build-daisyui-mcp

Use this skill as the operating layer for daisyUI 5 work with the daisyui-blueprint MCP tools. Keep SKILL.md lean: choose the correct workflow, fetch only the references you need, and keep bulky detail in references/.

Use this skill for

• Building or refactoring UI with daisyUI 5 + Tailwind v4
• Converting a Figma frame or screenshot into daisyUI code
• Choosing the right snippet category: components, component-examples, layouts, templates, or themes
• Generating or adapting a custom daisyUI theme from brand colors, images, or existing UI

Do not use this skill for

• Pure Tailwind work with no daisyUI goal
• UI libraries other than daisyUI
• Generic design discussion that does not need daisyUI code, snippets, or themes

Runtime prerequisites

This skill has two operating modes. Choose one before composing UI:

• Snippet-driven mode (preferred): daisyui-blueprint-daisyUI-Snippets is available, and daisyui-blueprint-Figma-to-daisyUI is available when the task starts from Figma.
• Reference-only fallback: the MCP tools are unavailable, but the task is simple enough to build from references/component-catalog.md plus references/integration/tailwind-v4-setup.md without guessing snippet keys.

Sanity-check snippet-driven mode before real work with one tiny fetch:

{ "components": { "button": true } }

• Send that exact JSON object to daisyui-blueprint-daisyUI-Snippets.
• If that succeeds, continue with snippet-driven workflows.
• If it fails and the task depends on snippet discovery, templates, or Figma extraction, stop and ask the user to enable the MCP tools instead of guessing.
• If it fails and the task is a small static page or component, switch to the reference-only fallback.

Reference-only fallback workflow

1. Confirm the target already has daisyUI 5 + Tailwind v4 wired up, or use the CDN/static setup in references/integration/tailwind-v4-setup.md.
2. Build only from documented class names and markup patterns in references/component-catalog.md plus the smallest relevant workflow or pattern reference.
3. Do not guess snippet keys, template names, or hidden component variants in fallback mode. If the task depends on those, stop and ask for MCP access.

Non-negotiable rules

1. Nested object syntax only for daisyui-blueprint-daisyUI-Snippets. Arrays fail silently.
2. Fetch before guessing. If you do not know a valid class or example key, fetch the component reference first. Guessing class names is the #1 source of broken output.
3. Batch requests, max ~8 items per call. Get all needed snippets in one call; do not fetch one component at a time. But keep each call under ~8 items — larger batches produce 15–26 KB responses that can overflow context.
4. Use the right category. components is reference data (class names, parts, modifiers), not copy-paste HTML. component-examples is working markup. themes returns CSS, not HTML.
5. Start page work from templates (preferred) or layouts. Templates give a complete starting point; layouts give a shell. Do not assemble full pages from many isolated component guesses.
6. For Figma, always follow FETCH → ANALYZE → GET SNIPPETS → BUILD. Never skip analysis.
7. Use semantic daisyUI colors (primary, secondary, accent, neutral, base-*, info, success, warning, error) and *-content variants on themed surfaces.
8. Do not use dark: for daisyUI semantic colors. Themes already adapt them. Only use dark: for custom Tailwind utility classes outside daisyUI's theme system.
9. Prefer CSS-only daisyUI interaction patterns unless app-specific behavior truly requires custom JS:
   • drawer → checkbox toggle (use is-drawer-open: / is-drawer-close: variants for visibility)
   • modal → <dialog> with .modal-open or JS .showModal()
   • dropdown → <details> or popover API
   • tabs/steppers → daisyUI radio/tab patterns
10. Stay on daisyUI v5 syntax (fieldset, dock, tabs-lift, card-border, no input-bordered, no form-control).
11. Load only the 1–3 references needed for the active task. Do not dump the entire skill into context.
12. Adapt output to the target framework. For React/Next.js: class → className, self-close void elements (<img />, <input />), for → htmlFor, tabindex → tabIndex. For Vue: use :class bindings. For Svelte: use class: directives.

Positive v5 form baseline

<fieldset class="fieldset">
  <legend class="fieldset-legend">Profile</legend>
  <input class="input" placeholder="Name" />
  <select class="select"><option>Role</option></select>
  <textarea class="textarea" placeholder="Notes"></textarea>
  <p class="fieldset-label">Helper text or validation hint</p>
</fieldset>

// ✅ Correct
{
  "components": { "button": true, "card": true },
  "component-examples": { "card.card": true }
}

// ❌ Wrong — arrays fail silently with no error
{ "components": ["button", "card"] }
{ "snippets": ["components/button"] }

Choose the right tool or snippet category first

Need	Use	Key rule
Validate classes, parts, modifiers, or discover example names	components	Start here when unsure
Copy-paste markup for a known pattern	component-examples	Fetch only the 1–3 best matches
Get a page shell with placeholders	layouts	Best starting point for dashboards, sidebars, app shells
Start from a full page	templates	Use for login/dashboard/full-page acceleration
Get theme variables or color-system reference	themes	Returns CSS/config, not component HTML
Extract structure from a Figma design	daisyui-blueprint-Figma-to-daisyUI	Returns a node tree only; always follow with snippets

Mix categories in one call when you already know what you need:

{
  "layouts": { "responsive-collapsible-drawer-sidebar": true },
  "components": { "navbar": true, "card": true, "table": true },
  "component-examples": {
    "navbar.responsive-dropdown-menu-on-small-screen-center-menu-on-large-screen": true,
    "table.table-with-visual-elements": true
  },
  "themes": { "colors": true }
}

Common starting keys for page work

Request	Start here
Admin/dashboard page with complete content blocks	templates.dashboard
Login or auth page	templates.login-form
Persistent sidebar that can collapse to icon-only	layouts.responsive-collapsible-drawer-sidebar
Standard responsive app shell with off-canvas sidebar on mobile	layouts.responsive-offcanvas-drawer-sidebar

Route to the correct workflow

Priority rule — first match wins. Walk the table top to bottom; stop at the first row that matches the request. If the request spans multiple rows (e.g., "Figma design with forms"), handle the primary workflow first, then load secondary references.

Request shape	Do this first	Then load
Setup or install daisyUI / Tailwind v4	Read setup docs	references/integration/tailwind-v4-setup.md
MCP server missing or Figma auth/setup issue	Fix tool setup before composing UI	references/tool-api-reference.md
Migrating from daisyUI v4	Read migration docs before writing code	references/integration/v4-to-v5-migration.md
Single component or section	Fetch components first, then targeted component-examples	references/common-mistakes.md
Full page, dashboard, auth screen, landing page	Start from templates (preferred) or layouts	references/workflows/component-composition.md, references/workflows/responsive-layouts.md
Figma URL present	Run the Figma workflow below	references/workflows/figma-to-code.md, references/tool-api-reference.md
Screenshot or image mockup	Run the screenshot workflow below	references/workflows/screenshot-to-code.md, references/common-mistakes.md, references/prompts/screenshot-prompt.md
Brand colors, image-to-theme, dark mode, theme request	Run the theme workflow below	references/workflows/theme-generation.md, references/theming/custom-themes.md, references/theme-and-colors.md, references/prompts/image-to-theme-prompt.md
Form-heavy UI	Load form patterns before composing	references/patterns/form-patterns.md
Navbar, menu, drawer, tabs, dock, breadcrumbs	Load navigation patterns before composing	references/patterns/navigation-patterns.md
Bootstrap or raw Tailwind conversion	Use the relevant conversion workflow	references/workflows/bootstrap-conversion.md, references/workflows/tailwind-optimization.md, references/prompts/bootstrap-prompt.md, references/prompts/tailwind-prompt.md
Prompt crafting or multi-step chaining	Load prompt guides	references/prompts/prompt-engineering.md, references/prompts/prompt-chaining.md

Workflow — component or page composition

1. Decide scope and starting point.
   • Single component/section → fetch components reference, then targeted component-examples.
   • Full page/app shell → fetch a template (preferred) or layout first. Never build a full page from scratch when a template exists.
2. Fetch reference data before writing any markup.
   • For each component you plan to use, verify its valid classes via components category.
   • Batch related components in one MCP call (~8 items max).
   • If you need exact example keys, fetch components first to discover names, then fetch component-examples.
3. Fetch only targeted examples for complex pieces: responsive navbars, drawers with icon-only collapsed state, data tables, pricing cards, multi-step forms.
4. Compose from the outside in — this is the assembly order, not optional:
   1. Page shell (template or layout)
   2. Navigation (navbar, sidebar/drawer, breadcrumbs)
   3. Main content blocks (hero, stat grids, card grids, tables)
   4. Detail components (badges, tooltips, modals, toasts)
5. Apply semantic colors and responsive utilities after structure is correct. Use sm:, md:, lg: breakpoint prefixes for responsive behavior.
6. If the page is branded, do theme work before final polish so semantic colors resolve correctly.

Steering — page composition pitfalls from real usage:

• Dashboard stat grids: use CSS grid (grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-4 gap-4) not flexbox for even columns.
• Drawer checkbox toggle: the <input type="checkbox"> must be a sibling of .drawer-side, not nested inside content. Use is-drawer-open: and is-drawer-close: variants for show/hide behavior.
• If a UI element has no daisyUI equivalent (charts, maps, code editors, media players), wrap it in a card or card-body container with semantic colors applied to the wrapper only. Do not force non-UI elements into daisyUI components.

Load only what you need:

• references/workflows/component-composition.md — dashboard, landing page, and e-commerce patterns
• references/workflows/responsive-layouts.md — breakpoint strategies, grid patterns
• references/common-mistakes.md — "do this, not that" quick reference

Workflow — Figma to daisyUI

This sequence is mandatory.

1. FETCH
   • Call daisyui-blueprint-Figma-to-daisyUI
   • Prefer a node-specific Figma URL (?node-id=X-Y)
   • Start with depth: 3-5; increase only if the tree is too shallow
   • Use includeImages: false unless image references are required
2. ANALYZE
   • layout direction and alignment
   • spacing and padding
   • component candidates
   • typography scale
   • corner radius, shadows, and color roles
3. GET SNIPPETS
   • Batch all identified components in one call (~8 items max)
   • If example names are unknown, fetch components first, then the exact component-examples
4. BUILD
   • Map Figma structure to daisyUI components + Tailwind layout classes
   • Use semantic colors instead of hardcoded hex on UI surfaces
   • Add responsive breakpoints explicitly
5. RECOVER IF NEEDED
   • If the node tree is too shallow, re-fetch with higher depth
   • If the file is large/noisy, switch to a more specific node URL
   • If a Figma element has no daisyUI equivalent, use raw Tailwind wrapped in a semantic container (see recovery rules)

Load only what you need:

• references/workflows/figma-to-code.md — step-by-step Figma extraction guide
• references/tool-api-reference.md — MCP tool parameters and auth setup
• references/component-catalog.md — full class/modifier reference when lookup is needed

Workflow — screenshot or mockup to daisyUI

1. Scan top-to-bottom: navbar/header, hero, sidebar, main content, footer/dock.
2. Identify the page shell first before individual components. Check if a template or layout matches the overall structure.
3. Catalog visible patterns:
   • component type
   • likely variant
   • size
   • semantic color role
   • visible state
4. Fetch components and only the best-matching examples (~8 items max per call).
5. Assemble the shell first, then fill details and tune spacing/color.
6. For non-daisyUI elements (charts, graphs, maps, video players): note them as <!-- TODO: integrate [chart library] here --> inside a card wrapper with appropriate sizing. Do not attempt to recreate them with daisyUI components.
7. If an interaction is not visible, choose the most likely CSS-only daisyUI pattern and state the assumption.

Load only what you need:

• references/workflows/screenshot-to-code.md — full screenshot conversion workflow
• references/prompts/screenshot-prompt.md — agent prompt for screenshot analysis
• references/component-catalog.md — class validation when uncertain
• references/common-mistakes.md — avoid frequent errors

Workflow — theme generation

1. Determine the source: brand palette, image, existing website, or Figma tokens.
2. Map source colors to daisyUI semantics:
   • primary, secondary, accent
   • neutral
   • base-100, base-200, base-300, base-content
   • info, success, warning, error
3. Generate matching *-content colors with accessible contrast.
4. Output @plugin "daisyui/theme" CSS in OKLCH.
5. Validate with semantic component usage; do not leave UI surfaces on raw Tailwind colors.
6. If building branded UI, theme first, then fetch templates/components so the markup stays semantic.

Load only what you need:

• references/workflows/theme-generation.md — end-to-end theme workflow
• references/theming/custom-themes.md — variable reference and design presets
• references/theme-and-colors.md — color system architecture
• references/prompts/image-to-theme-prompt.md — image-to-OKLCH extraction prompt
• references/tool-api-reference.md for themes category usage

Recovery rules — if the agent starts drifting

• Snippets tool returns nothing or empty → check nested object syntax first; arrays fail silently.
• You do not know an example key → fetch the components category for that component; example keys are listed in the response.
• Generated classes look plausible but unverified → validate via components category or references/component-catalog.md.
• You are making too many MCP calls → batch them (~8 items max) and mix categories in one call.
• A full page is forming from unrelated snippets → stop and restart from a template or layout.
• The MCP server or Figma tool errors on setup/auth → check references/tool-api-reference.md, especially MCP config and FIGMA requirements.
• Markup uses bg-blue-500, text-white, or dark: on themed UI → replace with semantic color classes (bg-primary, text-primary-content) or a custom theme.
• You added JS for a standard drawer/modal/dropdown → switch back to the CSS-only daisyUI mechanism.
• You see v4 terms like form-control, input-bordered, label-text, tabs-lifted, or btm-nav → convert to v5 equivalents and load references/integration/v4-to-v5-migration.md.
• You start copying bulky examples into this skill → stop and route to the relevant reference instead.
• A UI element has no daisyUI equivalent (chart, map, code editor, media player) → wrap it in a semantic container (card, card-body) with a TODO comment. Do not invent daisyUI classes.
• Output is for React/Next.js but uses HTML attributes → apply rule 12 (framework adaptation).
• MCP response is huge (>10 KB) → you fetched too many items. Reduce batch size and be more targeted.

Minimal reference packs

Task	Load
Single component/section	references/common-mistakes.md
Full page/layout	references/workflows/component-composition.md, references/workflows/responsive-layouts.md
Figma conversion	references/workflows/figma-to-code.md, references/tool-api-reference.md
Screenshot conversion	references/workflows/screenshot-to-code.md, references/common-mistakes.md
Theme generation	references/workflows/theme-generation.md, references/theming/custom-themes.md
Forms	references/patterns/form-patterns.md
Navigation	references/patterns/navigation-patterns.md
Setup or migration	references/integration/tailwind-v4-setup.md, references/integration/v4-to-v5-migration.md
Bootstrap/Tailwind conversion	references/workflows/bootstrap-conversion.md, references/workflows/tailwind-optimization.md, references/prompts/bootstrap-prompt.md, references/prompts/tailwind-prompt.md
Prompt crafting / chaining	references/prompts/prompt-engineering.md, references/prompts/prompt-chaining.md
Class/modifier validation	references/component-catalog.md
Color system deep dive	references/theme-and-colors.md, references/theming/custom-themes.md
Image to theme	references/prompts/image-to-theme-prompt.md, references/theme-and-colors.md
Screenshot analysis prompts	references/prompts/screenshot-prompt.md

Exit checklist

Before finishing, verify each item passes:

Check	Pass criteria
Snippet syntax	Every daisyui-blueprint-daisyUI-Snippets call uses { "category": { "name": true } } — no arrays, no string values
Category choice	components used for class lookup; component-examples for markup; templates/layouts for page shells; not mixed up
Batch efficiency	All needed snippets fetched in ≤3 MCP calls total (not one call per component)
daisyUI v5 classes	Zero occurrences of form-control, input-bordered, label-text, tabs-lifted, btm-nav, or other v4-only classes
Semantic colors	All themed surfaces use bg-base-*, text-base-content, bg-primary, etc. — no raw Tailwind colors (bg-blue-500) on daisyUI components
dark: usage	Zero dark: prefixes on daisyUI semantic colors; dark: only used for custom non-theme utilities
Layout starting point	Page-level work started from a template or layout, not assembled from individual components
Figma sequence	If Figma was involved: FETCH → ANALYZE → GET SNIPPETS → BUILD sequence was followed in order
Framework adaptation	If target is React/Next.js/Vue/Svelte: class→className, for→htmlFor, self-closing tags, etc.
Reference efficiency	Only 1–3 reference files were loaded for this task, not the full set