Figma MCP Go

figma-mcp-go

Skill by ara.so — MCP Skills collection

An open-source MCP server that provides full read/write access to Figma files through a plugin bridge, bypassing REST API rate limits. Built in Go, it enables AI tools like Claude, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot to automate design workflows, create components, modify styles, manage variables, and export designs to code.

What It Does

• No API Token Required: Works through a Figma plugin, avoiding REST API limits (6 calls/month on free plans)
• 73 Tools: Complete CRUD operations for frames, components, text, styles, variables, prototypes, and more
• Bidirectional: Read design context and write changes back to live Figma files
• Export: Screenshot nodes, generate PDFs, export design tokens as JSON/CSS
• Built-in Strategies: Includes MCP prompts for design best practices

Installation

1. Configure MCP Server

Claude Code CLI:

claude mcp add -s project figma-mcp-go -- npx -y @vkhanhqui/figma-mcp-go@latest

Codex CLI:

codex mcp add figma-mcp-go -- npx -y @vkhanhqui/figma-mcp-go@latest

Cursor / VS Code / GitHub Copilot (.vscode/mcp.json):

{
  "servers": {
    "figma-mcp-go": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@vkhanhqui/figma-mcp-go"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop (.mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "figma-mcp-go": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@vkhanhqui/figma-mcp-go"]
    }
  }
}

2. Install Figma Plugin

1. Download plugin.zip
2. Open Figma Desktop → Plugins → Development → Import plugin from manifest
3. Select manifest.json from the extracted ZIP
4. Run the plugin inside any Figma file (it must stay open while using MCP tools)

Core Workflows

Reading Design Context

Get current page structure:

// Use get_design_context for depth-limited tree with detail control
const context = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "get_design_context",
  arguments: {
    rootNodeId: "0:1",  // page ID or specific frame
    maxDepth: 3,
    detail: "compact"   // minimal | compact | full
  }
});

Get metadata and page list:

const metadata = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "get_metadata",
  arguments: {}
});

const pages = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "get_pages",
  arguments: {}
});

Search for nodes:

const results = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "search_nodes",
  arguments: {
    rootNodeId: "0:1",
    nameSubstring: "Button",
    types: ["COMPONENT", "INSTANCE"]
  }
});

Creating Design Elements

Create a frame with auto-layout:

const frame = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_frame",
  arguments: {
    name: "Hero Section",
    x: 0,
    y: 0,
    width: 1440,
    height: 600,
    fills: "#0066FF",
    layoutMode: "VERTICAL",
    primaryAxisAlignItems: "CENTER",
    counterAxisAlignItems: "CENTER",
    itemSpacing: 24,
    paddingTop: 48,
    paddingRight: 48,
    paddingBottom: 48,
    paddingLeft: 48
  }
});

Create text node:

const text = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_text",
  arguments: {
    characters: "Welcome to Our Platform",
    fontFamily: "Inter",
    fontStyle: "Bold",
    fontSize: 48,
    x: 100,
    y: 100,
    parentId: frame.id  // optional, parent frame
  }
});

Import image from base64:

const image = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "import_image",
  arguments: {
    base64Data: "iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUg...",  // without data:image prefix
    x: 0,
    y: 0,
    width: 800,
    height: 600,
    name: "Hero Image",
    parentId: frame.id
  }
});

Modifying Existing Nodes

Update text content:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "set_text",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: "123:456",
    characters: "Updated heading text"
  }
});

Set fills and strokes:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "set_fills",
  arguments: {
    nodeIds: ["123:456", "123:457"],
    color: "#FF5733"
  }
});

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "set_strokes",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: "123:456",
    color: "#000000",
    weight: 2
  }
});

Batch find and replace text:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "find_replace_text",
  arguments: {
    rootNodeId: "0:1",  // search entire page
    findText: "Company Name",
    replaceText: "Acme Corp",
    useRegex: false,
    caseSensitive: false
  }
});

Resize and reposition:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "resize_nodes",
  arguments: {
    nodeIds: ["123:456"],
    width: 1200,
    height: 800
  }
});

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "move_nodes",
  arguments: {
    nodeIds: ["123:456"],
    x: 200,
    y: 300
  }
});

Working with Components

Create component from frame:

const component = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_component",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: "123:456",  // must be a FRAME
    name: "Button/Primary"
  }
});

Swap component instance:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "swap_component",
  arguments: {
    instanceId: "123:789",
    newComponentId: "456:123"
  }
});

Detach instance:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "detach_instance",
  arguments: {
    nodeIds: ["123:789"]
  }
});

Styles and Variables

Create paint style:

const style = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_paint_style",
  arguments: {
    name: "Colors/Primary/500",
    color: "#0066FF"
  }
});

Create text style:

const textStyle = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_text_style",
  arguments: {
    name: "Heading/H1",
    fontFamily: "Inter",
    fontStyle: "Bold",
    fontSize: 48,
    lineHeight: 56,
    letterSpacing: -0.5
  }
});

Apply style to node:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "apply_style_to_node",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: "123:456",
    styleId: style.id,
    styleType: "FILL"  // FILL | STROKE | TEXT | EFFECT | GRID
  }
});

Create variable collection:

const collection = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_variable_collection",
  arguments: {
    name: "Spacing",
    initialModeName: "Default"
  }
});

Create and bind variable:

const variable = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_variable",
  arguments: {
    collectionId: collection.id,
    name: "spacing-md",
    resolvedType: "FLOAT"
  }
});

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "set_variable_value",
  arguments: {
    variableId: variable.id,
    modeId: collection.defaultModeId,
    value: 16
  }
});

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "bind_variable_to_node",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: "123:456",
    variableId: variable.id,
    field: "itemSpacing"  // fillColor | strokeColor | width | height | opacity | rotation | visible | cornerRadius | itemSpacing | paddingLeft | etc.
  }
});

Prototyping

Set prototype reactions:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "set_reactions",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: "123:456",
    reactions: [
      {
        trigger: { type: "ON_CLICK" },
        actions: [
          {
            type: "NODE",
            destinationId: "123:789",
            navigation: "NAVIGATE",
            transition: {
              type: "DISSOLVE",
              duration: 0.3,
              easing: { type: "EASE_OUT" }
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    mode: "replace"  // replace | append
  }
});

Get reactions:

const reactions = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "get_reactions",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: "123:456"
  }
});

Exporting

Take screenshot:

const screenshot = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "get_screenshot",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: "123:456",
    format: "PNG",
    scale: 2
  }
});
// Returns base64-encoded image

Save screenshots to disk:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "save_screenshots",
  arguments: {
    nodeIds: ["123:456", "123:789"],
    outputDir: "/path/to/exports",
    format: "PNG",
    scale: 2,
    filenameTemplate: "{nodeName}_{nodeId}"
  }
});

Export frames to PDF:

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "export_frames_to_pdf",
  arguments: {
    frameIds: ["123:1", "123:2", "123:3"],
    outputPath: "/path/to/output.pdf",
    scale: 2
  }
});

Export design tokens:

const tokens = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "export_tokens",
  arguments: {
    format: "json"  // json | css
  }
});
// Returns design tokens (variables + paint styles)

Common Patterns

Design System Setup

// 1. Create color variables
const colorCollection = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_variable_collection",
  arguments: { name: "Colors", initialModeName: "Light" }
});

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "add_variable_mode",
  arguments: { collectionId: colorCollection.id, modeName: "Dark" }
});

const primaryVar = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_variable",
  arguments: {
    collectionId: colorCollection.id,
    name: "primary",
    resolvedType: "COLOR"
  }
});

// Set values for both modes
await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "set_variable_value",
  arguments: {
    variableId: primaryVar.id,
    modeId: colorCollection.modes[0].id,  // Light
    value: "#0066FF"
  }
});

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "set_variable_value",
  arguments: {
    variableId: primaryVar.id,
    modeId: colorCollection.modes[1].id,  // Dark
    value: "#66B3FF"
  }
});

// 2. Create component with bound variable
const buttonFrame = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_frame",
  arguments: {
    name: "Button",
    width: 200,
    height: 48,
    layoutMode: "HORIZONTAL",
    primaryAxisAlignItems: "CENTER",
    counterAxisAlignItems: "CENTER"
  }
});

await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "bind_variable_to_node",
  arguments: {
    nodeId: buttonFrame.id,
    variableId: primaryVar.id,
    field: "fillColor"
  }
});

const component = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_component",
  arguments: { nodeId: buttonFrame.id, name: "Button/Primary" }
});

Bulk Content Updates

// Find all text nodes in a page
const textNodes = await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "scan_text_nodes",
  arguments: { rootNodeId: "0:1" }
});

// Update placeholder text
for (const node of textNodes) {
  if (node.characters.includes("Lorem ipsum")) {
    await use_mcp_tool({
      server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
      tool_name: "set_text",
      arguments: {
        nodeId: node.id,
        characters: node.characters.replace("Lorem ipsum", "Real content")
      }
    });
  }
}

// Or use find_replace_text for efficiency
await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "find_replace_text",
  arguments: {
    rootNodeId: "0:1",
    findText: "Lorem ipsum",
    replaceText: "Real content",
    useRegex: false
  }
});

Component Organization

// Group related frames
await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "group_nodes",
  arguments: {
    nodeIds: ["123:1", "123:2", "123:3"],
    groupName: "Button Variants"
  }
});

// Create sections for organization
await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "create_section",
  arguments: {
    name: "Components",
    x: 0,
    y: 0,
    width: 2000,
    height: 1000
  }
});

// Batch rename nodes
await use_mcp_tool({
  server_name: "figma-mcp-go",
  tool_name: "batch_rename_nodes",
  arguments: {
    rootNodeId: "0:1",
    findPattern: "Frame",
    replaceText: "Card",
    useRegex: false
  }
});

Built-in MCP Prompts

Access strategic guidance through MCP prompts:

• read_design_strategy: Best practices for reading Figma designs efficiently
• design_strategy: Best practices for creating and modifying designs
• text_replacement_strategy: Chunked approach for replacing text across large designs
• annotation_conversion_strategy: Convert manual annotations to native Figma annotations
• swap_overrides_instances: Transfer overrides between component instances
• reaction_to_connector_strategy: Map prototype reactions into flow diagrams

Troubleshooting

Plugin not connecting:

• Ensure Figma Desktop (not web) is running
• Verify the plugin is active in the current file
• Restart the plugin if idle for extended periods

Tools returning errors:

• Check node IDs are valid using get_document or search_nodes
• Ensure node types match tool requirements (e.g., create_component requires FRAME)
• Verify parent nodes exist before reparenting

Font not loading:

• Text creation automatically loads fonts, but custom fonts must be installed on your system
• Use get_fonts to see available fonts in the current file

Export failures:

• Ensure output directories exist and have write permissions
• For save_screenshots and export_frames_to_pdf, paths are relative to server working directory

Performance with large files:

• Use maxDepth in get_design_context to limit tree traversal
• Use detail: "minimal" to reduce payload size
• Query specific nodes with get_node or search_nodes instead of full page trees