# Gsap Setup

> Production recipes for GSAP setup and configuration for any framework — Vue 3, Nuxt 3, React, or Next.js. Detects framework from project files and provides the correct setup pattern. Companion to official gsap-core and gsap-frameworks skills (API reference). Triggers: GSAP setup, GSAP install, gsap plugin, GSAP Nuxt, GSAP Vue setup, GSAP React setup, GSAP Next.js setup, gsap config, GSAP accessibility setup, reduced motion setup, animation project setup, useGSAP, gsap registerPlugin. Non-triggers: Not for animation patterns (use gsap-animate), ScrollTrigger (use gsap-scroll), text effects (use gsap-text), or performance tuning (use gsap-optimise). Outcome: Produces a working GSAP plugin/provider with registered plugins, effects, global defaults, and accessibility setup.

- Skill: `iotron/gsap-setup` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add iotron/gsap-setup`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/iotron/gsap-setup/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: iotron (https://skillmd.com/u/iotron)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/iotron/gsap-setup

---


# GSAP Setup

> **Flow**: **gsap-setup** → gsap-animate → gsap-optimise → gsap-test
> Detect the framework from project files (nuxt.config, next.config, package.json) and use the matching section below.

> **Companion**: For GSAP core API and defaults, invoke **gsap-core**. For framework lifecycle/cleanup, invoke **gsap-frameworks**. This skill covers setup recipes only. Requires: `greensock/gsap-skills`

---

## 1. Installation

Install GSAP per the official **gsap-core** skill. Then set up the framework plugin below.

---

## 2. Framework Setup

<!-- TODO: Remove after greensock/gsap-skills PR merged — Nuxt setup will be in gsap-frameworks skill + examples -->
### Nuxt 3

```js
// plugins/gsap.js
import { gsap } from 'gsap'
import ScrollTrigger from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'

export default defineNuxtPlugin(() => {
  gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)
  return { provide: { gsap, ScrollTrigger } }
})
```

Access: `const { $gsap: gsap, $ScrollTrigger: ScrollTrigger } = useNuxtApp()`

<!-- TODO: Remove after greensock/gsap-skills PR merged — Vue setup will be in gsap-frameworks skill + examples -->
### Vue 3 (Vite)

```js
// src/main.js
import { gsap } from 'gsap'
import ScrollTrigger from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)
app.provide('gsap', gsap)
```

Access: `const gsap = inject('gsap')` or import directly (tree-shakes fine with Vite).

<!-- TODO: Remove after greensock/gsap-skills PR merged — React setup already in gsap-react skill -->
### React (Vite / CRA)

```jsx
import { gsap } from 'gsap'
import ScrollTrigger from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'
import { useGSAP } from '@gsap/react'
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)

function Component() {
  const containerRef = useRef(null)
  useGSAP(() => {
    gsap.to('.box', { x: 200, duration: 1 })
  }, { scope: containerRef })
  return <div ref={containerRef}><div className="box">Animated</div></div>
}
```

<!-- TODO: Remove after greensock/gsap-skills PR merged — Next.js setup will be in gsap-frameworks skill + examples -->
### Next.js (App Router)

```jsx
// lib/gsap.js
'use client'
import { gsap } from 'gsap'
import ScrollTrigger from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'
import { useGSAP } from '@gsap/react'
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)
export { gsap, ScrollTrigger, useGSAP }
```

---

## 3. Global Defaults

```js
gsap.defaults({ overwrite: 'auto' })
gsap.ticker.lagSmoothing(500, 33)
```

- `overwrite: 'auto'` — kills only conflicting properties on the same target.
- `lagSmoothing(500, 33)` — caps lag compensation so big frame drops don't cause a jarring jump.

---

## 4. registerEffect — Reusable Animations

```js
gsap.registerEffect({
  name: 'reveal',
  effect: (targets, config) =>
    gsap.fromTo(targets, { y: 20, autoAlpha: 0 }, { y: 0, autoAlpha: 1, ...config }),
  defaults: { duration: 0.8, ease: 'power2.out', stagger: 0 },
  extendTimeline: true,
})
```

Usage: `gsap.effects.reveal('.cards')` or on timelines: `tl.reveal('.cards', {}, '-=0.2')`

---

## 5. CSS Pre-hide

Elements animated by GSAP should be pre-hidden in CSS to prevent CLS. `autoAlpha` sets `visibility: visible` when it runs.

```css
.reveal, .text-reveal { visibility: hidden; }
```

---

## 6. Accessibility

### Vue / Nuxt composable

```js
export const useReducedMotion = () => {
  const prefersReduced = ref(false)
  onMounted(() => {
    const mql = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)')
    prefersReduced.value = mql.matches
    mql.addEventListener('change', (e) => { prefersReduced.value = e.matches })
  })
  return { prefersReduced }
}
```

### React hook

```jsx
export function useReducedMotion() {
  const [prefersReduced, setPrefersReduced] = useState(false)
  useEffect(() => {
    const mql = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)')
    setPrefersReduced(mql.matches)
    const handler = (e) => setPrefersReduced(e.matches)
    mql.addEventListener('change', handler)
    return () => mql.removeEventListener('change', handler)
  }, [])
  return prefersReduced
}
```

**Prefer `gsap.matchMedia()`** when animations should auto-revert on preference change — see **gsap-animate** skill.

---

## References

- `references/full-plugin-example.md` — Complete Nuxt plugin with lazy loaders, registered effects, and ScrollTrigger sort