Storybook Bug: Consolidated Imports & Doc Blocks Issue

by Pedro Alvarez 55 views

Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into a tricky bug encountered in Storybook's consolidated-imports automigration, specifically concerning doc block imports from the @storybook/addon-docs package. If you've been scratching your head over this, you're in the right place. Let’s break it down, understand the issue, and explore potential solutions.

Understanding the Bug

The core problem lies in how the consolidated-imports automigration handles imports from @storybook/addon-docs. Ideally, it should consolidate imports like Meta, Canvas, and Markdown from @storybook/blocks and Source from @storybook/addon-docs into a single import statement from @storybook/addon-docs/blocks. This is crucial for maintaining clean and efficient code. However, the automigration falls short, leading to a less-than-ideal outcome.

The Ideal Scenario

To paint a clearer picture, let’s look at what should happen. The correct transformation should look like this:

- import { Meta, Canvas, Markdown } from '@storybook/blocks';
- import { Source } from '@storybook/addon-docs';

+ import { Meta, Canvas, Markdown } from '@storybook/addon-docs/blocks';
+ import { Source } from '@storybook/addon-docs/blocks';

// And ideally, it would go a step further and combine imports from the now-same package
+ import { Meta, Canvas, Markdown, Source } from '@storybook/addon-docs/blocks';

In this scenario, the migration tool smartly moves all necessary components from their original locations to the new consolidated location in @storybook/addon-docs/blocks. Ideally, it would even go a step further and combine all these imports into a single line, making the code cleaner and more readable. This not only simplifies the import statements but also reduces the cognitive load on developers, making the codebase easier to maintain and understand. By having all related components imported from a single place, it becomes easier to track dependencies and manage updates.

The Current Reality

Unfortunately, the current implementation doesn't quite hit the mark. Instead of consolidating all imports, it produces the following result:

- import { Meta, Canvas, Markdown } from '@storybook/blocks';
+ import { Meta, Canvas, Markdown } from '@storybook/addon-docs/blocks';
import { Source } from '@storybook/addon-docs';

As you can see, while it correctly moves Meta, Canvas, and Markdown, it leaves Source hanging in its original import statement. This is problematic because it leads to unnecessary import lines and doesn't fully leverage the benefits of the consolidated-imports migration. This outcome not only fails to optimize the import statements but also introduces inconsistency, as some components are imported from the consolidated path while others are not. Such inconsistencies can lead to confusion and increase the likelihood of errors during development and maintenance.

The Context: MDX Files

It’s worth noting that this issue was observed in an .mdx file included in the stories glob of the Storybook configuration. MDX files are commonly used in Storybook to write stories and documentation in a single file, making them a crucial part of many Storybook setups. This context is important because it highlights that the bug affects a widely used file type within the Storybook ecosystem, potentially impacting a large number of projects. The fact that the issue occurs within MDX files suggests that the migration tool may not be fully equipped to handle the nuances of these files, which can include a mix of Markdown and JSX syntax.

Steps to Reproduce

To help you guys understand and potentially contribute to fixing this bug, here’s how you can reproduce it:

  1. Set up a Storybook project: Start with a Storybook project that includes the @storybook/addon-docs package.
  2. Create an MDX file: Add an .mdx file that imports doc blocks from @storybook/addon-docs, such as Meta, Canvas, Markdown, and Source.
  3. Run the upgrade: Execute the npx storybook@latest upgrade command.
  4. Inspect the changes: Check the import statements in your .mdx file to see if the consolidation was done correctly.

Detailed Reproduction Steps

Let’s break down these steps into more detail to ensure clarity.

  1. Setting up a Storybook project involves initializing a new project or using an existing one. Ensure that you have Storybook installed and configured. If you're starting fresh, you can use the npx storybook init command to set up a basic Storybook project. This command will guide you through the necessary steps to install Storybook and configure it for your project.

  2. Creating an MDX file is where you'll define your stories and documentation. In this file, import components like Meta, Canvas, and Markdown from @storybook/blocks, and Source from @storybook/addon-docs. MDX files allow you to combine Markdown syntax with JSX components, making them ideal for creating rich and interactive documentation within Storybook. This step is crucial for demonstrating the bug, as the issue specifically arises when these components are imported in an MDX file.

  3. Running the upgrade is the key step to trigger the migration process. The npx storybook@latest upgrade command updates your Storybook packages to the latest versions and runs any necessary migrations. This command is designed to automatically handle updates and ensure compatibility between different Storybook versions. It’s during this upgrade process that the consolidated-imports migration is executed, and the bug becomes apparent.

  4. Inspecting the changes involves carefully reviewing the import statements in your .mdx file after running the upgrade. You should observe that while Meta, Canvas, and Markdown are correctly migrated to @storybook/addon-docs/blocks, the Source component remains imported from @storybook/addon-docs. This discrepancy confirms the bug and highlights the incomplete consolidation of imports. By examining the changes closely, you can verify that the migration did not fully achieve its intended outcome.

Reproduction Link (Sort Of)

Providing a reproduction link for an upgrade issue can be tricky. The provided link points to a sandbox that represents a project state after the upgrade. While not a perfect solution, it gives you guys a starting point to investigate the issue further: https://stackblitz.com/github/storybookjs/sandboxes/tree/next/lit-vite/default-ts/after-storybook?file=README.md&preset=node

System Information

Here’s the system information where the bug was initially observed. This might help in narrowing down the issue if it’s platform-specific:

System:
    OS: macOS 15.3.2
    CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
    Shell: 5.9 - /bin/zsh
Binaries:
    Node: 22.15.0 - ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.15.0/bin/node
    npm: 11.5.2 - ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.15.0/bin/npm <----- active
    pnpm: 10.14.0 - ~/Library/pnpm/pnpm
Browsers:
    Chrome: 138.0.7204.184
    Safari: 18.3.1
npmPackages:
    @storybook/addon-a11y: ^9.1.1 => 9.1.1
    @storybook/addon-docs: ^9.1.1 => 9.1.1
    @storybook/addon-links: ^9.1.1 => 9.1.1
    @storybook/web-components-vite: ^9.1.1 => 9.1.1
    chromatic: ^13.1.2 => 13.1.3
    eslint-plugin-storybook: ^9.1.1 => 9.1.1
    storybook: ^9.1.1 => 9.1.1

Decoding the System Information

Let's break down what this system information tells us. The OS being macOS 15.3.2 indicates the operating system version, which can be relevant if the bug is specific to certain operating systems or versions. The CPU is an Apple M1 Pro, which is an ARM-based processor. This is important because certain issues might be architecture-specific, meaning they only occur on ARM-based systems or Intel-based systems. The Shell being used is zsh, which is a common shell on macOS. While less likely, shell-specific configurations or behaviors could potentially influence the outcome of certain commands or scripts.

The Binaries section provides information about the versions of Node.js, npm, and pnpm. Node.js is the JavaScript runtime environment, and npm and pnpm are package managers. The specific versions of these tools can be crucial, as bugs might be introduced or fixed in certain versions. In this case, Node.js version 22.15.0, npm version 11.5.2, and pnpm version 10.14.0 are being used. The Browsers section lists the versions of Chrome and Safari installed on the system. While this bug is less likely to be browser-specific, it's always good to have this information in case it's relevant.

The npmPackages section is particularly important as it lists the versions of various Storybook-related packages. This includes @storybook/addon-a11y, @storybook/addon-docs, @storybook/addon-links, @storybook/web-components-vite, chromatic, eslint-plugin-storybook, and storybook. The versions of these packages, specifically @storybook/addon-docs version 9.1.1 and storybook version 9.1.1, are directly relevant to the bug being discussed. Knowing these versions helps in identifying if the bug is specific to a particular release or a range of releases.

Additional Context

Currently, there’s no additional context provided. However, sharing as much detail as possible helps the Storybook team and community to address the issue more effectively. If you guys have any more insights or observations, feel free to add them!

The Importance of Context

In bug reporting, context is king. The more information you can provide, the easier it is for developers to understand, reproduce, and ultimately fix the issue. This includes not only the steps to reproduce the bug but also any relevant details about your project setup, dependencies, and environment. For instance, if you're using a specific framework or library in conjunction with Storybook, mentioning it can help narrow down the potential causes of the bug. Similarly, if you've noticed the bug occurring only under certain conditions or with specific configurations, sharing these observations can be invaluable.

Conclusion

The consolidated-imports automigration bug in Storybook, particularly concerning doc blocks from @storybook/addon-docs, is a snag that needs addressing. By understanding the issue, reproducing it, and providing detailed context, we can collectively contribute to making Storybook even better. Keep an eye on this space for updates, and feel free to chime in with your experiences and insights. Let’s work together to squash this bug!

Final Thoughts

Bugs like this are a natural part of software development. What truly matters is how we, as a community, respond to them. By collaborating, sharing information, and providing clear steps to reproduce issues, we can help maintain and improve the tools we rely on. Remember, every bug report, every piece of context shared, and every contribution to a fix brings us closer to a more robust and reliable Storybook experience. So, keep those bug reports coming, and let’s continue to build amazing things together!