dev.log

Recently, I faced an interesting technical challenge when integrating a legacy component into a modern React application. This report aims to document the compatibility difficulties between different web development paradigms.

## Technical Context

The main application was developed entirely in React.js, using client-side rendering (CSR). However, there was a need to integrate an external component that followed the traditional loading pattern via `<script>` tag.

The behavior of this component was as follows:

- Its dependencies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) were loaded during application initialization

- Resources remained cached in the browser or CDN throughout the entire session

- The structure was completely static after initial loading

## The Problem

The legacy component had an internally implemented theming system (light/dark theme), without exposing APIs or methods for external control. The React application, on the other hand, already had a theme switcher managed by its own state and context.

The need arose when synchronization of the theme between the React application and the legacy component was requested. The challenge was to dynamically modify a component whose assets had already been loaded and remained static in the browser.

## Problem Analysis

This scenario illustrates a common issue in software engineering: incompatibility between architectural patterns from different generations. Components that depend on static loading via `<script>` were not designed to react to runtime state changes, a fundamental characteristic in reactive frameworks like React.

## Solutions and Recommendations

Although technical workarounds exist (such as forcing component reload or directly manipulating the DOM), the most sustainable approach involves:

1. **Gradual migration**: Replace legacy components with versions compatible with the React ecosystem

2. **Wrapper Components**: Create React components that encapsulate legacy logic, exposing controlled interfaces

3. **Plugin architecture**: Implement a system that allows bidirectional communication between different contexts

## Conclusion

The coexistence of technologies from different generations is a reality in software development. While it's tempting to seek quick solutions when there's deadline pressure, investing in refactoring and technical modernization significantly reduces technical debt and facilitates future maintenance. The ideal is to maintain architectural consistency, using patterns and tools compatible with the application's main paradigm.