lit-jsx

A powerful JSX compiler and Vite plugin that transforms JSX into native Lit templates at compile time with zero runtime overhead.

📖 View Full Documentation | 🚀 Getting Started | 📦 Installation

🚀 Features

lit-jsx brings the familiar JSX syntax to the Lit ecosystem while maintaining the performance and capabilities that make Lit exceptional.

// Write familiar JSX
function TodoItem({ todo, onToggle, onDelete }) {
  return (
    <div classList={{ completed: todo.completed }}>
      <input
        type="checkbox"
        checked={as.prop(todo.completed)}
        disabled={as.bool(todo.readonly)}
        onchange={() => onToggle(todo.id)}
      />
      <span>{todo.text}</span>
      <button onclick={() => onDelete(todo.id)}>Delete</button>
    </div>
  );
}

// Compiles to efficient Lit templates
html`
  <div class=${classMap({ completed: todo.completed })}>
    <input
      type="checkbox"
      .checked=${todo.completed}
      ?disabled=${todo.readonly}
      @change=${() => onToggle(todo.id)}
    />
    <span>${todo.text}</span>
    <button @click=${() => onDelete(todo.id)}>Delete</button>
  </div>
`

✨ Key Benefits

• ⚡ Zero Runtime Overhead: Pure compile-time transformation to native Lit templates
• 🎯 Type-Safe: Comprehensive TypeScript support with native DOM type mappings for accurate IntelliSense and type checking
• 🔧 Vite Integration: Seamless setup with the included Vite plugin
• 🎨 Lit Ecosystem: Works with all Lit directives, custom elements, and patterns
• 🎛️ Flexible Binding: Fine-grained control over attribute, property, and boolean bindings
• 🏷️ Dynamic Tags: Support for conditional element types with static template optimization
• 📦 Function Components: Full support for composable function components
• 🔗 Custom Elements: Use LitElement classes directly in JSX with automatic generic type support
• 🧩 Library Components: Built-in For, Show, and Choose components for common rendering patterns

📦 Installation

npm install @arcmantle/lit-jsx lit-html
# or
pnpm add @arcmantle/lit-jsx lit-html
# or
yarn add @arcmantle/lit-jsx lit-html

⚡ Quick Start

For complete setup instructions, see the Installation Guide and Getting Started Guide.

1. Configure Vite

// vite.config.ts
import { litJsx } from '@arcmantle/lit-jsx/vite-jsx-preserve';
import { defineConfig } from 'vite';

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [
    litJsx({
      legacyDecorators: true
    })
  ],
});

2. Configure TypeScript

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "jsx": "preserve",
    "jsxImportSource": "@arcmantle/lit-jsx"
  }
}

3. Start Writing JSX

import { LitElement } from 'lit';
import { For, Show, Choose } from '@arcmantle/lit-jsx';

export class MyComponent extends LitElement {
  render() {
    return (
      <div>
        <h1>Hello lit-jsx!</h1>
        <p>JSX compiled to Lit templates with utility components</p>

        <Show when={this.items.length > 0}>
          {(length) => (
            <For each={this.items}>
              {(item, index) => <div>{item}</div>}
            </For>
          )}
        </Show>
      </div>
    );
  }
}

🎯 Core Concepts

For complete documentation, visit the full documentation site.

Custom Element Identification

• Tag names (like <counter-element>) work directly without special attributes
• Classes (like <Counter />) require the static attribute
• Optional: Enable useImportDiscovery: true for automatic detection

Learn more →

Attribute Binding Control

• Default: Attribute binding (value={x})
• as.prop(): Property binding (.property=${x})
• as.bool(): Boolean attribute binding (?disabled=${x})

Learn more →

Special Attributes

• classList / class={{...}}: Conditional classes with classMap
• styleList / style={{...}}: Dynamic styles with styleMap
• onclick, onchange, etc.: Event handlers
• ref: Element references
• directive: Apply Lit directives
• {...props}: Spread attributes

Full syntax guide →

🏗️ Component Patterns

Function Components

Stateless components that receive props and return JSX. Support TypeScript, generics, children, and all JSX features.

Learn more →

Custom Elements

Use LitElement classes directly in JSX with full type safety and generic support. Classes require the static attribute.

Learn more →

Dynamic Tags

Use as.tag() for conditional element types with optimized static templates.

Component guide →

Library Components

Built-in components for common patterns:

• <For>: List rendering with keys and separators
• <Show>: Conditional rendering with optional fallback
• <Choose>: Switch-like multi-condition rendering

🔧 Advanced Usage

For comprehensive guides, examples, and best practices, see the full documentation.

• Lit Directives: Use all Lit directives (when, repeat, guard, etc.)
• Performance: Optimization tips and compiled templates
• TypeScript: Advanced typing patterns

View advanced guides →

🎛️ Configuration

Plugin options:

• legacyDecorators: Enable legacy decorator support
• useCompiledTemplates: Compile-time template optimization (default: true)
• useImportDiscovery: Auto-detect custom elements (default: false)

Full configuration guide →

🔗 Ecosystem & Migration

Full compatibility with:

• LitElement and reactive properties
• All Lit directives
• Web Components standards
• TypeScript with native DOM types

Migrating from React or Lit templates? See the migration guide.

🤝 Contributing

Contributions, issues or requests are welcome!

📄 License

Apache-2.0

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