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Design

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popmechanic
design

Self-contained design transformer — invoke directly, do not decompose. Transforms a design reference HTML file into a Vibes app. Use when user provides a design.html, mockup, or static prototype to match exactly.

Overview

Publisherpopmechanic
RepositoryVibesOS
Skill namedesign
Stars
134
Forks
6
Bundled files
Instructions only
LicenseMIT
Links
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • Self-contained

    Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.

  • Open source

    Published by popmechanic on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Design AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/popmechanic/VibesOS.git /tmp/VibesOS
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/VibesOS/skills/design .claude/skills/design
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Design in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Design on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Design is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Plan mode: If you are planning work, this entire skill is ONE plan step: "Invoke /vibes:design". Do not decompose the steps below into separate plan tasks.

Display this ASCII art immediately when starting:

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Design Reference Transformer

Transform a complete design reference HTML file into a working Vibes app with TinyBase reactive data.


Core Principle

Preserve and adapt, don't interpret and recreate.

The design reference is source code to transform, not inspiration to interpret. When given a complete HTML file with styles, your job is to make minimal surgical changes to connect it to React/TinyBase—not to recreate it from your understanding of its aesthetic.


When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

  • User provides a design.html, mockup, or static prototype file
  • User says "match this design exactly" or "use this as a reference"
  • User wants their existing HTML converted to a Vibes app
  • A previous implementation didn't match the design reference

The Transformation is Mechanical

The conversion from design HTML to React/TinyBase is deterministic, not creative:

TransformationRuleExample
AttributesclassclassNameclass="btn"className="btn"
AttributesforhtmlForfor="email"htmlFor="email"
Attributeskebab-case → camelCasestroke-widthstrokeWidth
Self-closingAdd explicit close<input><input />
CommentsHTML → JSX<!-- x -->{/* x */}
Inline stylesString → Objectstyle="color: red"style={{ color: 'red' }}
Event handlersLowercase → camelCaseonclickonClick

CSS requires NO changes. Copy the entire <style> block verbatim.


Workflow

Step 1: Read the Design Reference

bash
# Read the design file completely
Read design.html

Note the structure:

  • <style> block (copy verbatim)
  • HTML structure (preserve exactly)
  • Any vanilla JavaScript (will be replaced with React)

Step 2: Identify Dynamic Content

Ask: "What content comes from the database?"

Typical dynamic elements:

  • List items that repeat (.map())
  • Text that users enter (controlled inputs)
  • Counts, totals, timestamps
  • User-specific content

Everything else stays static.

Step 3: Create the React Component

jsx
function App() {
  // TinyBase hooks are globals — no imports, no initialization call needed
  const rowIds = useRowIds('items');
  const handleAdd = useAddRowCallback('items', (e) => ({
    text: '', type: 'item', created: Date.now()
  }));

  return (
    <>
      {/* CSS copied VERBATIM from design.html */}
      <style>{`
        /* Paste entire <style> block here unchanged */
      `}</style>

      {/* HTML structure preserved, only syntax converted */}
      {/* Dynamic content replaced with {expressions} */}
    </>
  );
}

Step 4: Handle Dark Mode Override (If Needed)

The Vibes template has dark mode support. If your design is light-only, add this CSS override:

css
/* Force light theme regardless of system preference */
html, body, #container, #container > div {
    background-color: var(--your-bg-color) !important;
}

Note: Avoid targeting [style*="position: fixed"] as this will style the VibesSwitch toggle button.

Step 4b: Scope CSS to Avoid VibesSwitch/VibesPanel Conflicts

The template includes a VibesSwitch toggle button and VibesPanel admin menu that sit outside your app container. Broad CSS selectors can accidentally style these components.

Watch for these problematic patterns:

ProblematicWhySafe Alternative
button { ... }Styles VibesSwitch toggle.app button { ... } or #container button { ... }
* { ... } (with colors/backgrounds)Cascades everywhereScope to specific containers
[style*="position: fixed"]Targets VibesSwitchTarget by class/ID instead
body > divMay match menu wrapperUse #container > div

If your design has global button/element styles:

  1. Wrap your app content in a container with a class: <div className="app">...</div>
  2. Scope broad rules: button { }.app button { }
  3. Or use #container which is the template's app root

The template already protects components with:

css
button[aria-controls="hidden-menu"] { background: transparent !important; }
#hidden-menu { /* menu-specific variable resets */ }

But defense-in-depth is better—scope your CSS to avoid conflicts.

Step 5: Assemble and Test

bash
VIBES_ROOT="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-$(dirname "$(dirname "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}")")}"
bun "$VIBES_ROOT/scripts/assemble.js" app.jsx index.html

Open in browser and visually diff against the design reference. They should be pixel-identical except for dynamic content.


Anti-Patterns (DO NOT DO THESE)

Anti-PatternWhy It's WrongCorrect Approach
Translate colors to OKLCHChanges the designUse exact hex values from reference
Restructure HTML "for React"Breaks layoutPreserve structure, only change syntax
"Improve" the CSSNot your jobCopy verbatim
Add your own classesIntroduces driftUse exact classes from reference
Interpret the "vibe"Creates divergenceBe literal, not interpretive
Skip vanilla JS analysisMiss functionalityUnderstand what it does, then React-ify

Transformation Checklist

Before writing code, verify:

  • Read the entire design.html file
  • Identified all <style> blocks (will copy verbatim)
  • Identified dynamic content (lists, inputs, user data)
  • Identified vanilla JS functionality (will convert to React)
  • Noted any custom fonts (add to imports if needed)
  • Checked for dark/light theme assumptions

During transformation:

  • CSS pasted unchanged (no "improvements")
  • HTML structure preserved exactly
  • Only syntax converted (class→className, etc.)
  • Dynamic content uses {expressions} and .map()
  • Vanilla JS replaced with React hooks and handlers
  • Dark mode override added if design is light-only

After assembly:

  • Visual comparison with design reference
  • All interactive elements work
  • Data persists on refresh
  • No console errors
  • VibesSwitch toggle (bottom-right) displays correctly with no background box
  • VibesPanel menu opens when toggle is clicked
  • Menu buttons are correctly styled (not inheriting app button styles)

Example: Static List → Dynamic List

Design HTML:

html
<ul class="item-list">
  <li class="item">First item</li>
  <li class="item">Second item</li>
</ul>

React with TinyBase:

jsx
const rowIds = useRowIds('items');

<ul className="item-list">
  {rowIds.map(id => (
    <ItemRow key={id} id={id} />
  ))}
</ul>

// Child component uses useCell for reactive per-row data
function ItemRow({ id }) {
  const text = useCell('items', id, 'text');
  return <li className="item">{text}</li>;
}

Note: Only the content changed. The classes, structure, and styling are identical.


Example: Static Form → Controlled Form

Design HTML:

html
<form>
  <input type="text" class="input" placeholder="Enter text...">
  <button class="btn">Submit</button>
</form>

React with TinyBase:

jsx
const [text, setText] = useState('');
const handleAdd = useAddRowCallback('items', () => ({
  text, type: 'item', created: Date.now()
}));

<form onSubmit={(e) => { e.preventDefault(); handleAdd(); setText(''); }}>
  <input
    type="text"
    className="input"
    placeholder="Enter text..."
    value={text}
    onChange={(e) => setText(e.target.value)}
  />
  <button type="submit" className="btn">Submit</button>
</form>

Note: Same structure, same classes, same placeholder. Only added React bindings.


Integration with Vibes Assembly

This skill produces an app.jsx that works with the standard Vibes assembly:

bash
# In the working directory
VIBES_ROOT="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-$(dirname "$(dirname "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}")")}"
bun "$VIBES_ROOT/scripts/assemble.js" app.jsx index.html

The assembly script:

  • Inserts your JSX into the Vibes template
  • Handles OIDC authentication wrapper (via Pocket ID)
  • Sets up import maps for React and TinyBase
  • Configures sync URLs if present (auth is automatic via Pocket ID)

What's Next?

After transforming a design reference, present these options using AskUserQuestion:

Question: "Design reference transformed! What's next?"
Header: "Next"
Options:
- Label: "Test locally"
  Description: "Open index.html in browser to verify it matches the design exactly"

- Label: "Deploy to Cloudflare (/cloudflare)"
  Description: "Push the app live to Cloudflare Workers"

- Label: "Make adjustments"
  Description: "Fine-tune specific elements while preserving the design"

- Label: "I'm done"
  Description: "Wrap up - files are saved locally"

Frequently asked questions

What does the Design AI skill do?

Self-contained design transformer — invoke directly, do not decompose. Transforms a design reference HTML file into a Vibes app. Use when user provides a design.html, mockup, or static prototype to match exactly.

Why use Design on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Design is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Design in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/popmechanic/VibesOS/tree/main/skills/design. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Design?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Design?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Design with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Design AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by popmechanic under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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