tailwind-css
Tailwind CSS configuration, custom plugins, design systems, theming, and component patterns for modern web applications.
Best use case
tailwind-css is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Tailwind CSS configuration, custom plugins, design systems, theming, and component patterns for modern web applications.
Teams using tailwind-css should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/tailwind-css/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How tailwind-css Compares
| Feature / Agent | tailwind-css | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Tailwind CSS configuration, custom plugins, design systems, theming, and component patterns for modern web applications.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Tailwind CSS Skill
Expert assistance for Tailwind CSS configuration, custom design systems, plugin development, and component styling patterns.
## Capabilities
- Configure Tailwind CSS for various frameworks
- Create custom design tokens and themes
- Build reusable component patterns
- Develop custom Tailwind plugins
- Implement dark mode and theming
- Optimize production builds
## Usage
Invoke this skill when you need to:
- Set up Tailwind CSS in a project
- Create a custom design system
- Build component style patterns
- Implement theming and dark mode
- Optimize Tailwind configuration
## Inputs
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|-------------|
| framework | string | No | react, nextjs, vue, vanilla |
| features | array | No | dark-mode, custom-colors, typography, forms, animations |
| designTokens | object | No | Custom colors, spacing, fonts |
| plugins | array | No | Tailwind plugins to include |
### Configuration Example
```json
{
"framework": "nextjs",
"features": ["dark-mode", "typography", "forms", "animations"],
"designTokens": {
"colors": {
"primary": "#3B82F6",
"secondary": "#10B981"
},
"fontFamily": {
"sans": "Inter",
"mono": "JetBrains Mono"
}
},
"plugins": ["@tailwindcss/typography", "@tailwindcss/forms"]
}
```
## Output Structure
```
project/
├── tailwind.config.ts # Main configuration
├── postcss.config.js # PostCSS configuration
├── app/
│ └── globals.css # Global styles and layers
├── lib/
│ └── tailwind/
│ ├── plugins/
│ │ └── custom-plugin.ts
│ └── presets/
│ └── design-system.ts
└── components/
└── ui/
├── button.tsx # Component with variants
└── card.tsx
```
## Generated Code Patterns
### Tailwind Configuration
```typescript
// tailwind.config.ts
import type { Config } from 'tailwindcss';
import typography from '@tailwindcss/typography';
import forms from '@tailwindcss/forms';
import animate from 'tailwindcss-animate';
const config: Config = {
darkMode: 'class',
content: [
'./pages/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx,mdx}',
'./components/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx,mdx}',
'./app/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx,mdx}',
],
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
primary: {
50: '#eff6ff',
100: '#dbeafe',
200: '#bfdbfe',
300: '#93c5fd',
400: '#60a5fa',
500: '#3b82f6',
600: '#2563eb',
700: '#1d4ed8',
800: '#1e40af',
900: '#1e3a8a',
950: '#172554',
},
secondary: {
50: '#ecfdf5',
100: '#d1fae5',
200: '#a7f3d0',
300: '#6ee7b7',
400: '#34d399',
500: '#10b981',
600: '#059669',
700: '#047857',
800: '#065f46',
900: '#064e3b',
950: '#022c22',
},
},
fontFamily: {
sans: ['var(--font-inter)', 'system-ui', 'sans-serif'],
mono: ['var(--font-jetbrains-mono)', 'monospace'],
},
animation: {
'fade-in': 'fadeIn 0.5s ease-in-out',
'slide-up': 'slideUp 0.3s ease-out',
'spin-slow': 'spin 3s linear infinite',
},
keyframes: {
fadeIn: {
'0%': { opacity: '0' },
'100%': { opacity: '1' },
},
slideUp: {
'0%': { transform: 'translateY(10px)', opacity: '0' },
'100%': { transform: 'translateY(0)', opacity: '1' },
},
},
spacing: {
'18': '4.5rem',
'88': '22rem',
'128': '32rem',
},
borderRadius: {
'4xl': '2rem',
},
},
},
plugins: [typography, forms, animate],
};
export default config;
```
### Global Styles
```css
/* app/globals.css */
@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;
@layer base {
:root {
--background: 0 0% 100%;
--foreground: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
--card: 0 0% 100%;
--card-foreground: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
--popover: 0 0% 100%;
--popover-foreground: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
--primary: 221.2 83.2% 53.3%;
--primary-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
--secondary: 210 40% 96.1%;
--secondary-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
--muted: 210 40% 96.1%;
--muted-foreground: 215.4 16.3% 46.9%;
--accent: 210 40% 96.1%;
--accent-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
--destructive: 0 84.2% 60.2%;
--destructive-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
--border: 214.3 31.8% 91.4%;
--input: 214.3 31.8% 91.4%;
--ring: 221.2 83.2% 53.3%;
--radius: 0.5rem;
}
.dark {
--background: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
--foreground: 210 40% 98%;
--card: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
--card-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
--popover: 222.2 84% 4.9%;
--popover-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
--primary: 217.2 91.2% 59.8%;
--primary-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
--secondary: 217.2 32.6% 17.5%;
--secondary-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
--muted: 217.2 32.6% 17.5%;
--muted-foreground: 215 20.2% 65.1%;
--accent: 217.2 32.6% 17.5%;
--accent-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
--destructive: 0 62.8% 30.6%;
--destructive-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
--border: 217.2 32.6% 17.5%;
--input: 217.2 32.6% 17.5%;
--ring: 224.3 76.3% 48%;
}
}
@layer base {
* {
@apply border-border;
}
body {
@apply bg-background text-foreground;
font-feature-settings: "rlig" 1, "calt" 1;
}
}
@layer components {
.btn {
@apply inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md text-sm font-medium
transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2
focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2
disabled:opacity-50 disabled:pointer-events-none;
}
.btn-primary {
@apply btn bg-primary text-primary-foreground hover:bg-primary/90;
}
.btn-secondary {
@apply btn bg-secondary text-secondary-foreground hover:bg-secondary/80;
}
.btn-outline {
@apply btn border border-input bg-background hover:bg-accent
hover:text-accent-foreground;
}
.btn-ghost {
@apply btn hover:bg-accent hover:text-accent-foreground;
}
.input {
@apply flex h-10 w-full rounded-md border border-input bg-background px-3 py-2
text-sm ring-offset-background file:border-0 file:bg-transparent
file:text-sm file:font-medium placeholder:text-muted-foreground
focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring
focus-visible:ring-offset-2 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50;
}
.card {
@apply rounded-lg border bg-card text-card-foreground shadow-sm;
}
}
@layer utilities {
.text-balance {
text-wrap: balance;
}
.animate-in {
animation-duration: 150ms;
animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
animation-fill-mode: both;
}
.fade-in {
animation-name: fadeIn;
}
.slide-in-from-top {
--tw-enter-translate-y: -100%;
animation-name: slideInFromTop;
}
}
```
### Button Component with Variants
```typescript
// components/ui/button.tsx
import { forwardRef } from 'react';
import { cva, type VariantProps } from 'class-variance-authority';
import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
const buttonVariants = cva(
'inline-flex items-center justify-center whitespace-nowrap rounded-md text-sm font-medium ring-offset-background transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:opacity-50',
{
variants: {
variant: {
default: 'bg-primary text-primary-foreground hover:bg-primary/90',
destructive: 'bg-destructive text-destructive-foreground hover:bg-destructive/90',
outline: 'border border-input bg-background hover:bg-accent hover:text-accent-foreground',
secondary: 'bg-secondary text-secondary-foreground hover:bg-secondary/80',
ghost: 'hover:bg-accent hover:text-accent-foreground',
link: 'text-primary underline-offset-4 hover:underline',
},
size: {
default: 'h-10 px-4 py-2',
sm: 'h-9 rounded-md px-3',
lg: 'h-11 rounded-md px-8',
icon: 'h-10 w-10',
},
},
defaultVariants: {
variant: 'default',
size: 'default',
},
}
);
export interface ButtonProps
extends React.ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement>,
VariantProps<typeof buttonVariants> {
asChild?: boolean;
}
const Button = forwardRef<HTMLButtonElement, ButtonProps>(
({ className, variant, size, ...props }, ref) => {
return (
<button
className={cn(buttonVariants({ variant, size, className }))}
ref={ref}
{...props}
/>
);
}
);
Button.displayName = 'Button';
export { Button, buttonVariants };
```
### Custom Plugin
```typescript
// lib/tailwind/plugins/custom-plugin.ts
import plugin from 'tailwindcss/plugin';
export const customPlugin = plugin(
function ({ addUtilities, addComponents, matchUtilities, theme }) {
// Add custom utilities
addUtilities({
'.text-shadow': {
textShadow: '0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)',
},
'.text-shadow-md': {
textShadow: '0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12)',
},
'.text-shadow-lg': {
textShadow: '0 8px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15)',
},
'.text-shadow-none': {
textShadow: 'none',
},
});
// Add custom components
addComponents({
'.skeleton': {
animation: 'pulse 2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) infinite',
backgroundColor: theme('colors.muted'),
borderRadius: theme('borderRadius.md'),
},
});
// Add dynamic utilities
matchUtilities(
{
'text-shadow': (value) => ({
textShadow: value,
}),
},
{ values: theme('textShadow') }
);
},
{
theme: {
textShadow: {
sm: '0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05)',
DEFAULT: '0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)',
md: '0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12)',
lg: '0 8px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15)',
},
},
}
);
```
### Utility Functions
```typescript
// lib/utils.ts
import { type ClassValue, clsx } from 'clsx';
import { twMerge } from 'tailwind-merge';
export function cn(...inputs: ClassValue[]) {
return twMerge(clsx(inputs));
}
```
## Dark Mode Implementation
### Theme Provider
```typescript
// components/theme-provider.tsx
'use client';
import { ThemeProvider as NextThemesProvider } from 'next-themes';
import { type ThemeProviderProps } from 'next-themes/dist/types';
export function ThemeProvider({ children, ...props }: ThemeProviderProps) {
return <NextThemesProvider {...props}>{children}</NextThemesProvider>;
}
```
### Theme Toggle
```typescript
// components/theme-toggle.tsx
'use client';
import { Moon, Sun } from 'lucide-react';
import { useTheme } from 'next-themes';
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
export function ThemeToggle() {
const { setTheme, theme } = useTheme();
return (
<Button
variant="ghost"
size="icon"
onClick={() => setTheme(theme === 'light' ? 'dark' : 'light')}
>
<Sun className="h-5 w-5 rotate-0 scale-100 transition-all dark:-rotate-90 dark:scale-0" />
<Moon className="absolute h-5 w-5 rotate-90 scale-0 transition-all dark:rotate-0 dark:scale-100" />
<span className="sr-only">Toggle theme</span>
</Button>
);
}
```
## Dependencies
```json
{
"dependencies": {
"clsx": "^2.1.0",
"tailwind-merge": "^2.5.0",
"class-variance-authority": "^0.7.0"
},
"devDependencies": {
"tailwindcss": "^3.4.0",
"postcss": "^8.4.0",
"autoprefixer": "^10.4.0",
"@tailwindcss/typography": "^0.5.0",
"@tailwindcss/forms": "^0.5.0",
"tailwindcss-animate": "^1.0.0"
}
}
```
## Workflow
1. **Install Tailwind** - Set up with framework
2. **Configure theme** - Colors, fonts, spacing
3. **Create CSS layers** - Base, components, utilities
4. **Build components** - With variants using CVA
5. **Implement dark mode** - CSS variables + provider
6. **Optimize production** - Purge unused styles
## Best Practices Applied
- CSS variables for theming
- Class variance authority for variants
- Tailwind merge for className conflicts
- Semantic color naming
- Mobile-first responsive design
- Accessible focus states
## References
- Tailwind CSS Documentation: https://tailwindcss.com/docs
- shadcn/ui: https://ui.shadcn.com/
- Class Variance Authority: https://cva.style/docs
- tailwind-merge: https://github.com/dcastil/tailwind-merge
## Target Processes
- design-system-setup
- component-styling
- theming-dark-mode
- responsive-design
- accessibility-stylingRelated Skills
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