Component lifecycle The component lifecycle defines the stages each Design System component moves through, from Experimental to Production to Legacy.

To request a new component or propose an enhancement, follow the design contribution process.

Experimental

Experimental components are new or significantly updated. They are available for testing and feedback before public release.

Characteristics
  • Feedback is gathered from selected teams
  • May be unstable or include breaking changes
  • Limited documentation
Production

Production components are stable and ready for broader adoption.

Characteristics
  • Fully documented, including design guidelines, properties, and examples
  • Meet accessibility and design system standards
  • Optimized for mobile use
  • Actively maintained with updates and bug fixes
  • Publicly available documentation
Legacy

Legacy components are older components maintained primarily to support older implementations. If possible, transition to production is recommended.

Characteristics
  • No active maintenance or updates
  • Critical issues may remain unresolved
  • Recommended alternative clearly identified
  • Marked as "Legacy" in official documentation
Join design system drop-in hours to:
  • Get feedback on your service
  • Propose new components or patterns
  • Suggest updates to existing resources
  • Ask questions
  • Share feedback
Drop-in sessions are available to Government of Alberta product teams. Book time in drop-in hours