Chapter 1: The Birth of Storybook

The narrative of Storybook.js is a blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Initially, it emerged as a tool for prototyping, constructing, and testing design systems and components. With an astounding download rate of 3 million per week, it’s hard to believe that it was once on the brink of extinction.

In 2016, Arunoda Susiripala was at the helm of a startup named Kadira, aimed at monitoring Meteor applications. Despite challenging times in Sri Lanka, Kadira thrived, attracting clients and maintaining steady operations. Arunoda, who had bootstrapped the venture, had a passion for creating exceptional user interfaces, which contributed to Kadira's success. However, he faced a significant challenge: iterating on these interfaces was cumbersome.

To view a component in a specific state, he had to navigate through the entire application, replicating the conditions to refine the displayed component. This frustration was a common issue among frontend developers, who resorted to various hacks to overcome it. Many built personal projects or created demo pages that showcased components in different states without traversing the app, often using mock data displayed under unique URLs.

Recognizing the potential for a solution, Arunoda seized this opportunity, leading to the birth of React Storybook. Its design offered several advantages over existing solutions. Although React was still in its infancy, it would eventually rise to prominence as one of the leading frontend libraries. This strategic choice significantly boosted Storybook's visibility, garnering interest from a growing audience.

While not achieving widespread fame initially, the project's traction was commendable, especially for a self-funded initiative. Responding to community feedback, Arunoda and his team began developing a SaaS model around the project, which would provide the necessary resources to enhance Storybook as an open-source tool.

Over the next nine months, Arunoda meticulously crafted the initial version of Storybook, launched its second iteration, began work on the SaaS, and introduced new features like knobs. The rapid progress and positive reception fostered a burgeoning community around Storybook.

However, by the end of 2016, circumstances shifted. Arunoda redirected his focus, and the initial excitement within the community began to wane. He announced Kadira's impending closure, leaving Storybook without a maintainer. The project was on the verge of being abandoned.

This scenario illustrates the fragility of business ventures. Kadira was the foundation that enabled Storybook's existence, but it was insufficient for long-term sustainability. As time passed, Storybook seemed destined to join the ranks of countless other projects that fade away without notice. Yet, against the odds, the community rallied around Storybook, refusing to let it die.

Questions arose as users noticed the lack of updates. Arunoda granted access to the project, enabling a few dedicated individuals to explore its potential. Conversations grew, attracting more developers, including notable figures from the web development community. A governance structure emerged, with passionate developers worldwide picking up where Arunoda left off.

Today, Storybook is recognized globally as a framework-agnostic tool for building and testing design systems and components. Both small and large organizations rely on it to create standardized component libraries for their applications and websites. This success is a testament to the hard work of hundreds of maintainers and Arunoda's vision.

Storybook's download rate remains impressive at 3 million per week, playing a pivotal role in application and web development. Its story exemplifies how open-source projects can thrive against all odds, defying conventional wisdom.

I wish that individuals like Arunoda received more acknowledgment for their contributions. His name stands out in this narrative because he was instrumental in bringing Storybook to life. However, I hope for even more inspiring stories where creators and companies recognize the value of the free tools they use, developed by passionate individuals who have limited time to make their projects viable.

As we celebrate Storybook's achievements, let's also consider other open-source projects that deserve our support. What can you do today to promote and financially back such initiatives?

By the way, Storybook.js 8 is currently in beta!

If you’d like to see more articles, please clap, subscribe, share, and consider becoming a paid member!