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tailwind-patterns

Skill130 starsChanged 10 months agoMITView on GitHub

Tailwind CSS v4 principles. CSS-first configuration, container queries, modern patterns, design token architecture.

We split this skill into the rules it gives an agent

2 rules. 2 are common, 0 are distinctive, and 0 are very specific to this project.

  • 2

    Common

    Most of the 11 edited versions we read keep these.

  • 0

    Distinctive

    This author's own choices. Worth a look.

  • 0

    Very specific

    Tied to their project's names, files or tools. Probably skip.

  • Common
  • Distinctive
  • Very specific
  1. Common:

    Write mobile styles first (no prefix)

    line 111
  2. Common:

    Add larger screen overrides with prefixes

    line 112

“Common” is measured: kept by at least 6 in 10 of the 11 edited versions of this file we could read. “Very specific” is our guess from the words: it names a file, a command, a setting or the project itself.

Keep what fits and drop the rest. Your version, ready for your agents.
Files
SKILL.md

Tailwind CSS Patterns (v4 - 2025)

Modern utility-first CSS with CSS-native configuration.

1. Tailwind v4 Architecture

What Changed from v3

v3 (Legacy)v4 (Current)
tailwind.config.jsCSS-based @theme directive
PostCSS pluginOxide engine (10x faster)
JIT modeNative, always-on
Plugin systemCSS-native features
@apply directiveStill works, discouraged

v4 Core Concepts

ConceptDescription
CSS-firstConfiguration in CSS, not JavaScript
Oxide EngineRust-based compiler, much faster
Native NestingCSS nesting without PostCSS
CSS VariablesAll tokens exposed as --* vars

2. CSS-Based Configuration

Theme Definition

@theme {
  /* Colors - use semantic names */
  --color-primary: oklch(0.7 0.15 250);
  --color-surface: oklch(0.98 0 0);
  --color-surface-dark: oklch(0.15 0 0);
  
  /* Spacing scale */
  --spacing-xs: 0.25rem;
  --spacing-sm: 0.5rem;
  --spacing-md: 1rem;
  --spacing-lg: 2rem;
  
  /* Typography */
  --font-sans: 'Inter', system-ui, sans-serif;
  --font-mono: 'JetBrains Mono', monospace;
}

When to Extend vs Override

ActionUse When
ExtendAdding new values alongside defaults
OverrideReplacing default scale entirely
Semantic tokensProject-specific naming (primary, surface)

3. Container Queries (v4 Native)

Breakpoint vs Container

TypeResponds To
Breakpoint (md:)Viewport width
Container (@container)Parent element width

Container Query Usage

PatternClasses
Define container@container on parent
Container breakpoint@sm:, @md:, @lg: on children
Named containers@container/card for specificity

When to Use

ScenarioUse
Page-level layoutsViewport breakpoints
Component-level responsiveContainer queries
Reusable componentsContainer queries (context-independent)

4. Responsive Design

Breakpoint System

PrefixMin WidthTarget
(none)0pxMobile-first base
sm:640pxLarge phone / small tablet
md:768pxTablet
lg:1024pxLaptop
xl:1280pxDesktop
2xl:1536pxLarge desktop

Mobile-First Principle

  1. Write mobile styles first (no prefix)
  2. Add larger screen overrides with prefixes
  3. Example: w-full md:w-1/2 lg:w-1/3

5. Dark Mode

Configuration Strategies

MethodBehaviorUse When
class.dark class togglesManual theme switcher
mediaFollows system preferenceNo user control
selectorCustom selector (v4)Complex theming

Dark Mode Pattern

ElementLightDark
Backgroundbg-whitedark:bg-zinc-900
Texttext-zinc-900dark:text-zinc-100
Bordersborder-zinc-200dark:border-zinc-700

6. Modern Layout Patterns

Flexbox Patterns

PatternClasses
Center (both axes)flex items-center justify-center
Vertical stackflex flex-col gap-4
Horizontal rowflex gap-4
Space betweenflex justify-between items-center
Wrap gridflex flex-wrap gap-4

Grid Patterns

PatternClasses
Auto-fit responsivegrid grid-cols-[repeat(auto-fit,minmax(250px,1fr))]
Asymmetric (Bento)grid grid-cols-3 grid-rows-2 with spans
Sidebar layoutgrid grid-cols-[auto_1fr]

Note: Prefer asymmetric/Bento layouts over symmetric 3-column grids.

7. Modern Color System

OKLCH vs RGB/HSL

FormatAdvantage
OKLCHPerceptually uniform, better for design
HSLIntuitive hue/saturation
RGBLegacy compatibility

Color Token Architecture

LayerExamplePurpose
Primitive--blue-500Raw color values
Semantic--color-primaryPurpose-based naming
Component--button-bgComponent-specific

8. Typography System

Font Stack Pattern

TypeRecommended
Sans'Inter', 'SF Pro', system-ui, sans-serif
Mono'JetBrains Mono', 'Fira Code', monospace
Display'Outfit', 'Poppins', sans-serif

Type Scale

ClassSizeUse
text-xs0.75remLabels, captions
text-sm0.875remSecondary text
text-base1remBody text
text-lg1.125remLead text
text-xl+1.25rem+Headings

9. Animation & Transitions

Built-in Animations

ClassEffect
animate-spinContinuous rotation
animate-pingAttention pulse
animate-pulseSubtle opacity pulse
animate-bounceBouncing effect

Transition Patterns

PatternClasses
All propertiestransition-all duration-200
Specifictransition-colors duration-150
With easingease-out or ease-in-out
Hover effecthover:scale-105 transition-transform

10. Component Extraction

When to Extract

SignalAction
Same class combo 3+ timesExtract component
Complex state variantsExtract component
Design system elementExtract + document

Extraction Methods

MethodUse When
React/Vue componentDynamic, JS needed
@apply in CSSStatic, no JS needed
Design tokensReusable values

11. Anti-Patterns

Don'tDo
Arbitrary values everywhereUse design system scale
!importantFix specificity properly
Inline style=Use utilities
Duplicate long class listsExtract component
Mix v3 config with v4Migrate fully to CSS-first
Use @apply heavilyPrefer components

12. Performance Principles

PrincipleImplementation
Purge unusedAutomatic in v4
Avoid dynamismNo template string classes
Use OxideDefault in v4, 10x faster
Cache buildsCI/CD caching

Remember: Tailwind v4 is CSS-first. Embrace CSS variables, container queries, and native features. The config file is now optional.

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