# Shade use primitives

> Replace bare divs that only carry flex/grid/gap utilities with Shade primitives (Stack, Inline, Box, Grid, Container, Text). Use semantic gap="md" instead of gap-4. Trigger when editing TSX in Shade-consuming apps.

- Skill: `tryghost/shade-use-primitives` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add tryghost/shade-use-primitives`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tryghost/shade-use-primitives/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: TryGhost (https://skillmd.com/u/tryghost)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tryghost/shade-use-primitives

---


# Shade — use primitives, not flex divs

A `<div>` whose className is only `flex / grid / gap / items-* / justify-*` utilities is a primitive call site. Use a Shade primitive instead so layouts read by **intent**, not by class string.

```ts
import {Stack, Inline, Box, Grid, Container, Text} from '@tryghost/shade/primitives';
```

## Picking the primitive

| You need                        | Use         | Element                               |
| ------------------------------- | ----------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Column of children              | `Stack`     | flex-col                              |
| Row of children                 | `Inline`    | flex-row (with optional `wrap`, `as`) |
| Padding / radius around content | `Box`       | div with `padding`, `radius` props    |
| Two-dimensional layout          | `Grid`      | display: grid                         |
| Width-constrained shell         | `Container` | max-width wrapper                     |
| Text with size/tone/weight      | `Text`      | `as`, `size`, `tone`, `weight`        |

## Use the semantic gap scale, not raw numbers

`gap="md"` reads as intent and resolves to the shared spacing scale. Mapping:

| Step   | Tailwind | Use for                    |
| ------ | -------- | -------------------------- |
| `none` | `gap-0`  | flush                      |
| `xs`   | `gap-1`  | inline icons-to-text       |
| `sm`   | `gap-2`  | dense lists, badges        |
| `md`   | `gap-3`  | default row/column spacing |
| `lg`   | `gap-5`  | section spacing            |
| `xl`   | `gap-6`  | between major blocks       |
| `2xl`  | `gap-8`  | page-level rhythm          |

The same scale applies to `Box` padding (`padding="md"` → `p-3`).

## Correct

```tsx
<Box padding="lg" radius="md" className="border border-border-default">
    <Inline align="center" gap="md" justify="between">
        <Stack gap="xs">
            <Text weight="semibold">Email notifications</Text>
            <Text size="sm" tone="secondary">Get notified about engagement.</Text>
        </Stack>
        <Switch />
    </Inline>
</Box>
```

## Incorrect

```tsx
// BAD — bare div doing flex layout
<div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
    <div className="font-semibold">Title</div>
    <div className="text-sm text-gray-600">Hint</div>
</div>

// BAD — raw gap-4 instead of gap="md"
<Stack className="gap-4">
```

## When NOT to reach for a primitive

- A pattern already exists for the shape (page header → `PageHeader`, list page → `ListPage`).
- The wrapper is starting to know about Ghost data — that's a Pattern, not a primitive composition.
- You're inside a Shade primitive's own implementation.

## className still works

Primitives forward `className` and merge with `cn()`. Use it for one-offs the prop API doesn't cover (e.g. `className="border border-border-default"`). Don't reach for `className` to set `flex`, `gap`, `align`, or `justify` — that's what the props are for.