Example embodiments of compatibility checking for user interface customization are described. In an example embodiment, a first user interface view including first data items is accessed, each of the first data items referencing a corresponding data item of a data source. Whether the first user interface view is referenced by a second user interface view is determined. Based on the first user interface view not being referenced by a second user interface view, changes to any of the first data items of the first user interface view are allowed during a design time of the first user interface view. Based on the first user interface view being referenced by the second user interface view, one or more of the first data items of the first user interface view being referenced by the second user interface view are identified, and changes to the identified data items are prevented.