Using Context API or Redux with Lovable Components

Context API: add a new context file and wrap your root app inside Lovable (no extra packages). Redux: have Lovable edit package.json to add @reduxjs/toolkit and react-redux, create store/slice files, and wrap the app with . If package installation cannot run inside Lovable, export to GitHub and run npm install outside Lovable (marked below).

Context API — Lovable prompt (paste this into Lovable chat)

Instruction: Create a simple React Context and wrap the app. Make these edits exactly.

• Create file src/context/AppContext.tsx with the contents below.
• Update src/main.tsx (or src/index.tsx) to wrap <App /> with <AppProvider>.
• Update src/components/Header.tsx (or an existing component) to show usage of useContext.

// src/context/AppContext.tsx
import React, { createContext, useState, ReactNode } from 'react';

// create the shape
export const AppContext = createContext({
  theme: 'light',
  setTheme: (t: string) => {}
});

// provider component
export const AppProvider = ({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) => {
  const [theme, setTheme] = useState('light');

  return (
    <AppContext.Provider value={{ theme, setTheme }}>
      {children}
    </AppContext.Provider>
  );
};

// src/main.tsx  // or src/index.tsx — replace the root render block
import React from 'react';
import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client';
import App from './App';
import { AppProvider } from './context/AppContext';

// // keep existing imports; replace render with:
createRoot(document.getElementById('root')!).render(
  <React.StrictMode>
    <AppProvider>
      <App />
    </AppProvider>
  </React.StrictMode>
);

// src/components/Header.tsx  // or an example component to demonstrate usage
import React, { useContext } from 'react';
import { AppContext } from '../context/AppContext';

export default function Header() {
  const { theme, setTheme } = useContext(AppContext);

  return (
    <header>
      <div>Current theme: {theme}</div>
      <button onClick={() => setTheme(theme === 'light' ? 'dark' : 'light')}>
        Toggle
      </button>
    </header>
  );
}

Redux (RTK) — Lovable prompt (paste this into Lovable chat)

Instruction: Add Redux Toolkit files and update package.json. Lovable should edit these files and package.json; after that, if package installation is not performed by Lovable, export to GitHub and run install as noted below.

• Edit package.json: add dependencies "@reduxjs/toolkit" and "react-redux" under "dependencies".
• Create src/store/index.ts and src/slices/counterSlice.ts (examples below).
• Update src/main.tsx to wrap <App /> with <Provider store={store}>.

// package.json edits: add these under "dependencies"
"@reduxjs/toolkit": "^1.9.5",
"react-redux": "^8.1.1"

// src/slices/counterSlice.ts
import { createSlice } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';

const counterSlice = createSlice({
  name: 'counter',
  initialState: { value: 0 },
  reducers: {
    increment: state => { state.value += 1 },
    decrement: state => { state.value -= 1 },
  },
});

export const { increment, decrement } = counterSlice.actions;
export default counterSlice.reducer;

// src/store/index.ts
import { configureStore } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
import counterReducer from '../slices/counterSlice';

export const store = configureStore({
  reducer: {
    counter: counterReducer,
  },
});

// export types if using TypeScript
export type RootState = ReturnType<typeof store.getState>;
export type AppDispatch = typeof store.dispatch;

// src/main.tsx  // wrap App with Provider
import React from 'react';
import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client';
import App from './App';
import { Provider } from 'react-redux';
import { store } from './store';

createRoot(document.getElementById('root')!).render(
  <React.StrictMode>
    <Provider store={store}>
      <App />
    </Provider>
  </React.StrictMode>
);

Install note (outside Lovable if needed)

If Lovable does not automatically install new dependencies, export to GitHub or download the repo and run this locally or in CI (outside Lovable, terminal required):

// outside Lovable (terminal required)
npm install
// or
yarn install

Final step: Use Lovable Preview to verify UI; if package install happened in CI/Publish, test deployed app after Publish or GitHub sync.

Keep the state layer modular, lazy-initialize providers, gate dev-only features (DevTools, persistence) behind Lovable environment flags or Secrets, use typed hooks/selectors, keep side effects out of components (thunks/sagas/effects), prefer Context for small local state and Redux for app-wide complexity, and always guard browser APIs so previews and server builds in Lovable don't break.

Practical Lovable prompts to enforce those best practices (paste each into Lovable chat)

• Prompt: create a clear state folder and README explaining conventions

  Action for Lovable: create file src/state/README.md with the project conventions and where to look for store, hooks, and feature slices.

   // Create file: src/state/README.md
   # State conventions
  
   // Explain:
   // - Use src/state/store.ts for store factory (export createStore and optional initialize)
   // - Use src/state/hooks.ts for typed hooks (useAppDispatch/useAppSelector)
   // - Each feature lives under src/features// with slice/reducer/selectors
   // - Gate persistence and devtools with env vars (REACT_APP_<...>) or Lovable Secrets
   // - Keep side effects in src/state/thunks or src/state/sagas
      

  
  

• Prompt: add a safe, lazy-initialized store factory (no terminal needed)

  Action for Lovable: create src/state/store.ts that exports createAppStore and a safe browser-only persistence toggle. This file must check typeof window before using localStorage and read an env flag to enable persistence/devtools.

   // Create file: src/state/store.ts
   import { configureStore } from '@reduxjs/toolkit'
   // import rootReducer from './rootReducer' // update if you have one
  
   // // Guard browser APIs and env flags
   const isBrowser = typeof window !== 'undefined'
   const enablePersistence = process.env.REACT_APP_ENABLE_PERSIST === 'true' // set via Lovable Secrets/UI
   const enableDevtools = process.env.REACT_APP_ENABLE_REDUX_DEVTOOLS === 'true'
   export function createAppStore(preloadedState = undefined) {
     // // Build middleware/compose depending on needs
     return configureStore({
       reducer: {}, // // replace with your root reducer
       preloadedState,
       devTools: enableDevtools,
     })
   }
   export type AppStore = ReturnType
   export type AppState = ReturnType<AppStore['getState']>
   export type AppDispatch = AppStore['dispatch']
      

  
  

• Prompt: add typed hooks and selector helpers

  Action for Lovable: create src/state/hooks.ts to centralize useAppDispatch/useAppSelector and memoized selectors pattern.

   // Create file: src/state/hooks.ts
   import { useDispatch, useSelector, TypedUseSelectorHook } from 'react-redux'
   import type { AppDispatch, AppState } from './store'
  
   export const useAppDispatch = () => useDispatch()
   export const useAppSelector: TypedUseSelectorHook = useSelector
   // // Quick example comment:
   // // Keep selectors in feature folder: src/features/foo/selectors.ts
      

  
  

• Prompt: wrap App with provider lazily in the root entry (guard server/preview)

  Action for Lovable: update src/main.tsx or src/index.tsx where you render React. Replace direct provider usage with a lazy creation that works in Lovable Preview and avoids window on server render.

   // Update file: src/main.tsx (or src/index.tsx)
   import React from 'react'
   import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client'
   import App from './App'
   import { Provider } from 'react-redux'
   import { createAppStore } from './state/store'
  
   const container = document.getElementById('root')
   const root = createRoot(container!)
   // // Lazy create store so initial render is fast and safe in non-browser previews
   const store = createAppStore()
   root.render(
     <React.StrictMode>
       
         
       
     </React.StrictMode>
   )
      

  
  

• Prompt: add an example feature slice that follows the pattern

  Action for Lovable: create a feature folder src/features/counter with slice, selectors, and a presentational component that uses hooks. This shows maintainable boundaries.

   // Create file: src/features/counter/slice.ts
   import { createSlice } from '@reduxjs/toolkit'
  
   export const counterSlice = createSlice({
     name: 'counter',
     initialState: { value: 0 },
     reducers: {
       increment(state) { state.value += 1 },
       decrement(state) { state.value -= 1 },
     },
   })
   export const { increment, decrement } = counterSlice.actions
   export default counterSlice.reducer
   // Create file: src/features/counter/Counter.tsx
   import React from 'react'
   import { useAppSelector, useAppDispatch } from '../../state/hooks'
   import { increment, decrement } from './slice'
   export default function Counter() {
     const value = useAppSelector(s => s.counter?.value ?? 0)
     const dispatch = useAppDispatch()
     return (
       // // Presentational only: keep side effects out of this component
       
  
         <button onClick={() => dispatch(decrement())}>-
         {value}
         <button onClick={() => dispatch(increment())}>+
       
  
     )
   }
      

  
  

Quick tips in-place (Lovable-friendly)

• Use Lovable Secrets / Environment variables to toggle persistence and devtools without code edits in previews or cloud — set REACT_APP_ENABLE_PERSIST and REACT_APP_ENABLE_REDUX\_DEVTOOLS in Lovable Secrets UI.
• Guard browser APIs (typeof window) so Preview and builds in Lovable don’t error.
• Prefer Context for small local UI state (create a hook + provider under src/context/) and Redux for app-wide shared state.
• Keep side effects isolated (thunks/sagas/effects files under src/state/) and import those into components only as dispatchable actions.
• Use feature folders and typed hooks to make code review and GitHub sync clearer when exporting from Lovable.