React Tailwind Layered Web

React Tailwind Layered Web

Use this skill to keep React + Tailwind apps organized around clear ownership, thin route composition, and one-way imports.

Apply When

Apply when work touches:

• app setup, routing, layouts, or page composition
• React components, Tailwind styling, or UI refactors
• feature-specific UI and behavior
• folder placement, module ownership, or import direction

Skip when the task is backend-only, infra-only, or unrelated to the web UI.

Core Rules

• Keep the top-level router thin.
• Keep route files thin; they should mostly compose shell and feature workspaces.
• Keep domain contracts explicit; do not invent browser-only domain behavior when ownership belongs to shared contracts or the backend.
• Prefer the lowest valid layer; do not promote code upward just because it might be reused later.
• Do not create or grow catch-all folders like components or lib when a clearer layer exists.

Layer Map

Placement Rules

Use this decision order:

1. If it is styles, tokens, or Tailwind/base CSS only, place it in src/foundations/.
2. If it is a generic standalone control, place it in src/primitives/.
3. If it is a reusable UI composition built from primitives, place it in src/patterns/.
4. If it knows about a product domain, workflow, or business state, place it in src/features/.
5. If it only wires routes, page assembly, or app framing, place it in src/pages/ or src/shell/.
6. If it is non-UI shared logic, place it in src/shared/.

When in doubt, keep code in the owning feature first and only extract downward once it is clearly generic.

Import Rules

Keep imports one-way:

foundations -> primitives -> patterns -> features -> pages
foundations -> primitives -> patterns -> features -> shell
shared -> usable by all layers

Enforce these constraints:

• foundations imports from no UI layer
• primitives may use foundations and shared
• patterns may use foundations, primitives, and shared
• features may use patterns, lower UI layers if the host project already allows it, and shared
• pages and shell compose feature work; they should not become feature owners
• shared must never import from UI layers

Follow the host project's existing import style. Do not introduce aliases just for this skill.

React + Tailwind Guidance

• Use function components.
• Prefer Tailwind utilities with className extension points.
• Establish a clear visual direction early and preserve it.
• Keep typography consistent:
  • text-xs: labels, badges, metadata, uppercase markers
  • text-sm: body copy, helper text, inputs, buttons, small headings
  • text-base: section and component titles
  • text-lg: page titles and prominent headings
  • text-2xl: stat values

Working Sequence

For each requested change:

1. Start from the user-facing outcome.
2. Identify the owning route, shell, feature, or shared contract.
3. Place each new file in the lowest valid layer.
4. Extract repeated generic UI downward into primitives or patterns.
5. Keep domain behavior in features and shared contracts in src/shared/ or the backend/service layer.
6. Keep pages and routing code thin.
7. Add the required source-file header block to every source file you create or edit when the host project requires it.

Done Check

Before finishing:

• New code sits in the correct layer.
• Imports follow the allowed boundaries.
• Router and route files remain thin.
• Domain behavior stays in features or shared/server-owned contracts.
• Styling stays consistent with the chosen visual direction.
• Normal UI validation for the host app has been run.