vite-shadcn-tailwind4 - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: vite-shadcn-tailwind4 description: |- Initialize shadcn/ui + Tailwind CSS v4 in Vite projects (Vite-specific, not Next.js/Remix). Use proactively for Vite project setup, shadcn component installation, or Tailwind v4 configuration.

Examples: - user: "Setup shadcn in my Vite project" → install deps, configure tailwind v4 CSS-first, init shadcn, verify components work - user: "Add shadcn to existing Vite app" → check existing config, install CLI, add components.json, update CSS imports - user: "Use Tailwind v4 with shadcn" → configure @import with @theme, remove v3 config, setup custom tokens - user: "Create Vite + React + shadcn project" → scaffold Vite, install shadcn, configure theme, add sample components

Protocol for initializing shadcn/ui with Tailwind CSS v4 in a **Vite** project. This skill is Vite-specific due to: - Vite's solution-style `tsconfig.json` (references pattern) - `@tailwindcss/vite` plugin requirement - CSS entry file conventions (`src/index.css`)

For Next.js, Remix, or other frameworks, You MUST use their respective shadcn installation guides.

- **Batching Rule**: You MUST use only for 2+ related questions; single questions use plain text. - **Syntax Constraints**: header max 12 chars, labels 1-5 words, mark defaults with `(Recommended)`. - **Purpose**: Clarify component selection, style preferences, and optional AI elements before running shadcn CLI. ## Step 1: Verify Prerequisites Check that the project is ready: - `vite.config.ts` MUST exist. - `package.json` MUST contain `tailwindcss` (v4+) and `@tailwindcss/vite`. - TypeScript MUST be configured.

If prerequisites are missing, You MUST help the user set up Tailwind v4 first.

## Step 2: Fix TypeScript Aliases The shadcn CLI fails if paths aren't in the root `tsconfig.json`. Vite uses a solution-style config with references, but shadcn doesn't parse those.

Action: You MUST update tsconfig.json to include compilerOptions:

{
  "files": [],
  "references": [
    { "path": "./tsconfig.app.json" },
    { "path": "./tsconfig.node.json" }
  ],
  "compilerOptions": {
    "baseUrl": ".",
    "paths": {
      "@/*": ["./src/*"]
    }
  }
}

## Step 3: Verify Vite Config You MUST confirm `vite.config.ts` has the Tailwind plugin and path alias:

import tailwindcss from "@tailwindcss/vite";
import path from "path";

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [react(), tailwindcss()],
  resolve: {
    alias: {
      "@": path.resolve(__dirname, "./src"),
    },
  },
});

## Step 4: Initialize Shadcn You MUST instruct the user to run: ```bash npx shadcn@latest init ```

You SHOULD recommend these settings:

Style: New York
Base Color: Neutral or Zinc
CSS Variables: Yes

You MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

## Step 5: Add Components You MUST instruct the user to run: ```bash npx shadcn@latest add ```

You SHOULD instruct them to select all components (a then Enter).

You MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

## Step 6: Add Extensions (Optional) If user wants AI elements, You MUST instruct them to run: ```bash npx shadcn@latest add @ai-elements/all ```

You SHOULD instruct them to answer NO to all overwrite prompts.

You MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

## Step 7: Install Missing Dependencies The CLI MAY miss dependencies. You MUST check `package.json` and install any missing.

Required packages:

tw-animate-css (devDep) - v4 replacement for tailwindcss-animate
tailwind-merge (dep) - used by cn() utility
clsx (dep) - used by cn() utility
class-variance-authority (dep) - used by shadcn components

You MUST run if any are missing:

npm install tailwind-merge clsx class-variance-authority
npm install -D tw-animate-css

## Step 8: Clean CSS for v4 Compliance You MUST rewrite `src/index.css` to match strict v4 structure:

@import "tailwindcss";
@import "tw-animate-css";

@custom-variant dark (&:is(.dark *));

@theme inline {
  /* Variable mappings: --color-X: var(--X); */
}

:root {
  /* Token definitions using oklch() */
}

.dark {
  /* Dark mode tokens using oklch() */
}

@layer base {
  * {
    @apply border-border outline-ring/50;
  }
  body {
    @apply bg-background text-foreground;
  }
}

You MUST remove these if present:

@media (prefers-color-scheme) blocks
Duplicate @theme blocks (keep only @theme inline)
@config directives

## Step 9: Verify Setup You MUST run typecheck to catch any issues: ```bash npm run lint ```

You MUST fix any TypeScript errors before marking setup complete.