Installable skillMIT

UI Skills

Opinionated constraints for building better interfaces with agents.

BY DicklesworthstoneUPDATED Oct 28, 2026
INTENDED FOR✳Claude Code>_Codex↗Cursor◎ChatGPT✦GeminiInstall in a listed agent.

instructions.md

---
name: react-ui-dba6153f811a
description: Opinionated constraints for building better interfaces with agents.
---

# UI Skills

Opinionated constraints for building better interfaces with agents.

## Stack

- MUST use Tailwind CSS defaults (spacing, radius, shadows) before custom values
- MUST use `motion/react` (formerly `framer-motion`) when JavaScript animation is required
- SHOULD use `tw-animate-css` for entrance and micro-animations in Tailwind CSS
- MUST use `cn` utility (`clsx` + `tailwind-merge`) for class logic

## Components

- SHOULD prefer [`shadcn/ui`](https://ui.shadcn.com) components when available in the project
- SHOULD add new `shadcn/ui` components via CLI (`npx shadcn@latest add <component>`) when needed
- MUST use the project's existing component primitives first
- MUST use accessible component primitives for anything with keyboard or focus behavior (`shadcn/ui`, `Radix`, `React Aria`, `Base UI`)
- NEVER mix primitive systems within the same interaction surface
- MUST add an `aria-label` to icon-only buttons
- NEVER rebuild keyboard or focus behavior by hand unless explicitly requested

## Interaction

- MUST use an `AlertDialog` for destructive or irreversible actions
- SHOULD use structural skeletons for loading states
- NEVER use `h-screen`, use `h-dvh`
- MUST respect `safe-area-inset` for fixed elements
- MUST show errors next to where the action happens
- NEVER block paste in `input` or `textarea` elements

## Animation

- NEVER add animation unless it is explicitly requested
- MUST animate only compositor props (`transform`, `opacity`)
- NEVER animate layout properties (`width`, `height`, `top`, `left`, `margin`, `padding`)
- SHOULD avoid animating paint properties (`background`, `color`) except for small, local UI (text, icons)
- SHOULD use `ease-out` on entrance
- NEVER exceed `200ms` for interaction feedback
- MUST pause looping animations when off-screen
- MUST respect `prefers-reduced-motion`
- NEVER introduce custom easing curves unless explicitly requested
- SHOULD avoid animating large images or full-screen surfaces

## Typography

- MUST use `text-balance` for headings and `text-pretty` for body/paragraphs
- MUST use `tabular-nums` for data
- SHOULD use `truncate` or `line-clamp` for dense UI
- NEVER modify `letter-spacing` (`tracking-`) unless explicitly requested

## Layout

- MUST use a fixed `z-index` scale (no arbitrary `z-x`)
- SHOULD use `size-x` for square elements instead of `w-x` + `h-x`

## Performance

- NEVER animate large `blur()` or `backdrop-filter` surfaces
- NEVER apply `will-change` outside an active animation
- NEVER use `useEffect` for anything that can be expressed as render logic

## Design

- NEVER use gradients unless explicitly requested
- NEVER use purple or multicolor gradients
- NEVER use glow effects as primary affordances
- SHOULD use Tailwind CSS default shadow scale unless explicitly requested
- MUST give empty states one clear next action
- SHOULD limit accent color usage to one per view
- SHOULD use existing theme or Tailwind CSS color tokens before introducing new ones
COMPATIBILITY & REFERENCES

Platform guidance

Imported from the listed AgentSkill.sh category. Complete supplied package files and notices are retained. Required external tools and credentials are not installed. No bundled code was executed during import. Individual agent task behavior has not been tested.