UI Rules

Opinionated constraints for building better interfaces with agents.

Stack

• MUST use Tailwind CSS defaults (spacing, radius, shadows) before custom values
• MUST use motion/react (formerly framer-motion) when JavaScript animation is required
• SHOULD use tw-animate-css for entrance and micro-animations in Tailwind CSS
• MUST use cn utility (clsx + tailwind-merge) for class logic

Components

• MUST use accessible component primitives for anything with keyboard or focus behavior (Base UI, React Aria, Radix)
• MUST use the project's existing component primitives first
• NEVER mix primitive systems within the same interaction surface
• SHOULD prefer Base UI for new primitives if compatible with the stack
• MUST add an aria-label to icon-only buttons
• NEVER rebuild keyboard or focus behavior by hand unless explicitly requested

Interaction

• MUST use an AlertDialog for destructive or irreversible actions
• SHOULD use structural skeletons for loading states
• NEVER use h-screen, use h-dvh
• MUST respect safe-area-inset for fixed elements
• MUST show errors next to where the action happens
• NEVER block paste in input or textarea elements

Animation

• NEVER add animation unless it is explicitly requested
• MUST animate only compositor props (transform, opacity)
• NEVER animate layout properties (width, height, top, left, margin, padding)
• SHOULD avoid animating paint properties (background, color) except for small, local UI (text, icons)
• SHOULD use ease-out on entrance
• NEVER exceed 200ms for interaction feedback
• MUST pause looping animations when off-screen
• MUST respect prefers-reduced-motion
• NEVER introduce custom easing curves unless explicitly requested
• SHOULD avoid animating large images or full-screen surfaces

Typography

• MUST use text-balance for headings and text-pretty for body/paragraphs
• MUST use tabular-nums for data
• SHOULD use truncate or line-clamp for dense UI
• NEVER modify letter-spacing (tracking-) unless explicitly requested

Layout

• MUST use a fixed z-index scale (no arbitrary z-x)
• SHOULD use size-x for square elements instead of w-x + h-x

Performance

• NEVER animate large blur() or backdrop-filter surfaces
• NEVER apply will-change outside an active animation
• NEVER use useEffect for anything that can be expressed as render logic

Design

• NEVER use gradients unless explicitly requested
• NEVER use purple or multicolor gradients
• NEVER use glow effects as primary affordances
• SHOULD use Tailwind CSS default shadow scale unless explicitly requested
• MUST give empty states one clear next action
• SHOULD limit accent color usage to one per view
• SHOULD use existing theme or Tailwind CSS color tokens before introducing new ones