Product configuration configurator on website

Product Configuration Wizard Development

Configurator lets a buyer assemble products to their requirements: choose processor, RAM, storage and laptop case color; select jewelry size, material and engraving; outfit a furniture set from compatible elements. Result—unique configuration with calculated final price and optional visualization.

Configurator Types

Data Schema

CREATE TABLE configurators (
    id              BIGSERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    product_id      BIGINT REFERENCES products(id),
    name            VARCHAR(255),
    base_price      NUMERIC(12,2) DEFAULT 0,
    image_base_url  TEXT,
    is_active       BOOLEAN DEFAULT TRUE
);

CREATE TABLE config_groups (
    id              BIGSERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    configurator_id BIGINT REFERENCES configurators(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
    name            VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    slug            VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
    type            VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL,    -- 'radio', 'checkbox', 'quantity', 'text'
    is_required     BOOLEAN DEFAULT TRUE,
    sort_order      SMALLINT DEFAULT 0,
    depends_on_group_id  BIGINT REFERENCES config_groups(id),
    depends_on_option_id BIGINT
);

CREATE TABLE config_options (
    id              BIGSERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    group_id        BIGINT REFERENCES config_groups(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
    name            VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    sku_suffix      VARCHAR(100),
    price_modifier  NUMERIC(12,2) DEFAULT 0,
    weight_modifier INT DEFAULT 0,
    image_layer     VARCHAR(500),
    stock           INT DEFAULT 9999,
    is_default      BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE,
    sort_order      SMALLINT DEFAULT 0
);

CREATE TABLE config_compatibility (
    id              BIGSERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    option_a_id     BIGINT REFERENCES config_options(id),
    option_b_id     BIGINT REFERENCES config_options(id),
    type            VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL,    -- 'required', 'forbidden', 'recommended'
    message         TEXT
);

Backend: Price Calculation and Validation

class ConfiguratorEngine
{
    public function calculate(int $configuratorId, array $selectedOptions): ConfigResult
    {
        $configurator = Configurator::with([
            'groups.options',
            'compatibilityRules',
        ])->findOrFail($configuratorId);

        $errors      = [];
        $totalPrice  = $configurator->base_price;
        $totalWeight = 0;
        $skuParts    = [];
        $imageLayers = [];

        foreach ($configurator->groups as $group) {
            $selected = collect($selectedOptions)->where('group_id', $group->id)->first();

            if ($group->is_required && !$selected) {
                $errors[] = "Not selected: {$group->name}";
                continue;
            }

            if (!$selected) continue;

            $option = $group->options->find($selected['option_id']);
            if (!$option) {
                $errors[] = "Invalid option for {$group->name}";
                continue;
            }

            $totalPrice  += $option->price_modifier;
            $totalWeight += $option->weight_modifier;

            if ($option->sku_suffix)  $skuParts[]    = $option->sku_suffix;
            if ($option->image_layer) $imageLayers[]  = $option->image_layer;
        }

        // Check compatibility
        $compatErrors = $this->checkCompatibility($selectedOptions, $configurator->compatibilityRules);
        $errors = array_merge($errors, $compatErrors);

        return new ConfigResult(
            isValid:     empty($errors),
            errors:      $errors,
            totalPrice:  $totalPrice,
            totalWeight: $totalWeight,
            configSku:   implode('-', $skuParts),
            imageLayers: $imageLayers,
        );
    }

    private function checkCompatibility(array $selected, Collection $rules): array
    {
        $errors       = [];
        $selectedIds  = array_column($selected, 'option_id');

        foreach ($rules as $rule) {
            $hasA = in_array($rule->option_a_id, $selectedIds);
            $hasB = in_array($rule->option_b_id, $selectedIds);

            if ($rule->type === 'forbidden' && $hasA && $hasB) {
                $errors[] = $rule->message ?? 'Incompatible components';
            }

            if ($rule->type === 'required' && $hasA && !$hasB) {
                $option = ConfigOption::find($rule->option_b_id);
                $errors[] = $rule->message ?? "This option requires: {$option->name}";
            }
        }

        return $errors;
    }
}

API Endpoints

Route::get('/configurators/{id}', [ConfiguratorController::class, 'show']);
Route::post('/configurators/{id}/calculate', [ConfiguratorController::class, 'calculate']);
Route::post('/configurators/{id}/add-to-cart', [ConfiguratorController::class, 'addToCart']);

class ConfiguratorController extends Controller
{
    public function calculate(Request $request, int $id): JsonResponse
    {
        $data = $request->validate([
            'options'            => 'required|array',
            'options.*.group_id' => 'required|integer',
            'options.*.option_id' => 'required|integer',
        ]);

        $result = $this->engine->calculate($id, $data['options']);

        return response()->json([
            'valid'        => $result->isValid,
            'errors'       => $result->errors,
            'total_price'  => $result->totalPrice,
            'total_weight' => $result->totalWeight,
            'config_sku'   => $result->configSku,
            'image_layers' => $result->imageLayers,
        ]);
    }
}

Frontend Component

interface ConfigGroup {
  id: number;
  name: string;
  type: 'radio' | 'checkbox';
  options: ConfigOption[];
  depends_on_group_id?: number;
  depends_on_option_id?: number;
}

const Configurator: React.FC<{ configuratorId: number }> = ({ configuratorId }) => {
  const { data: config }  = useQuery(['configurator', configuratorId], fetchConfigurator);
  const [selections, setSelections] = useState<Record<number, number>>({});
  const [result, setResult] = useState<CalcResult | null>(null);

  const updateSelection = async (groupId: number, optionId: number) => {
    const newSelections = { ...selections, [groupId]: optionId };
    setSelections(newSelections);

    const options = Object.entries(newSelections).map(([gId, oId]) => ({
      group_id: Number(gId), option_id: oId,
    }));
    const res = await api.post(`/configurators/${configuratorId}/calculate`, { options });
    setResult(res.data);
  };

  const visibleGroups = config?.groups.filter(g => {
    if (!g.depends_on_group_id) return true;
    return selections[g.depends_on_group_id] === g.depends_on_option_id;
  });

  return (
    <div className="space-y-6">
      {visibleGroups?.map(group => (
        <ConfigGroupWidget
          key={group.id}
          group={group}
          selected={selections[group.id]}
          onSelect={(optId) => updateSelection(group.id, optId)}
        />
      ))}

      {result && (
        <div className="border-t pt-4">
          <p className="text-2xl font-bold">{formatPrice(result.total_price)}</p>
          {result.errors.map((e, i) => (
            <p key={i} className="text-red-500 text-sm">{e}</p>
          ))}
          <button
            disabled={!result.valid}
            onClick={() => addToCart(configuratorId, selections)}
            className="btn-primary mt-3 disabled:opacity-50"
          >
            Add to Cart
          </button>
        </div>
      )}
    </div>
  );
};

Visual Configurator (Image Layers)

const ProductVisualizer: React.FC<{ baseSrc: string; layers: string[] }> = ({ baseSrc, layers }) => (
  <div className="relative w-full aspect-square">
    <img src={baseSrc} className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-contain" alt="base" />
    {layers.map((src, i) => (
      <img
        key={i}
        src={src}
        className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-contain"
        alt={`layer-${i}`}
      />
    ))}
  </div>
);

Saving Configuration to Cart

CartItem::create([
    'cart_id'       => $cart->id,
    'product_id'    => $configurator->product_id,
    'configurator_id' => $configurator->id,
    'config_options'  => json_encode($selectedOptions),
    'config_sku'      => $result->configSku,
    'unit_price'      => $result->totalPrice,
    'quantity'        => 1,
]);

Timeline

• Data schema + ConfiguratorEngine (no dependencies): 2 days
• Dependent groups + compatibility rules: +1 day
• API endpoints: 0.5 days
• Frontend radio/checkbox configurator: 2 days
• Visual configurator (layers): +1–2 days
• Admin interface for creating configurators: 2 days

Total without visualization: 6–7 days. With visualization: 8–9 days.