Developer Builds Runtime UI Config System That Eliminates App Rebuilds

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A developer has detailed a multi-layer runtime configuration system that allows entire web application interfaces — including colors, fonts, icons, layouts, and behavior — to be changed by simply updating a JSON file and refreshing the page. The approach draws inspiration from Lightroom photo presets and Material UI's data-driven theming, where a configuration object is passed to a provider and all components respond to it instantly. The system supports multiple configuration layers, from library defaults to runtime URL overrides, with later layers automatically deep-merging over earlier ones. Practical use cases include serving different branding to different clients from a single codebase, toggling features without redeployment, and running UI experiments on user segments. The core library's default configuration alone spans roughly 740 lines, covering everything from button styles to Material UI theme overrides.

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