Manage Variables Figma

Organization

southleft

manage-variables-figma

Create, update, rename, delete, and organize Figma variables, collections, and modes — including fast batch create/update, setting scopes, code syntax, and adding theme modes. Use for incremental variable work: triggers 'create a variable', 'batch update variables', 'add a dark mode to my collection', 'rename this variable', 'set variable scopes', 'delete a variable/collection', 'add a mode'. Works on ANY Figma plan. For a from-scratch system use setup-design-tokens-figma; for code↔Figma sync use import-tokens-figma / export-tokens-figma.

Overview

Publisher	southleft
Repository	`skills-for-figma`
Skill name	`manage-variables-figma`
Stars	20
Forks	1
Bundled files	2
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

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.
2 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by southleft on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

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

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.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/southleft/skills-for-figma/tree/main/skills/manage-variables-figma
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.

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/southleft/skills-for-figma.git /tmp/skills-for-figma
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/skills-for-figma/skills/manage-variables-figma .claude/skills/manage-variables-figma

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Manage Variables Figma 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 Manage Variables Figma 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 Manage Variables Figma 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.

manage-variables-figma — variable / collection / mode CRUD

Incremental, surgical edits to a Figma variable system: create one or many, update values in bulk, rename, set scopes and code syntax, add/rename modes, and delete. All via use_figma, on any plan.

Skill boundaries

use_figma rules — load the official figma-use skill first; it is the full Figma Plugin API reference. Essentials these scripts rely on: plain JS with top-level await + return (no IIFE, no figma.closePlugin(); console.log is not returned), inputs inlined as const at the top of each script, colors in 0–1 range, load fonts before any text op, await figma.getNodeByIdAsync(...), and atomic errors (a failed script applies nothing — read the error, fix, retry).
From-scratch bootstrap → setup-design-tokens-figma. Code sync → import-tokens-figma / export-tokens-figma.

Workflow

Identify targets. Most ops need IDs. Get variableId/modeId/collectionId from the export-tokens-figma read script or get_variable_defs. Collections can also be looked up by name inside the script.
Pick the operation from references/variable-ops.md — it has a complete, copy-paste use_figma snippet for each: create collection, create variable, batch create, batch update, rename, set scopes, add/rename mode, delete.
Run via use_figma (skillNames: "manage-variables-figma"). For large value updates use scripts/batch-update-variables.js (10–50× faster than one-call-per-value).
Confirm. Every snippet returns the affected IDs/names. Read back with get_variable_defs to verify. For deletes, confirm with the user first — removing a collection deletes all its variables and unbinds anything referencing them.

Key rules

Colors are 0–1 range. Use hexToRgb for hex input.
Always set scopes on new variables — the default ALL_SCOPES pollutes every picker.
Set code syntax (setVariableCodeSyntax('WEB', '--token-name')) so design↔code naming lines up.
Renames are safe — they preserve values and existing bindings. Deletes are destructive.
Aliases: bind one variable to another with v.setValueForMode(modeId, figma.variables.createVariableAlias(targetVar)).

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Manage Variables Figma AI skill do?

Why use Manage Variables Figma on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Manage Variables Figma 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 Manage Variables Figma in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/southleft/skills-for-figma/tree/main/skills/manage-variables-figma. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Manage Variables Figma?

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 Manage Variables Figma?

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

Is the Manage Variables Figma AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by southleft 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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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

manage-variables-figma — variable / collection / mode CRUD

Skill boundaries

Workflow

Key rules

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

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