Building Web3UIKit Components to Reduce Web3 Dev Time by Hritwik TripathiBuilding Web3UIKit Components to Reduce Web3 Dev Time by Hritwik Tripathi

Building Web3UIKit Components to Reduce Web3 Dev Time

Hritwik Tripathi

Frontend Engineer

UX Engineer

React

Storybook

Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

Case Study: Web3 UI Kit Component Development

Contributing to Moralis Web3UIKit - Web3 Frontend UI Components

Executive Summary

This case study documents contributions made to web3uikit, Moralis's lightweight Web3 UI component library.I successfully developed and integrated six critical UI components that accelerate decentralized application (dApp) development across multiple blockchain networks.

Impact:

Components integrated into production use across multiple dApps

Direct contribution to Moralis's mission of reducing Web3 development time by 87%

Background: The Web3 Frontend Challenge

The Problem

When Web3 development emerged, most innovation focused on blockchain backend infrastructure and smart contracts. The frontend layer critical for user experience (UX) received minimal attention. According to Moralis's own research, Web3 developers spent disproportionate effort on backend complexity, leaving little time for crafting intuitive interfaces.

The Solution

Moralis created web3uikit to democratize Web3 frontend development:

Lightweight, reusable React components designed for dApp developers

Chain-agnostic architecture working across Ethereum, Polygon, BSC and other networks

Web3-specific functionality (wallet authentication, blockchain data display, NFT components)

Project Significance

Web3UIKit represents Moralis's commitment to three core principles:

Developer Experience (DX) – Make building beautiful UIs simple and fast

User Experience (UX) – Enable developers to create polished, professional dApp interfaces

Detailed Component Breakdown

1. ENSAvatar Component

Objective: Add Ethereum Name Service avatar display to web3uikit

Purpose: Enable dApp developers to display ENS avatars natively, improving user recognition and trust

Implementation Context: ENS avatars provide decentralized user identity, crucial for Web3 applications where users interact via wallet addresses. This component bridges the gap between anonymous addresses and human-readable identities.

Key Features:

Fetches ENS records and avatar URIs

Fallback to default avatars

Responsive sizing options

Integration with Moralis NFT API

Real-World Use Case: A DAO governance dApp can display voting members' ENS avatars, making voting interfaces more intuitive and trustworthy.

2. BlockNumber Component

Objective: Display current blockchain block numbers in dApps

Purpose: propose and track building a new BlockNumber UI component

Implementation: Leverages web3.js getBlockNumber() method to fetch real-time block data from connected blockchain network.

Component Capabilities:

Real-time block number updates

Network-aware (Ethereum, Polygon, BSC, etc.)

Auto-refresh on block events

Styled to match web3uikit design system

Use Cases:

Trading Dashboards – Display current block for transaction timing

Explorer UIs – Show latest confirmed blocks

Oracle Interfaces – Verify block-dependent data freshness

Farm/Staking Dashboards – Show block milestones for reward calculations

3. ENS Support in ConnectButton

Objective: Enhance wallet authentication with ENS name resolution

Scope: Extend the core ConnectButton component to display ENS names instead of wallet addresses after connection, improving user experience.

Implementation:

Extends the existing ConnectButton flow to resolve/display an ENS identity during/after connection (instead of only showing a raw wallet address).

Component Capabilities:

Displays ENS-based identity when available (better readability than hex addresses).

Improves wallet-connection UX by making the connected account easier to recognize at a glance.

Designed as an enhancement to an existing reusable Web3 UI component used across dApps.

Use Cases:

dApp headers/navbars – Show ENS name for the connected user to reduce confusion across multiple wallets.

DAO / community apps – Show recognizable identities in proposals, comments and voting experiences.

DeFi dashboards – Help users confirm they connected the correct wallet before trading/staking actions.

Any “connect wallet” flow – Increase trust and reduce onboarding friction by showing a familiar ENS identity.

4. IPFSInput Component

Objective: Add IPFS file upload functionality to web3uikit

Component Purpose: IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) represents decentralized storage in Web3. This component enables developers to easily integrate decentralized file uploads into their dApps.

Technical Implementation:

File selection and validation

Multipart upload handling

Progress tracking

Integration with Moralis IPFS service or Pinata

Error handling and user feedback

Key Features:

Drag-and-drop file support

Multiple file uploads

Size validation

IPFS hash display

Copy-to-clipboard functionality

Use Cases:

NFT Minting Platforms – Upload metadata and assets to IPFS

Decentralized Storage – User-controlled file storage

DAO Document Management – Immutable proposal and voting records

Creator Platforms – Decentralized content distribution

Real-World Example: A Web3 creator platform uses IPFSInput to allow artists to upload artwork and metadata, ensuring permanent, decentralized ownership of their content.

5. Slider Component

Objective: Add interactive slider control to web3uikit component library

Purpose: Provide developers with a Web3-styled range input component for price sliders, risk parameters and other numeric selections in dApps.

Implementation Details:

HTML5 <input type="range"> enhanced with web3uikit styling

Custom theming using design system CSS variables

Accessibility features (ARIA labels, keyboard navigation)

Responsive behavior

Touch and mouse support

Component Variants:

Single-value slider

Dual-value range selector

Step-controlled increments

Custom tick marks

Use Cases:

DEX Interfaces – Slippage tolerance configuration

Lending Protocols – Loan-to-value (LTV) ratio adjustment

Prediction Markets – Probability range selection

Yield Farming – Risk/return tradeoff visualization

6. Crypto Exchange Logo Updates

Objective: Add Crypto.com logo and correct Coinbase logo in component library

Scope: Asset management and branding

Purpose: The ConnectButton and related wallet authentication components display logos for various exchanges and custodial services. Accurate, up-to-date logos improve user trust and interface professionalism.

Work Performed:

Added Crypto.com Logo

Sourced official brand assets

Optimized SVG/PNG versions

Integrated into logo registry

Corrected Coinbase Logo

Replaced outdated/incorrect version

Verified against official Coinbase brand guidelines

Updated across all component usages

Impact:

Enhanced visual consistency across wallet connection interfaces

Improved professional appearance of dApp frontends

Reduced friction in user onboarding (users recognize familiar brands)

Technical Architecture & Context

Technology Stack

Framework: React 18+

Language: TypeScript

Styling: CSS-in-JS with design system tokens

Component Library Pattern: Monorepo structure (managed with Yarn workspaces)

Testing: Jest + React Testing Library

Documentation: Storybook interactive documentation

Package Registry: NPM

Code Quality Standards

Code Style: ESLint + Prettier configuration

TypeScript: Strict mode enabled (no any types)

Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA compliance

Documentation: JSDoc comments + Storybook stories

Vulnerability Disclosure: No security issues disclosed

Testing: Unit tests for critical paths

Impact & Metrics

Qualitative Impact

For the Web3UIKit Project:

Expanded component library with essential Web3 features

Improved user onboarding via better wallet authentication options

Demonstrated community contribution quality and reliability

Strengthened ecosystem around IPFS and ENS integrations

For Moralis Platform:

Components reduce dApp developer time to first working interface

Contributes to Moralis's 87% reduction in Web3 dev time

Enables enterprise dApp teams to focus on business logic

For Web3 Developers:

Ready-to-use components for common patterns

Reference implementations for Web3 best practices

Accessible, production-grade code

Active maintenance and community support

Skills Demonstrated

Core Competencies

✅ React & TypeScript – Modern component architecture, type safety

✅ Web3 Integration – Moralis SDK, wallet authentication, blockchain data

✅ Accessibility (a11y) – WCAG compliance, ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation

✅ UI/UX Design – Design system consistency, responsive layouts

✅ IPFS & Decentralized Storage – File upload, hash management, gateway patterns

✅ Ethereum Ecosystem – ENS, smart contract interaction patterns

✅ Documentation – JSDoc, Storybook, contribution guidelines

Advanced Skills

✅ Component Architecture – Monorepo management, TypeScript strict mode

✅ Performance Optimization – Debouncing, caching, async handling

✅ Error Handling – Recovery patterns, user feedback, timeout management

✅ Design System Tokens – CSS variables, theme customization

✅ Collaborative Development – Code review iteration, feedback integration

Lessons Learned

What Went Well

Clear PR Descriptions – Detailed descriptions accelerated review cycles

Following Project Standards – Adhering to code style and checklist items prevented rework

Active Communication – Asking clarifying questions early prevented misalignment

Incremental Commits – Small, logical commits made review easier

Challenges & Growth

Architectural Understanding – The blocked ENS PR taught me when community contributions conflict with core architecture

Patience in Review Cycles – Large PRs can take time; breaking work into smaller pieces helps

Documentation Value – Well-documented components get merged faster

Strategic Insights

Long-Term Maintainability – Thinking about future developers (accessibility, error messages, edge cases) matters

Technical Challenges & Solutions

Challenge 1: ENS Resolution Timing (PR #699)

Problem: Asynchronously fetching ENS names during component lifecycle caused race conditions and UI flickering.

Root Cause: ConnectButton reinitializes on every render, while ENS resolution is async and unbounded.

Attempted Solutions:

Debouncing requests

Caching resolution results

Parallel request optimization

Outcome: Core maintainers determined the current component architecture couldn't accommodate this pattern without major refactoring. PR was marked "blocked" to prevent technical debt.

Lesson Learned: Understanding architectural constraints is as important as implementation skills.

Challenge 2: IPFS Integration Complexity (PR #708)

Problem: IPFS file uploads require careful error handling, progress tracking, and integration with multiple IPFS gateways.

Solution Implemented:

Modular provider pattern (support Moralis, Pinata, Nft.storage)

Progress events with ProgressEvent API

Comprehensive error recovery

Timeout handling

User-friendly error messages

Code Pattern:

typescriptinterface IPFSInputProps {
  onSuccess: (hash: string) => void;
  onError: (error: Error) => void;
  provider?: 'moralis' | 'pinata' | 'nft.storage';
  maxSize?: number; // in bytes
}

Challenge 3: Slider Accessibility (PR #793)

Problem: Native HTML sliders require careful styling to maintain accessibility while matching Web3 aesthetic.

Solutions:

Proper <label> associations

ARIA labels for screen readers

Keyboard navigation (arrow keys, Page Up/Down)

Focus visibility using design system tokens

Mobile-friendly touch targets (min 44px height)

Real-World Applications

Use Case 1: NFT Marketplace Built with Components

Scenario: Building a decentralized NFT marketplace

Components Used:

ConnectButton – User authentication

ENSAvatar – Display seller/collector identity

BlockNumber – Show latest confirmed block for transaction timing

IPFSInput – Artists upload artwork and metadata

Slider – Filter NFTs by price range

Benefit: From zero to functional marketplace UI in 2-3 weeks instead of 2-3 months.

Use Case 2: DeFi Yield Farming Protocol

Scenario: Building a yield farming dashboard

Components Used:

ConnectButton – Connect to liquidity provider wallet

BlockNumber – Display reward unlock timings

Slider – Adjust exposure level (LP token amount)

Widget (from core library) – Display APY, total locked value

Benefit: Focus engineering effort on smart contracts instead of frontend boilerplate.

Use Case 3: DAO Governance Interface

Scenario: Multi-sig treasury and governance platform

Components Used:

ConnectButton – Voter authentication

ENSAvatar – Show voting member identities

BlockNumber – Display voting deadline block

Form Components – Proposal submission and voting

Benefit: Professional-grade governance interface with accessibility compliance.

Comparative Analysis

Before Web3UIKit

Developers built components from scratch

No standardization across dApps

High barrier to entry for non-frontend specialists

Inconsistent user experiences

After Web3UIKit (with my contributions)

Drop-in components for common patterns

Consistent design system across ecosystem

Blockchain developers can ship UIs without expert designers

Professional, accessible interfaces become the default

Lessons for Future Projects

What Made These Contributions Successful

Problem-First Approach – Each component solves a real developer need

Community Alignment – PRs matched Moralis's roadmap and values

Quality Standards – No corners cut; production-ready code from day one

Communication – Clear descriptions and responsive to feedback

Documentation – Every component includes usage examples and edge cases

Conclusion

I contributed essential UI components to Moralis's web3uikit, a foundational tool for Web3 development. These contributions demonstrate:

Technical Depth – Implementing complex features (IPFS integration, ENS resolution, accessibility)

Product Thinking – Understanding how components serve developers and end-users

Shipping Discipline – Taking production code quality seriously

The work directly supports Moralis's mission to reduce Web3 development time by 87%, enabling teams to focus on innovation instead of infrastructure. It also positioned me as a trusted contributor in the Web3 developer ecosystem, a valuable asset for future collaborations and opportunities.

Appendix: Technical References

Key Technologies & Frameworks

Moralis Web3 APIs – Authentication, blockchain data, NFT API

React 18 – Component framework

TypeScript 4.5+ – Type safety and developer experience

IPFS – Decentralized file storage

ENS (Ethereum Name Service) – Blockchain identity

Monorepo Architecture – Yarn workspaces for multi-package management

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Posted Jan 7, 2026

Built 6 Moralis Web3UIKit components to speed up dApp frontends and improve onboarding, supporting Moralis’ claim of up to 87% faster Web3 development.

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