Responsive Design

All UIs must be fully responsive, covering the entire device range from mobile to desktop. Responsiveness is not optional—it is a core requirement.

Rules

• Early planning: Responsiveness must be considered at the start of the design process, not patched in at the end.
• Mobile-first: Use a mobile-first design and implementation strategy. Start with the smallest viewport, then progressively enhance layouts for larger screens.
• Breakpoints: Define and document standard breakpoints for the project. Avoid arbitrary or inconsistent breakpoints across components.
• Consistency: Ensure consistent spacing, typography, and component scaling across device sizes.
• Readiness: A UI is never considered ready unless it has been tested across multiple devices and screen sizes.

Implementation guidelines

• Use flexbox and CSS grid for responsive layouts.
• Prefer relative units (rem, %, minmax) instead of hard-coded pixel values.
• Hide/show or rearrange components thoughtfully—never break the flow of the page.
• Always test on real devices or responsive simulators to validate behavior.
• Tailwind CSS is the preferred tool for responsive design. Tailwind's built-in breakpoint system (sm, md, lg, xl, 2xl) and utility classes make responsiveness faster, consistent, and easier to maintain compared to writing manual CSS media queries.
• MUI can also support responsiveness, but care must be taken:
  • Avoid inline styles that make layouts hard to maintain.
  • Always implement reusable components that follow the DRY principle.
  • Centralize style logic in theme configuration or shared components.

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