home / skills / nilecui / skillsbase / shadcn
This skill helps you implement consistent, accessible shadcn/ui components with Tailwind CSS and Radix primitives, enabling quick, customizable UIs.
npx playbooks add skill nilecui/skillsbase --skill shadcnReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: shadcn
displayName: shadcn/ui
description: shadcn/ui component library patterns with Radix UI primitives and Tailwind CSS. Use when creating tables, forms, dialogs, cards, buttons, or any UI component using shadcn/ui, installing shadcn components, or styling with shadcn patterns.
version: 1.0.0
---
# shadcn/ui Development Guidelines
Best practices for using shadcn/ui components with Tailwind CSS and Radix UI primitives.
## Core Principles
1. **Copy, Don't Install**: Components are copied to your project, not installed as dependencies
2. **Customizable**: Modify components directly in your codebase
3. **Accessible**: Built on Radix UI primitives with ARIA support
4. **Type-Safe**: Full TypeScript support
5. **Composable**: Build complex UIs from simple primitives
## Installation
### Initial Setup
```bash
npx shadcn@latest init
```
### Add Components
```bash
# Add individual components
npx shadcn@latest add button
npx shadcn@latest add form
npx shadcn@latest add dialog
# Add multiple
npx shadcn@latest add button card dialog
```
### Troubleshooting
#### npm Cache Errors (ENOTEMPTY)
If `npx shadcn@latest add` fails with npm cache errors like `ENOTEMPTY` or `syscall rename`:
**Solution 1: Clear npm cache**
```bash
npm cache clean --force
npx shadcn@latest add table
```
**Solution 2: Use pnpm (recommended)**
```bash
pnpm dlx shadcn@latest add table
```
**Solution 3: Use yarn**
```bash
yarn dlx shadcn@latest add table
```
**Solution 4: Manual component installation**
Visit the [shadcn/ui documentation](https://ui.shadcn.com/docs/components) for the specific component and copy the code directly into your project.
## Component Usage
### Button & Card
```typescript
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
import { Card, CardHeader, CardTitle, CardDescription, CardContent } from '@/components/ui/card';
// Variants
<Button>Default</Button>
<Button variant="destructive">Destructive</Button>
<Button variant="outline">Outline</Button>
// Card
<Card>
<CardHeader>
<CardTitle>{post.title}</CardTitle>
<CardDescription>{post.author}</CardDescription>
</CardHeader>
<CardContent>
<p>{post.excerpt}</p>
</CardContent>
</Card>
```
### Dialog
```typescript
import { Dialog, DialogContent, DialogDescription, DialogHeader, DialogTitle, DialogTrigger } from '@/components/ui/dialog';
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
export function CreatePostDialog() {
return (
<Dialog>
<DialogTrigger asChild>
<Button>Create Post</Button>
</DialogTrigger>
<DialogContent>
<DialogHeader>
<DialogTitle>Create New Post</DialogTitle>
<DialogDescription>
Fill in the details below to create a new post.
</DialogDescription>
</DialogHeader>
<PostForm />
</DialogContent>
</Dialog>
);
}
```
## Forms
### Basic Form with react-hook-form
```typescript
'use client';
import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
import { zodResolver } from '@hookform/resolvers/zod';
import * as z from 'zod';
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
import { Form, FormControl, FormDescription, FormField, FormItem, FormLabel, FormMessage } from '@/components/ui/form';
import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
const formSchema = z.object({
title: z.string().min(1, 'Title is required'),
content: z.string().min(10, 'Content must be at least 10 characters')
});
export function PostForm() {
const form = useForm<z.infer<typeof formSchema>>({
resolver: zodResolver(formSchema),
defaultValues: {
title: '',
content: ''
}
});
const onSubmit = (values: z.infer<typeof formSchema>) => {
console.log(values);
};
return (
<Form {...form}>
<form onSubmit={form.handleSubmit(onSubmit)} className="space-y-4">
<FormField
control={form.control}
name="title"
render={({ field }) => (
<FormItem>
<FormLabel>Title</FormLabel>
<FormControl>
<Input placeholder="Post title" {...field} />
</FormControl>
<FormMessage />
</FormItem>
)}
/>
<FormField
control={form.control}
name="content"
render={({ field }) => (
<FormItem>
<FormLabel>Content</FormLabel>
<FormControl>
<Textarea placeholder="Write your post..." {...field} />
</FormControl>
<FormMessage />
</FormItem>
)}
/>
<Button type="submit">Create Post</Button>
</form>
</Form>
);
}
```
### Select Field
```typescript
<FormField
control={form.control}
name="category"
render={({ field }) => (
<FormItem>
<FormLabel>Category</FormLabel>
<Select onValueChange={field.onChange} defaultValue={field.value}>
<FormControl>
<SelectTrigger>
<SelectValue placeholder="Select a category" />
</SelectTrigger>
</FormControl>
<SelectContent>
<SelectItem value="tech">Technology</SelectItem>
<SelectItem value="design">Design</SelectItem>
<SelectItem value="business">Business</SelectItem>
</SelectContent>
</Select>
<FormMessage />
</FormItem>
)}
/>
```
## Data Display
### Table
```typescript
import { Table, TableBody, TableCell, TableHead, TableHeader, TableRow } from '@/components/ui/table';
export function PostsTable({ posts }: { posts: Post[] }) {
return (
<Table>
<TableHeader>
<TableRow>
<TableHead>Title</TableHead>
<TableHead>Author</TableHead>
<TableHead>Status</TableHead>
<TableHead className="text-right">Actions</TableHead>
</TableRow>
</TableHeader>
<TableBody>
{posts.map((post) => (
<TableRow key={post.id}>
<TableCell className="font-medium">{post.title}</TableCell>
<TableCell>{post.author.name}</TableCell>
<TableCell>
<Badge variant={post.published ? 'default' : 'secondary'}>
{post.published ? 'Published' : 'Draft'}
</Badge>
</TableCell>
<TableCell className="text-right">
<Button variant="ghost" size="sm">Edit</Button>
</TableCell>
</TableRow>
))}
</TableBody>
</Table>
);
}
```
## Navigation
### Badge & Dropdown Menu
```typescript
import { DropdownMenu, DropdownMenuContent, DropdownMenuItem, DropdownMenuLabel, DropdownMenuSeparator, DropdownMenuTrigger } from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
export function UserMenu() {
return (
<DropdownMenu>
<DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
<Button variant="ghost">
<User className="h-4 w-4" />
</Button>
</DropdownMenuTrigger>
<DropdownMenuContent align="end">
<DropdownMenuLabel>My Account</DropdownMenuLabel>
<DropdownMenuSeparator />
<DropdownMenuItem>Profile</DropdownMenuItem>
<DropdownMenuItem>Settings</DropdownMenuItem>
<DropdownMenuSeparator />
<DropdownMenuItem>Log out</DropdownMenuItem>
</DropdownMenuContent>
</DropdownMenu>
);
}
```
### Tabs
```typescript
import { Tabs, TabsContent, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tabs';
export function PostTabs() {
return (
<Tabs defaultValue="published">
<TabsList>
<TabsTrigger value="published">Published</TabsTrigger>
<TabsTrigger value="drafts">Drafts</TabsTrigger>
<TabsTrigger value="archived">Archived</TabsTrigger>
</TabsList>
<TabsContent value="published">
<PublishedPosts />
</TabsContent>
<TabsContent value="drafts">
<DraftPosts />
</TabsContent>
<TabsContent value="archived">
<ArchivedPosts />
</TabsContent>
</Tabs>
);
}
```
## Feedback
### Toast
```typescript
'use client';
import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
export function ToastExample() {
const { toast } = useToast();
return (
<Button
onClick={() => {
toast({
title: 'Post created',
description: 'Your post has been published successfully.'
});
}}
>
Create Post
</Button>
);
}
// With variant
toast({
variant: 'destructive',
title: 'Error',
description: 'Failed to create post. Please try again.'
});
```
### Alert
```typescript
import { Alert, AlertDescription, AlertTitle } from '@/components/ui/alert';
import { AlertCircle } from 'lucide-react';
export function AlertExample() {
return (
<Alert variant="destructive">
<AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
<AlertTitle>Error</AlertTitle>
<AlertDescription>
Your session has expired. Please log in again.
</AlertDescription>
</Alert>
);
}
```
## Loading States
### Skeleton
```typescript
import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton';
export function PostCardSkeleton() {
return (
<div className="flex flex-col space-y-3">
<Skeleton className="h-[125px] w-full rounded-xl" />
<div className="space-y-2">
<Skeleton className="h-4 w-[250px]" />
<Skeleton className="h-4 w-[200px]" />
</div>
</div>
);
}
```
## Customization
### Modifying Components
Components are in your codebase - edit them directly:
```typescript
// components/ui/button.tsx
export const buttonVariants = cva(
"inline-flex items-center justify-center...",
{
variants: {
variant: {
default: "bg-primary text-primary-foreground hover:bg-primary/90",
destructive: "bg-destructive text-destructive-foreground hover:bg-destructive/90",
// Add custom variant
brand: "bg-gradient-to-r from-blue-500 to-purple-600 text-white"
}
}
}
);
```
### Using Custom Variant
```typescript
<Button variant="brand">Custom Brand Button</Button>
```
## Theming
### CSS Variables (OKLCH Format)
shadcn/ui now uses OKLCH color format for better color accuracy and perceptual uniformity:
```css
/* app/globals.css */
@layer base {
:root {
--background: oklch(1 0 0);
--foreground: oklch(0.145 0 0);
--primary: oklch(0.205 0 0);
--primary-foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
/* ... */
}
.dark {
--background: oklch(0.145 0 0);
--foreground: oklch(0.985 0 0);
--primary: oklch(0.598 0.15 264);
--primary-foreground: oklch(0.205 0 0);
/* ... */
}
}
```
### Dark Mode
```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>
);
}
```
## Composition Patterns
### Combining Components
```typescript
export function CreatePostCard() {
return (
<Card>
<CardHeader>
<CardTitle>Create Post</CardTitle>
<CardDescription>Share your thoughts with the world</CardDescription>
</CardHeader>
<CardContent>
<PostForm />
</CardContent>
<CardFooter className="flex justify-between">
<Button variant="outline">Save Draft</Button>
<Button>Publish</Button>
</CardFooter>
</Card>
);
}
```
### Modal with Form
```typescript
export function CreatePostModal() {
const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
return (
<Dialog open={open} onOpenChange={setOpen}>
<DialogTrigger asChild>
<Button>New Post</Button>
</DialogTrigger>
<DialogContent className="sm:max-w-[600px]">
<DialogHeader>
<DialogTitle>Create Post</DialogTitle>
</DialogHeader>
<PostForm onSuccess={() => setOpen(false)} />
</DialogContent>
</Dialog>
);
}
```
## Additional Resources
For detailed information, see:
- [Component Catalog](resources/component-catalog.md)
- [Form Patterns](resources/form-patterns.md)
- [Theming Guide](resources/theming.md)
This skill documents practical patterns for using shadcn/ui components built on Radix UI primitives and Tailwind CSS. It focuses on copying components into your codebase, customizing them, and composing accessible, type-safe UI building blocks. Use it to accelerate implementation of tables, forms, dialogs, cards, buttons, and theme-aware UI.
The skill explains the recommended workflow: initialize shadcn, add or copy component code into your project, and wire components into React with TypeScript. It covers common setups (forms with react-hook-form and zod), data display (tables, badges), navigation (dropdowns, tabs), feedback (toasts, alerts), loading states, and theming with OKLCH CSS variables. Troubleshooting tips for package runner errors and alternatives (pnpm, yarn, manual copy) are included.
Do I install shadcn/ui as an npm dependency?
No. The recommended approach is to copy component code into your project using the shadcn CLI or manual copy so you can modify components directly.
What if npx shadcn add fails with ENOTEMPTY?
Clear the npm cache, or use pnpm dlx or yarn dlx to add components. As a fallback, copy component code from the documentation into your codebase.