Introduction
This is just an exercise in building something simple and lean. While existing light boxes are feature-rich and robust, I wanted something simpler, with a focus on performance and responsiveness. Although I found several lightweight options, many were outdated. This led me to explore what a modern, lean light box could look like—so I decided to build one.
Examples
I’m sure most just want to see it in action attached to various elements, so here you go:
NOTE: You might be asking why the ugly gifs? I dunno, I find something charming about the old dithered look.
Project Overview
Purpose: To enable the easy application of a lightbox to any HTML element.
Duration: Approximately 10 hours, including research. The actual development time was closer to 5 hours.
Technology Stack: TypeScript
Key Features
- Enables any HTML element to become a clickable lightbox.
- Custom HTML Element:
<light-me-bro>. - Encapsulated CSS to avoid conflicts with existing stylesheets.
Development Process
This project was driven by a straightforward need and served as a hobby endeavor. My primary requirements were:
- Create a script that could be easily integrated into any website.
- Ensure the CSS is encapsulated to prevent style conflicts.
- Utilize modern technologies to explore what a contemporary solution would look like.
Technical Details
The project leverages the following:
Web Component Specification:
The idea of a custom HTML element appealed to me as it makes the component easily identifiable during element inspection. Additionally, it allows the component to have unique properties outside of the standard HTML specification, making it more extensible.
Shadow DOM:
I’ve always appreciated the encapsulation that the Shadow DOM provides but hadn’t had an opportunity to use it—until now. For “Light Me Bro,” which is designed to be a set-it-and-forget-it solution, the encapsulation of styles is crucial to ensure there are no conflicts with existing stylesheets. The Shadow DOM provided the perfect solution.
Constructable Stylesheets:
This project also gave me a chance to experiment with the Constructable Stylesheets API. When I first encountered it, it was still in draft form. By the time the “Light Me Bro” idea came about, it had become part of the web spec. This API not only allows for better management of stylesheets but also ensures that future extensions can be handled smoothly. Currently, the implementation is basic, but it serves as a foundation for potential enhancements.
Reflection
This project was an enjoyable way to sharpen my development skills while experimenting with technologies I might not typically use. I hope that others find value in this repository and enjoy it as much as I did creating it.