Create Theme

Create Theme Skill

Complete guide for scaffolding and configuring new themes from the preset template.

⚠️ MANDATORY: Dependency Management Rules

Principio Fundamental

Si @nextsparkjs/core tiene una dependencia, los themes DEBEN declararla como peerDependency, NUNCA como dependency.

Template OBLIGATORIO de package.json para Themes

{
  "name": "@nextsparkjs/theme-NOMBRE",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "private": false,
  "main": "./config/theme.config.ts",
  "dependencies": {
    // Plugins que el theme requiere
    "@nextsparkjs/plugin-langchain": "workspace:*"
  },
  "peerDependencies": {
    "@nextsparkjs/core": "workspace:*",
    "next": "^15.0.0",
    "react": "^19.0.0",
    "react-dom": "^19.0.0",
    "zod": "^4.0.0"
    // Agregar otras de core que el theme use directamente
  }
}

Import Rules

Prerequisites

• Command: pnpm create:theme <theme-name>
• Preset Location: core/templates/contents/themes/starter/
• Output Location: themes/<theme-name>/

Step 1: Gather Requirements

Before creating ANY theme, collect:

Required Information:
1. Theme name (lowercase, hyphenated slug)
2. Display name (human-readable)
3. Description (purpose of the theme)
4. Author (team or individual)
5. Primary use case (SaaS type, industry, features)
6. Color preferences (optional - can use defaults)

Step 2: Create Theme from Preset

Basic Usage

pnpm create:theme <theme-name>

With Options

pnpm create:theme <theme-name> \
  --description "Theme description" \
  --author "Author Name" \
  --display-name "Display Name"

Example

pnpm create:theme project-manager \
  --description "Project management SaaS application" \
  --author "Development Team" \
  --display-name "Project Manager"

Step 3: Theme Structure Created

contents/themes/<theme-name>/
├── config/
│   ├── theme.config.ts         # Visual configuration
│   ├── app.config.ts           # Application overrides
│   ├── dashboard.config.ts     # Dashboard settings
│   └── permissions.config.ts   # Permission overrides
├── about.md                    # Theme description
├── styles/
│   ├── globals.css             # CSS variables
│   └── components.css          # Component overrides
├── messages/
│   ├── en.json                 # English translations
│   └── es.json                 # Spanish translations
├── migrations/
│   ├── README.md               # Migration docs
│   └── 001_example_schema.sql
├── docs/01-overview/
│   ├── 01-introduction.md
│   └── 02-customization.md
├── blocks/hero/                # Example hero block
├── entities/                   # Data entities (optional)
│   └── [entity]/               # Each entity has 4 required files
│       ├── [entity].config.ts
│       ├── [entity].fields.ts
│       ├── [entity].types.ts
│       ├── [entity].service.ts
│       └── messages/
├── templates/                  # Page overrides
├── public/brand/               # Brand assets
└── tests/                      # Theme tests

Step 4: Customize Configuration

4.1 theme.config.ts - Visual Identity

colors: {
  light: {
    // Blue for corporate/professional
    primary: 'oklch(0.55 0.2 250)',
    // Green for productivity/growth
    // primary: 'oklch(0.55 0.2 150)',
    // Orange for creative/energy
    // primary: 'oklch(0.65 0.2 50)',
    // Purple for premium/luxury
    // primary: 'oklch(0.55 0.2 300)',
  }
}

// Enable required plugins
plugins: [
  // 'plugin-analytics',
  // 'plugin-payments',
]

Color Presets by Use Case

4.2 app.config.ts - Application Behavior

// Multi-tenant SaaS
teams: {
  allowCreation: true,
  maxTeamsPerUser: 5,
}

// Single-tenant Application
teams: {
  allowCreation: false,
  maxTeamsPerUser: 1,
}

// Features
features: {
  enableDocs: true,   // Documentation site
  enableBlog: false,  // Blog functionality
}

4.3 dashboard.config.ts - Admin Interface

topbar: {
  showSearch: true,
  showNotifications: true,
  showMessages: false,
}

sidebar: {
  defaultCollapsed: false,
  showEntityCounts: true,
}

entities: {
  defaultPageSize: 25,
  enableBulkActions: true,
}

Step 5: Verify Theme Setup

# 1. Verify theme structure
ls -la contents/themes/<theme-name>/

# 2. Build registry to include new theme
node core/scripts/build/registry.mjs

# 3. Verify theme appears in registry
grep "<theme-name>" core/lib/registries/theme-registry.ts

# 4. Test theme activation (optional)
# Update .env.local: NEXT_PUBLIC_ACTIVE_THEME='<theme-name>'
# Run: pnpm dev

Step 6: Entity Structure (4-File Pattern)

Each theme entity requires 4 files:

Reference: core/templates/contents/themes/starter/entities/tasks/

Verification Checklist

Antes de crear un theme (OBLIGATORIO):

• Verificar si las dependencias que necesito ya están en core
• Si están en core → declararlas como peerDependencies
• Si NO están en core → declararlas como dependencies
• Plugins como dependencies (workspace:*)
• NUNCA duplicar: zod, react, next, @tanstack/*, lucide-react, etc.
• NUNCA importar de otros themes

Después de crear el theme:

• Theme name follows naming conventions (lowercase, hyphenated)
• All preset files created successfully
• package.json created with correct peerDependencies
• theme.config.ts customized with appropriate colors
• app.config.ts configured for use case
• dashboard.config.ts settings appropriate
• permissions.config.ts reviewed
• messages/ translations have correct theme name
• Registry rebuilt: node core/scripts/build/registry.mjs
• Theme appears in THEME_REGISTRY
• No TypeScript errors

Validación de Dependencias:

# Verificar que no hay duplicados
pnpm ls zod
# Debe mostrar UNA sola versión

Anti-Patterns

Handoff Template

After creating theme, document:

## Theme Created: <theme-name>

### Completed Setup:
- Theme scaffolded from preset
- Visual identity configured (primary color: X)
- Application settings configured
- Dashboard layout configured

### Ready for Development:
- Backend: Add custom entities, migrations, API endpoints
- Frontend: Customize UI components, add blocks

### Environment Setup:
NEXT_PUBLIC_ACTIVE_THEME='<theme-name>'

Related Documentation

• monorepo-architecture skill - CRITICAL: Package hierarchy and dependency management rules
• Entity System: core/docs/04-entities/
• Theme Config: core/docs/02-themes/
• Registry System: core/docs/03-registry-system/