zulip

A minimal, no-build web app kit using only Lit-based web components via importmaps.

Quick Start Example

1. Define a Component

// components/counter.js
import { LitElement, html, css } from 'lit'

class Counter extends LitElement {
  static properties = {
    count: { type: Number, state: true }
  }

  constructor() {
    super()
    this.count = 0
  }

  static styles = css`
    button { padding: 1rem; font-size: 1.2rem; }
  `

  render() {
    return html`
      <div>
        <p>Count: ${this.count}</p>
        <button @click=${() => this.count++}>
          Increment
        </button>
      </div>
    `
  }
}

customElements.define('my-counter', Counter)

2. Use in App root (or other composition node)

import "./my-counter.js";

class AppRoot extends LitElement {
  ...
  render() {
    return html`<my-counter .count=${0}></my-counter>`;
  }
}

3. Define Data Flows

Parent-to-Child (Props)

// Parent passes data down
html`<child-component .items=${this.items}></child-component>`

// Child receives via properties
static properties = {
  items: { type: Array }
}

Child-to-Parent (Events)

// Child emits event
this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('add-item', {
  detail: { item: newItem },
  bubbles: true,
  composed: true
}))

// Parent listens
html`<child-component @add-item=${(e) => this.handleAdd(e.detail.item)}></child-component>`

Benefits Over TSX

1. No build step - Edit and refresh, instant feedback

2. Minimal dependencies - Just Lit, nothing else

3. Smaller bundle - No framework runtime, just standards

4. Better encapsulation - Shadow DOM, scoped styles

5. Framework agnostic - Works anywhere, even in React apps

6. Future-proof - Built on web standards

7. Easy to learn - Simple mental model for state, with natural evolution into Zustand/IndexedDB or similar extensions