Vite Shadcn Tailwind4

Protocol for initializing shadcn/ui with Tailwind CSS v4 in a Vite project.

This skill is Vite-specific due to:

• Vite's solution-style tsconfig.json (references pattern)
• @tailwindcss/vite plugin requirement
• CSS entry file conventions (src/index.css)

For Next.js, Remix, or other frameworks, MUST use their respective shadcn installation guides.

Question Tool Usage

• Batching Rule: MUST use only for 2+ related questions; single questions use plain text.
• Syntax Constraints: header MUST be max 12 chars, labels MUST be 1-5 words, SHOULD mark defaults with (Recommended).
• Purpose: Clarify component selection, style preferences, and optional AI elements before running shadcn CLI.

Step 1: Verify Prerequisites

Check that the project is ready:

• vite.config.ts MUST exist.
• package.json MUST contain tailwindcss (v4+) and @tailwindcss/vite.
• TypeScript MUST be configured.

If prerequisites are missing, MUST help the user set up Tailwind v4 first.

Step 2: Fix TypeScript Aliases

The shadcn CLI fails if paths aren't in the root tsconfig.json. Vite uses a solution-style config with references, but shadcn doesn't parse those.

Action: MUST update tsconfig.json to include compilerOptions:

{
  "files": [],
  "references": [
    { "path": "./tsconfig.app.json" },
    { "path": "./tsconfig.node.json" }
  ],
  "compilerOptions": {
    "baseUrl": ".",
    "paths": {
      "@/*": ["./src/*"]
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Verify Vite Config

MUST confirm vite.config.ts has the Tailwind plugin and path alias:

import tailwindcss from "@tailwindcss/vite";
import path from "path";

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [react(), tailwindcss()],
  resolve: {
    alias: {
      "@": path.resolve(__dirname, "./src"),
    },
  },
});

Step 4: Initialize Shadcn

MUST instruct the user to run:

npx shadcn@latest init

SHOULD recommend these settings:

• Style: New York
• Base Color: Neutral or Zinc
• CSS Variables: Yes

MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

Step 5: Add Components

MUST instruct the user to run:

npx shadcn@latest add

SHOULD instruct them to select all components (a then Enter).

MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

Step 6: Add Extensions (Optional)

If user wants AI elements, MUST instruct them to run:

npx shadcn@latest add @ai-elements/all

SHOULD instruct them to answer NO to all overwrite prompts.

MUST wait for user confirmation before continuing.

Step 7: Install Missing Dependencies

The CLI MAY miss dependencies. MUST check package.json and install any missing.

Required packages:

• tw-animate-css (devDep) - v4 replacement for tailwindcss-animate
• tailwind-merge (dep) - used by cn() utility
• clsx (dep) - used by cn() utility
• class-variance-authority (dep) - used by shadcn components

MUST run if any are missing:

npm install tailwind-merge clsx class-variance-authority
npm install -D tw-animate-css

Step 8: Clean CSS for v4 Compliance

MUST rewrite src/index.css to match strict v4 structure:

@import "tailwindcss";
@import "tw-animate-css";

@custom-variant dark (&:is(.dark *));

@theme inline {
  /* Variable mappings: --color-X: var(--X); */
}

:root {
  /* Token definitions using oklch() */
}

.dark {
  /* Dark mode tokens using oklch() */
}

@layer base {
  * {
    @apply border-border outline-ring/50;
  }
  body {
    @apply bg-background text-foreground;
  }
}

MUST remove these if present:

• @media (prefers-color-scheme) blocks
• Duplicate @theme blocks (keep only @theme inline)
• @config directives

Step 9: Verify Setup

MUST run typecheck to catch any issues:

npm run lint

MUST fix any TypeScript errors before marking setup complete.