description:Manages shadcn components and projects — adding, searching, fixing, debugging, styling, and composing UI, including chat interfaces. Provides project context, component docs, and usage examples. Applies when working with shadcn/ui, component registries, presets, --preset codes, or any project with a components.json file. Also triggers for "shadcn init", "create an app with --preset", or "switch to --preset".
A framework for building ui, components and design systems. Components are added as source code to the user's project via the CLI.
> **IMPORTANT:** Run all CLI commands using the project's package runner: `npx shadcn@latest`, `pnpm dlx shadcn@latest`, or `bunx --bun shadcn@latest` — based on the project's `packageManager`. Examples below use `npx shadcn@latest` but substitute the correct runner for the project.
## Current Project Context
```json
!`npxshadcn@latestinfo--json`
```
The JSON above contains the project config and installed components. Use `npx shadcn@latest docs <component>` to get documentation and example URLs for any component.
## Principles
1.**Use existing components first.** Use `npx shadcn@latest search` to check registries before writing custom UI. Check community registries too.
- **No manual `z-index` on overlay components.** Dialog, Sheet, Popover, etc. handle their own stacking.
### Forms & Inputs → [forms.md](./rules/forms.md)
- **Forms use `FieldGroup` + `Field`.** Never use raw `div` with `space-y-*` or `grid gap-*` for form layout.
- **`InputGroup` uses `InputGroupInput`/`InputGroupTextarea`.** Never raw `Input`/`Textarea` inside `InputGroup`.
- **Buttons inside inputs use `InputGroup` + `InputGroupAddon`.**
- **Option sets (2–7 choices) use `ToggleGroup`.** Don't loop `Button` with manual active state.
- **`FieldSet` + `FieldLegend` for grouping related checkboxes/radios.** Don't use a `div` with a heading.
- **Field validation uses `data-invalid` + `aria-invalid`.** `data-invalid` on `Field`, `aria-invalid` on the control. For disabled: `data-disabled` on `Field`, `disabled` on the control.
- **Use `asChild` (radix) or `render` (base) for custom triggers.** Check `base` field from `npx shadcn@latest info`. → [base-vs-radix.md](./rules/base-vs-radix.md)
- **Dialog, Sheet, and Drawer always need a Title.** `DialogTitle`, `SheetTitle`, `DrawerTitle` required for accessibility. Use `className="sr-only"` if visually hidden.
- **Use full Card composition.** `CardHeader`/`CardTitle`/`CardDescription`/`CardContent`/`CardFooter`. Don't dump everything in `CardContent`.
- **Button has no `isPending`/`isLoading`.** Compose with `Spinner` + `data-icon` + `disabled`.
- **`TabsTrigger` must be inside `TabsList`.** Never render triggers directly in `Tabs`.
- **`Avatar` always needs `AvatarFallback`.** For when the image fails to load.
### Use Components, Not Custom Markup → [composition.md](./rules/composition.md)
- **Use existing components before custom markup.** Check if a component exists before writing a styled `div`.
- **Callouts use `Alert`.** Don't build custom styled divs.
- **Empty states use `Empty`.** Don't build custom empty state markup.
- **Use `Separator`** instead of `<hr>` or `<div className="border-t">`.
- **Use `Skeleton`** for loading placeholders. No custom `animate-pulse` divs.
- **Use `Badge`** instead of custom styled spans.
### Icons → [icons.md](./rules/icons.md)
- **Icons in `Button` use `data-icon`.** `data-icon="inline-start"` or `data-icon="inline-end"` on the icon.
- **No sizing classes on icons inside components.** Components handle icon sizing via CSS. No `size-4` or `w-4 h-4`.
- **Pass icons as objects, not string keys.** `icon={CheckIcon}`, not a string lookup.
### Chat & Messaging → [chat.md](./rules/chat.md)
- **Chat UI composes the chat primitives.** Conversations use `MessageScroller`, rows use `Message`, surfaces use `Bubble`. Never hand-rolled bubble `div`s or a raw scroll container.
- **`MessageScroller` owns scroll behavior.** Streaming follow, anchoring, and jump-to-latest (`MessageScrollerButton`) are built in. Don't write a `useStickToBottom`/`ResizeObserver` hook.
- **Attachments use `Attachment`; system notes and dividers use `Marker`.** Not `Item` cards or `Separator` + a label.
### CLI
- **Never decode preset codes or build preset URLs manually.** Use `npx shadcn@latest preset decode <code>`, `preset url <code>`, or `preset open <code>`. For project-aware preset detection, use `npx shadcn@latest preset resolve`.
- **Apply preset codes directly with the CLI.** Use `npx shadcn@latest apply <code>` for existing projects, or `npx shadcn@latest init --preset <code>` when initializing.
## Key Patterns
These are the most common patterns that differentiate correct shadcn/ui code. For edge cases, see the linked rule files above.
```tsx
// Form layout: FieldGroup + Field, not div + Label.
<FieldGroup>
<Field>
<FieldLabelhtmlFor="email">Email</FieldLabel>
<Inputid="email"/>
</Field>
</FieldGroup>
// Validation: data-invalid on Field, aria-invalid on the control.
The injected project context contains these key fields:
- **`aliases`** → use the actual alias prefix for imports (e.g. `@/`, `~/`), never hardcode.
- **`isRSC`** → when `true`, components using `useState`, `useEffect`, event handlers, or browser APIs need `"use client"` at the top of the file. Always reference this field when advising on the directive.
- **`base`** → primitive library (`radix` or `base`). Affects component APIs and available props.
- **`iconLibrary`** → determines icon imports. Use `lucide-react` for `lucide`, `@tabler/icons-react` for `tabler`, etc. Never assume `lucide-react`.
- **`resolvedPaths`** → exact file-system destinations for components, utils, hooks, etc.
- **`framework`** → routing and file conventions (e.g. Next.js App Router vs Vite SPA).
- **`packageManager`** → use this for any non-shadcn dependency installs (e.g. `pnpm add date-fns` vs `npm install date-fns`).
- **`preset`** → resolved preset code and values for the current project. Use `npx shadcn@latest preset resolve --json` when you only need preset information.
See [cli.md — `info` command](./cli.md) for the full field reference.
## Component Docs, Examples, and Usage
Run `npx shadcn@latest docs <component>` to get the URLs for a component's documentation, examples, and API reference. Fetch these URLs to get the actual content.
```bash
npx shadcn@latest docs button dialog select
```
**When creating, fixing, debugging, or using a component, always run `npx shadcn@latest docs` and fetch the URLs first.** This ensures you're working with the correct API and usage patterns rather than guessing.
## Workflow
1.**Get project context** — already injected above. Run `npx shadcn@latest info` again if you need to refresh.
2.**Check installed components first** — before running `add`, always check the `components` list from project context or list the `resolvedPaths.ui` directory. Don't import components that haven't been added, and don't re-add ones already installed.
4.**Get docs and examples** — run `npx shadcn@latest docs <component>` to get URLs, then fetch them. Use `npx shadcn@latest view` to browse registry items you haven't installed. To preview changes to installed components, use `npx shadcn@latest add --diff`.
5.**Install or update** — `npx shadcn@latest add`. When updating existing components, use `--dry-run` and `--diff` to preview changes first (see [Updating Components](#updating-components) below).
6.**Fix imports in third-party components** — After adding components from community registries (e.g. `@bundui`, `@magicui`), check the added non-UI files for hardcoded import paths like `@/components/ui/...`. These won't match the project's actual aliases. Use `npx shadcn@latest info` to get the correct `ui` alias (e.g. `@workspace/ui/components`) and rewrite the imports accordingly. The CLI rewrites imports for its own UI files, but third-party registry components may use default paths that don't match the project.
7.**Review added components** — After adding a component or block from any registry, **always read the added files and verify they are correct**. Check for missing sub-components (e.g. `SelectItem` without `SelectGroup`), missing imports, incorrect composition, or violations of the [Critical Rules](#critical-rules). Also replace any icon imports with the project's `iconLibrary` from the project context (e.g. if the registry item uses `lucide-react` but the project uses `hugeicons`, swap the imports and icon names accordingly). Fix all issues before moving on.
8.**Registry must be explicit** — When the user asks to add a block or component, **do not guess the registry**. If no registry is specified (e.g. user says "add a login block" without specifying `@shadcn`, `@tailark`, `owner/repo`, etc.), ask which registry to use. Never default to a registry on behalf of the user.
9.**Switching presets** — Ask the user first: **overwrite**, **partial**, **merge**, or **skip**?
- **Inspect current preset**: `npx shadcn@latest preset resolve`. Use `--json` when you need structured values.
- **Inspect incoming preset**: `npx shadcn@latest preset decode <code>`. Use `preset url <code>` or `preset open <code>` to share or open the preset builder.
- **Partial**: `npx shadcn@latest apply <code> --only theme,font`. Updates only the selected preset parts without reinstalling UI components. Supported values are `theme` and `font`; comma-separated combinations are allowed. `icon` is intentionally not supported, because icon changes may require full component reinstall and transforms.
- **Merge**: `npx shadcn@latest init --preset <code> --force --no-reinstall`, then run `npx shadcn@latest info` to list installed components, then for each installed component use `--dry-run` and `--diff` to [smart merge](#updating-components) it individually.
- **Skip**: `npx shadcn@latest init --preset <code> --force --no-reinstall`. Only updates config and CSS, leaves components as-is.
- **Important**: Always run preset commands inside the user's project directory. `apply` only works in an existing project with a `components.json` file. The CLI automatically preserves the current base (`base` vs `radix`) from `components.json`. If you must use a scratch/temp directory (e.g. for `--dry-run` comparisons), pass `--base <current-base>` explicitly — preset codes do not encode the base.
## Updating Components
When the user asks to update a component from upstream while keeping their local changes, use `--dry-run` and `--diff` to intelligently merge. **NEVER fetch raw files from GitHub manually — always use the CLI.**
1. Run `npx shadcn@latest add <component> --dry-run` to see all files that would be affected.
2. For each file, run `npx shadcn@latest add <component> --diff <file>` to see what changed upstream vs local.
3. Decide per file based on the diff:
- No local changes → safe to overwrite.
- Has local changes → read the local file, analyze the diff, and apply upstream updates while preserving local modifications.
- User says "just update everything" → use `--overwrite`, but confirm first.
4.**Never use `--overwrite` without the user's explicit approval.**
