Generated banner for Tailwind Design System
Generated logo for Tailwind Design System

Tailwind Design System

Seth HobsonCommunityCreated by Seth Hobson

  • Skill
  • Tool integration
  • Software development
  • MIT
  • No issues found

From the author

Build scalable design systems with Tailwind CSS v4, design tokens, component libraries, and responsive patterns. Use when creating component libraries, implementing design systems, or standardizing UI patterns.
— the description by Seth Hobson

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a framework for creating production-ready design systems using Tailwind CSS v4. It focuses on the transition to CSS-first configuration, utilizing the @theme directive for design tokens, implementing responsive patterns, and leveraging modern React 19 component architectures. The documentation covers token hierarchies, dark mode implementation, and advanced animation patterns using native CSS.

What it does

  • Configures design tokens using the @theme directive in CSS.
  • Implements dark mode via custom CSS variants.
  • Standardizes UI patterns using Class Variance Authority (CVA).
  • Provides patterns for compound components in React 19.
  • Defines native CSS animations and keyframes for UI components.
  • Offers guidance for migrating from Tailwind CSS v3 to v4.

When to use it

  • When building a new component library from scratch with Tailwind CSS v4.
  • When standardizing design tokens and theming across a large codebase.
  • When implementing responsive and accessible UI components.
  • When upgrading existing Tailwind v3 projects to the v4 architecture.
  • When defining complex component variants and states.

Advantages

  • Leverages native CSS variables for better performance and maintainability.
  • Simplifies configuration by moving from JS-based files to CSS-first patterns.
  • Promotes a consistent design token hierarchy.
  • Supports modern React 19 patterns like simplified ref handling.
  • Enables native CSS animations and transitions for smoother UI interactions.

Usage examples

“How do I define primary and secondary color tokens in Tailwind v4?”
The agent provides a CSS snippet using the @theme block with --color-primary and --color-secondary variables defined using OKLCH values.
“Show me how to create a button component with variants in Tailwind v4.”
The agent generates a React component using class-variance-authority (CVA) that maps variants like 'destructive' or 'outline' to Tailwind utility classes.
“How do I implement dark mode in Tailwind v4?”
The agent explains the use of @custom-variant dark and provides a CSS block to override theme variables within a .dark class.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/wshobson/tailwind-design-system/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip tailwind-design-system.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Seth Hobson

Tailwind Design System (v4)

Build production-ready design systems with Tailwind CSS v4, including CSS-first configuration, design tokens, component variants, responsive patterns, and accessibility.

Note: This skill targets Tailwind CSS v4 (2024+). For v3 projects, refer to the upgrade guide.

When to Use This Skill

  • Creating a component library with Tailwind v4

  • Implementing design tokens and theming with CSS-first configuration

  • Building responsive and accessible components

  • Standardizing UI patterns across a codebase

  • Migrating from Tailwind v3 to v4

  • Setting up dark mode with native CSS features

Key v4 Changes

v3 Patternv4 Pattern
tailwind.config.ts@theme in CSS
@tailwind base/components/utilities@import "tailwindcss"
darkMode: "class"@custom-variant dark (&:where(.dark, .dark *))
theme.extend.colors@theme { --color-*: value }
require("tailwindcss-animate")CSS @keyframes in @theme + @starting-style for entry animations

Quick Start

/* app.css - Tailwind v4 CSS-first configuration */
@import "tailwindcss";

/* Define your theme with @theme */
@theme {
  /* Semantic color tokens using OKLCH for better color perception */
  --color-background: oklch(100% 0 0);
  --color-foreground: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);

  --color-primary: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);
  --color-primary-foreground: oklch(98% 0.01 264);

  --color-secondary: oklch(96% 0.01 264);
  --color-secondary-foreground: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);

  --color-muted: oklch(96% 0.01 264);
  --color-muted-foreground: oklch(46% 0.02 264);

  --color-accent: oklch(96% 0.01 264);
  --color-accent-foreground: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);

  --color-destructive: oklch(53% 0.22 27);
  --color-destructive-foreground: oklch(98% 0.01 264);

  --color-border: oklch(91% 0.01 264);
  --color-ring: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);

  --color-card: oklch(100% 0 0);
  --color-card-foreground: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);

  /* Ring offset for focus states */
  --color-ring-offset: oklch(100% 0 0);

  /* Radius tokens */
  --radius-sm: 0.25rem;
  --radius-md: 0.375rem;
  --radius-lg: 0.5rem;
  --radius-xl: 0.75rem;

  /* Animation tokens - keyframes inside @theme are output when referenced by --animate-* variables */
  --animate-fade-in: fade-in 0.2s ease-out;
  --animate-fade-out: fade-out 0.2s ease-in;
  --animate-slide-in: slide-in 0.3s ease-out;
  --animate-slide-out: slide-out 0.3s ease-in;

  @keyframes fade-in {
    from {
      opacity: 0;
    }
    to {
      opacity: 1;
    }
  }

  @keyframes fade-out {
    from {
      opacity: 1;
    }
    to {
      opacity: 0;
    }
  }

  @keyframes slide-in {
    from {
      transform: translateY(-0.5rem);
      opacity: 0;
    }
    to {
      transform: translateY(0);
      opacity: 1;
    }
  }

  @keyframes slide-out {
    from {
      transform: translateY(0);
      opacity: 1;
    }
    to {
      transform: translateY(-0.5rem);
      opacity: 0;
    }
  }
}

/* Dark mode variant - use @custom-variant for class-based dark mode */
@custom-variant dark (&:where(.dark, .dark *));

/* Dark mode theme overrides */
.dark {
  --color-background: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);
  --color-foreground: oklch(98% 0.01 264);

  --color-primary: oklch(98% 0.01 264);
  --color-primary-foreground: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);

  --color-secondary: oklch(22% 0.02 264);
  --color-secondary-foreground: oklch(98% 0.01 264);

  --color-muted: oklch(22% 0.02 264);
  --color-muted-foreground: oklch(65% 0.02 264);

  --color-accent: oklch(22% 0.02 264);
  --color-accent-foreground: oklch(98% 0.01 264);

  --color-destructive: oklch(42% 0.15 27);
  --color-destructive-foreground: oklch(98% 0.01 264);

  --color-border: oklch(22% 0.02 264);
  --color-ring: oklch(83% 0.02 264);

  --color-card: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);
  --color-card-foreground: oklch(98% 0.01 264);

  --color-ring-offset: oklch(14.5% 0.025 264);
}

/* Base styles */
@layer base {
  * {
    @apply border-border;
  }

  body {
    @apply bg-background text-foreground antialiased;
  }
}

Core Concepts

1. Design Token Hierarchy
Brand Tokens (abstract)
    └── Semantic Tokens (purpose)
        └── Component Tokens (specific)

Example:
    oklch(45% 0.2 260) → --color-primary → bg-primary
2. Component Architecture
Base styles → Variants → Sizes → States → Overrides

Detailed patterns and worked examples

Detailed pattern documentation lives in references/details.md. Read that file when the navigation tier above is insufficient.

Files

references/advanced-patterns.md

Tailwind Design System: Advanced Patterns

Advanced Tailwind CSS v4 patterns including animations, dark mode theming, custom utilities, theme modifiers, namespace overrides, and the v3-to-v4 migration checklist.

Pattern 5: Native CSS Animations (v4)

/* In your CSS file - native @starting-style for entry animations */
@theme {
  --animate-dialog-in: dialog-fade-in 0.2s ease-out;
  --animate-dialog-out: dialog-fade-out 0.15s ease-in;
}

@keyframes dialog-fade-in {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: scale(0.95) translateY(-0.5rem);
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
    transform: scale(1) translateY(0);
  }
}

@keyframes dialog-fade-out {
  from {
    opacity: 1;
    transform: scale(1) translateY(0);
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: scale(0.95) translateY(-0.5rem);
  }
}

/* Native popover animations using @starting-style */
[popover] {
  transition:
    opacity 0.2s,
    transform 0.2s,
    display 0.2s allow-discrete;
  opacity: 0;
  transform: scale(0.95);
}

[popover]:popover-open {
  opacity: 1;
  transform: scale(1);
}

@starting-style {
  [popover]:popover-open {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: scale(0.95);
  }
}
// components/ui/dialog.tsx - Using native popover API
import * as DialogPrimitive from '@radix-ui/react-dialog'
import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'

const DialogPortal = DialogPrimitive.Portal

export function DialogOverlay({
  className,
  ref,
  ...props
}: React.ComponentPropsWithoutRef<typeof DialogPrimitive.Overlay> & {
  ref?: React.Ref<HTMLDivElement>
}) {
  return (
    <DialogPrimitive.Overlay
      ref={ref}
      className={cn(
        'fixed inset-0 z-50 bg-black/80',
        'data-[state=open]:animate-fade-in data-[state=closed]:animate-fade-out',
        className
      )}
      {...props}
    />
  )
}

export function DialogContent({
  className,
  children,
  ref,
  ...props
}: React.ComponentPropsWithoutRef<typeof DialogPrimitive.Content> & {
  ref?: React.Ref<HTMLDivElement>
}) {
  return (
    <DialogPortal>
      <DialogOverlay />
      <DialogPrimitive.Content
        ref={ref}
        className={cn(
          'fixed left-1/2 top-1/2 z-50 grid w-full max-w-lg -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 gap-4 border border-border bg-background p-6 shadow-lg sm:rounded-lg',
          'data-[state=open]:animate-dialog-in data-[state=closed]:animate-dialog-out',
          className
        )}
        {...props}
      >
        {children}
      </DialogPrimitive.Content>
    </DialogPortal>
  )
}

Pattern 6: Dark Mode with CSS (v4)

// providers/ThemeProvider.tsx - Simplified for v4
'use client'

import { createContext, useContext, useEffect, useState } from 'react'

type Theme = 'dark' | 'light' | 'system'

interface ThemeContextType {
  theme: Theme
  setTheme: (theme: Theme) => void
  resolvedTheme: 'dark' | 'light'
}

const ThemeContext = createContext<ThemeContextType | undefined>(undefined)

export function ThemeProvider({
  children,
  defaultTheme = 'system',
  storageKey = 'theme',
}: {
  children: React.ReactNode
  defaultTheme?: Theme
  storageKey?: string
}) {
  const [theme, setTheme] = useState<Theme>(defaultTheme)
  const [resolvedTheme, setResolvedTheme] = useState<'dark' | 'light'>('light')

  useEffect(() => {
    const stored = localStorage.getItem(storageKey) as Theme | null
    if (stored) setTheme(stored)
  }, [storageKey])

  useEffect(() => {
    const root = document.documentElement
    root.classList.remove('light', 'dark')

    const resolved = theme === 'system'
      ? (window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches ? 'dark' : 'light')
      : theme

    root.classList.add(resolved)
    setResolvedTheme(resolved)

    // Update meta theme-color for mobile browsers
    const metaThemeColor = document.querySelector('meta[name="theme-color"]')
    if (metaThemeColor) {
      metaThemeColor.setAttribute('content', resolved === 'dark' ? '#09090b' : '#ffffff')
    }
  }, [theme])

  return (
    <ThemeContext.Provider value={{
      theme,
      setTheme: (newTheme) => {
        localStorage.setItem(storageKey, newTheme)
        setTheme(newTheme)
      },
      resolvedTheme,
    }}>
      {children}
    </ThemeContext.Provider>
  )
}

export const useTheme = () => {
  const context = useContext(ThemeContext)
  if (!context) throw new Error('useTheme must be used within ThemeProvider')
  return context
}

// components/ThemeToggle.tsx
import { Moon, Sun } from 'lucide-react'
import { useTheme } from '@/providers/ThemeProvider'

export function ThemeToggle() {
  const { resolvedTheme, setTheme } = useTheme()

  return (
    <Button
      variant="ghost"
      size="icon"
      onClick={() => setTheme(resolvedTheme === 'dark' ? 'light' : 'dark')}
    >
      <Sun className="size-5 rotate-0 scale-100 transition-all dark:-rotate-90 dark:scale-0" />
      <Moon className="absolute size-5 rotate-90 scale-0 transition-all dark:rotate-0 dark:scale-100" />
      <span className="sr-only">Toggle theme</span>
    </Button>
  )
}

Advanced v4 Patterns

Custom Utilities with @utility

Define reusable custom utilities:

/* Custom utility for decorative lines */
@utility line-t {
  @apply relative before:absolute before:top-0 before:-left-[100vw] before:h-px before:w-[200vw] before:bg-gray-950/5 dark:before:bg-white/10;
}

/* Custom utility for text gradients */
@utility text-gradient {
  @apply bg-gradient-to-r from-primary to-accent bg-clip-text text-transparent;
}
Theme Modifiers
/* Use @theme inline when referencing other CSS variables */
@theme inline {
  --font-sans: var(--font-inter), system-ui;
}

/* Use @theme static to always generate CSS variables (even when unused) */
@theme static {
  --color-brand: oklch(65% 0.15 240);
}

/* Import with theme options */
@import "tailwindcss" theme(static);
Namespace Overrides
@theme {
  /* Clear all default colors and define your own */
  --color-*: initial;
  --color-white: #fff;
  --color-black: #000;
  --color-primary: oklch(45% 0.2 260);
  --color-secondary: oklch(65% 0.15 200);

  /* Clear ALL defaults for a minimal setup */
  /* --*: initial; */
}
Semi-transparent Color Variants
@theme {
  /* Use color-mix() for alpha variants */
  --color-primary-50: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-primary) 5%, transparent);
  --color-primary-100: color-mix(
    in oklab,
    var(--color-primary) 10%,
    transparent
  );
  --color-primary-200: color-mix(
    in oklab,
    var(--color-primary) 20%,
    transparent
  );
}
Container Queries
@theme {
  --container-xs: 20rem;
  --container-sm: 24rem;
  --container-md: 28rem;
  --container-lg: 32rem;
}

v3 to v4 Migration Checklist

  • [ ] Replace tailwind.config.ts with CSS @theme block

  • [ ] Change @tailwind base/components/utilities to @import "tailwindcss"

  • [ ] Move color definitions to @theme { --color-*: value }

  • [ ] Replace darkMode: "class" with @custom-variant dark

  • [ ] Move @keyframes inside @theme blocks (ensures keyframes output with theme)

  • [ ] Replace require("tailwindcss-animate") with native CSS animations

  • [ ] Update h-10 w-10 to size-10 (new utility)

  • [ ] Remove forwardRef (React 19 passes ref as prop)

  • [ ] Consider OKLCH colors for better color perception

  • [ ] Replace custom plugins with @utility directives

Best Practices

Do's
  • Use @theme blocks - CSS-first configuration is v4's core pattern

  • Use OKLCH colors - Better perceptual uniformity than HSL

  • Compose with CVA - Type-safe variants

  • Use semantic tokens - bg-primary not bg-blue-500

  • Use size-* - New shorthand for w-* h-*

  • Add accessibility - ARIA attributes, focus states

Don'ts
  • Don't use tailwind.config.ts - Use CSS @theme instead

  • Don't use @tailwind directives - Use @import "tailwindcss"

  • Don't use forwardRef - React 19 passes ref as prop

  • Don't use arbitrary values - Extend @theme instead

  • Don't hardcode colors - Use semantic tokens

  • Don't forget dark mode - Test both themes

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Created by
Seth Hobson
Publisher
Seth Hobson (Community)
Source
wshobson/agents · plugins/frontend-mobile-development/skills/tailwind-design-system · commit 4bde316
Licence
MIT License (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Seth Hobson.

Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download tailwind-design-system.zip