Baseline UI

Baseline UI

Enforces an opinionated UI baseline to prevent AI-generated interface slop.

How to use

• /baseline-ui Apply these constraints to any UI work in this conversation.

• /baseline-ui <file> Review the file against all constraints below and output:

  • violations (quote the exact line/snippet)

  • why it matters (1 short sentence)

  • a concrete fix (code-level suggestion)

Stack

• MUST use Tailwind CSS defaults unless custom values already exist or are explicitly requested

• 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

• SHOULD 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-*)

• SHOULD use size-* for square elements instead of w-* + h-*

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