Storybook Upgrade Made Easy: From Old to New in Minutes! (video available)

When working with tools and frameworks in the fast-paced world of web development, updates and upgrades are inevitable. Storybook is no exception to this. Over time, as you keep building and expanding your components library, it becomes essential to keep your Storybook instance up-to-date to benefit from new features, improvements, and crucial security updates.

However, the idea of upgrading might feel overwhelming to many, especially if there’s a concern about breaking existing functionalities.

Good news! Upgrading Storybook doesn’t have to be daunting. Here’s a guide to help you smoothly transition from an older version of Storybook to the latest, in mere minutes.

1. Backup, Backup, Backup

Always start with a backup of your current setup. Using a version control system like Git is beneficial.

git branch storybook-upgrade
git checkout storybook-upgrade

This way, if things go awry, you can always revert to the original state.

2. Check Release Notes & Migration Guide

Before diving into the upgrade, it’s wise to check Storybook’s official release notes and migration guides. They often provide a step-by-step breakdown of what’s needed to upgrade.

3. Automated Upgrade

For most minor upgrades, Storybook provides an automated command:

npx storybook@latest upgrade

This command will automatically fetch the latest version and update the necessary dependencies in your package.json.

4. Manual Checks

Sometimes, automated upgrades might miss some parts, especially if there are major changes. Here are some steps to ensure you’ve covered everything:

• Dependencies: Check your package.json for any Storybook dependencies and ensure they are on the latest versions.
• Configurations: Some major upgrades might change the way configurations are handled. Double-check .storybook folder and configurations such as main.js, preview.js, and manager.js.
• Addons: Ensure all your addons are compatible with the new version. Update them if necessary.

5. Test Thoroughly

Once the upgrade is done, start your Storybook instance:

npm run storybook
or 
ng run yourappname:storybook

Go through your components and make sure they render as expected. It’s also a good practice to check console logs for any warnings or errors.

6. Check Custom Configurations and Integrations

If you have custom Webpack configurations or integrations with other tools, make sure they are still functional. Sometimes, new Storybook updates might change underlying setups, so always double-check.

7. Commit and Merge

Once everything is confirmed to be working, commit your changes:

git add .
git commit -m "Upgraded Storybook to latest version"
git checkout master
git merge storybook-upgrade

8. Celebrate 🎉

You’ve successfully upgraded your Storybook instance! Take a moment to explore the new features and improvements.

Conclusion

Upgrading tools like Storybook can feel like a daunting task, but with the right steps and precautions, it can be straightforward and hassle-free. Regularly updating not only ensures that you’re using the latest and greatest, but also keeps your tools secure. So, don’t shy away from upgrades. Embrace them, and let your Storybook shine!

Ahmadreza Shamimi is Creating Amazing Programming Contents

Ahmadreza Shamimi