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, MUST use their respective shadcn installation guides.

Question Tool Usage

Batching Rule: MUST use only for 2+ related questions; single questions use plain text.
Syntax Constraints: header MUST be max 12 chars, labels MUST be 1-5 words, SHOULD 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, 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: 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

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

MUST instruct the user to run:

npx shadcn@latest init

SHOULD recommend these settings:

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

MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

Step 5: Add Components

MUST instruct the user to run:

npx shadcn@latest add

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

MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

Step 6: Add Extensions (Optional)

If user wants AI elements, MUST instruct them to run:

npx shadcn@latest add @ai-elements/all

SHOULD instruct them to answer NO to all overwrite prompts.

MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

Step 7: Install Missing Dependencies

The CLI MAY miss dependencies. 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

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

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;
  }
}

MUST remove these if present:

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

Step 9: Verify Setup

MUST run typecheck to catch any issues:

npm run lint

MUST fix any TypeScript errors before marking setup complete.