ← molecules ← organisms ← pages)
- Do NOT skip
afterEach(() => vi.clearAllMocks())in test suites - Do NOT use semicolons (Prettier removes them)
- Do NOT use
console.logordebuggerin committed code - Do NOT omit curly braces for control statements — ESLint
curlyrule enforces braces for allif,else,for,while, anddoblocks - Do NOT use primitives (primitives are located in
components/src/primitives) for new component - use HTML 5 tags and CSS Modules - Do NOT use margins to create a layout in a component - use padding and gap
- Do NOT use a conditional statement for
aria-label - Do NOT use a nested ternary in non-component render code