gstack/design-html/SKILL.md.tmpl

---
name: design-html
preamble-tier: 2
version: 1.0.0
description: |
  Design finalization: generates production-quality Pretext-native HTML/CSS.
  Works with approved mockups from /design-shotgun, CEO plans from /plan-ceo-review,
  design review context from /plan-design-review, or from scratch with a user
  description. Text actually reflows, heights are computed, layouts are dynamic.
  30KB overhead, zero deps. Smart API routing: picks the right Pretext patterns
  for each design type. Use when: "finalize this design", "turn this into HTML",
  "build me a page", "implement this design", or after any planning skill.
  Proactively suggest when user has approved a design or has a plan ready. (gstack)
voice-triggers:
  - "build the design"
  - "code the mockup"
  - "make it real"
triggers:
  - build the design
  - code the mockup
  - make design real
allowed-tools:
  - Bash
  - Read
  - Write
  - Edit
  - Glob
  - Grep
  - Agent
  - AskUserQuestion
---

{{PREAMBLE}}

# /design-html: Pretext-Native HTML Engine

You generate production-quality HTML where text actually works correctly. Not CSS
approximations. Computed layout via Pretext. Text reflows on resize, heights adjust
to content, cards size themselves, chat bubbles shrinkwrap, editorial spreads flow
around obstacles.

---

{{SECTION_INDEX:design-html}}

---

{{DESIGN_SETUP}}

{{DESIGN_DETECTOR}}

{{SECTION:doctrine}}

---

## Step 0: Input Detection

Detect context with the CEO-plan check and the design-artifact checks below:

```bash
SLUG=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-slug --get SLUG 2>/dev/null)
GSTACK_STATE_ROOT=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-paths --get GSTACK_STATE_ROOT); : "${GSTACK_STATE_ROOT:?gstack-paths failed; reinstall with ./setup or /gstack-upgrade}"
setopt +o nomatch 2>/dev/null || true
_CEO=$(ls -t "$GSTACK_STATE_ROOT/projects/$SLUG/ceo-plans/"*.md 2>/dev/null | head -1)
[ -n "$_CEO" ] && echo "CEO_PLAN: $_CEO" || echo "NO_CEO_PLAN"
```

```bash
SLUG=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-slug --get SLUG 2>/dev/null)
GSTACK_STATE_ROOT=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-paths --get GSTACK_STATE_ROOT); : "${GSTACK_STATE_ROOT:?gstack-paths failed; reinstall with ./setup or /gstack-upgrade}"
setopt +o nomatch 2>/dev/null || true
_APPROVED=$(ls -t "$GSTACK_STATE_ROOT/projects/$SLUG/designs/"*/approved.json 2>/dev/null | head -1)
[ -n "$_APPROVED" ] && echo "APPROVED: $_APPROVED" || echo "NO_APPROVED"
_VARIANTS=$(ls -t "$GSTACK_STATE_ROOT/projects/$SLUG/designs/"*/variant-*.png 2>/dev/null | head -1)
[ -n "$_VARIANTS" ] && echo "VARIANTS: $_VARIANTS" || echo "NO_VARIANTS"
_FINALIZED=$(ls -t "$GSTACK_STATE_ROOT/projects/$SLUG/designs/"*/finalized.html 2>/dev/null | head -1)
[ -n "$_FINALIZED" ] && echo "FINALIZED: $_FINALIZED" || echo "NO_FINALIZED"
[ -f DESIGN.md ] && echo "DESIGN_MD: exists" || echo "NO_DESIGN_MD"
```

Now route based on what was found. Check these cases in order:

### Case A: approved.json exists (design-shotgun ran)

If `APPROVED` was found, read it for user feedback and screen name, and resolve the
approved PNG (never guess it from a letter or the newest variant):

```bash
{{BIN_DIR}}/gstack-design-approved "<APPROVED path>"
```

It prints the approved image's absolute path. If it prints "approved image ... is
missing; reselect from the board" instead, tell the user exactly that, offer
/design-shotgun to reselect, and do not substitute another image. Also read the CEO
plan if one exists (it adds strategic context).

Read `DESIGN.md` if it exists in the repo root. These tokens take priority for
system-level values (fonts, brand colors, spacing scale).

Then check for prior finalized.html. If `FINALIZED` was also found, use AskUserQuestion:
> Found a prior finalized HTML from a previous session. Want to evolve it
> (apply new changes on top, preserving your custom edits) or start fresh?
> A) Evolve — iterate on the existing HTML
> B) Start fresh — regenerate from the approved mockup

If evolve: read the existing HTML. Apply changes on top during Step 3.
If fresh or no finalized.html: proceed to Step 1 with the approved PNG as the
visual reference.

### Case B: CEO plan and/or design variants exist, but no approved.json

If `CEO_PLAN` or `VARIANTS` was found but no `APPROVED`:

Read whichever context exists:
- If CEO plan found: read it and summarize the product vision and design requirements.
- If variant PNGs found: show them inline using the Read tool.
- If DESIGN.md found: read it for design tokens and constraints.

Use AskUserQuestion:
> Found [CEO plan from /plan-ceo-review | design review variants from /plan-design-review | both]
> but no approved design mockup.
> A) Run /design-shotgun — explore design variants based on the existing plan context
> B) Skip mockups — I'll design the HTML directly from the plan context
> C) I have a PNG — let me provide the path

If A: tell the user to run /design-shotgun, then come back to /design-html.
If B: proceed to Step 1 in "plan-driven mode." There is no approved PNG, the plan is
the source of truth. Ask the user for a screen name to use for the output directory
(e.g., "landing-page", "dashboard", "pricing").
If C: accept a PNG file path from the user and proceed with that as the reference.

### Case C: Nothing found (clean slate)

If none of the above produced any context:

Use AskUserQuestion:
> No design context found for this project. How do you want to start?
> A) Run /plan-ceo-review first — think through the product strategy before designing
> B) Run /plan-design-review first — design review with visual mockups
> C) Run /design-shotgun — jump straight to visual design exploration
> D) Just describe it — tell me what you want and I'll design the HTML live

If A, B, or C: tell the user to run that skill, then come back to /design-html.
If D: proceed to Step 1 in "freeform mode." Ask the user for a screen name.

### Context summary

After routing, output a brief context summary:
- **Mode:** approved-mockup | plan-driven | freeform | evolve
- **Visual reference:** path to approved PNG, or "none (plan-driven)" or "none (freeform)"
- **CEO plan:** path or "none"
- **Design tokens:** "DESIGN.md" or "none"
- **Screen name:** from approved.json, user-provided, or inferred from CEO plan

---

## Step 1: Design Analysis

1. If `$D` is available (`DESIGN_READY`), extract a structured implementation spec:
```bash
$D prompt --image <approved-variant.png> --output json
```
This returns colors, typography, layout structure, and component inventory via an OpenAI vision model (gpt-5.5 by default, `GSTACK_DESIGN_MODEL` overrides).

2. If `$D` is not available, read the approved PNG inline using the Read tool.
   Describe the visual layout, colors, typography, and component structure yourself.

3. If in plan-driven or freeform mode (no approved PNG), design from context:
   - **Plan-driven:** read the CEO plan and/or design review notes. Extract the described
     UI requirements, user flows, target audience, visual feel (dark/light, dense/spacious),
     content structure (hero, features, pricing, etc.), and design constraints. Build an
     implementation spec from the plan's prose rather than a visual reference.
   - **Freeform:** use AskUserQuestion to gather what the user wants to build. Ask about:
     purpose/audience, visual feel (dark/light, playful/serious, dense/spacious),
     content structure (hero, features, pricing, etc.), and any reference sites they like.
   In both cases, describe the intended visual layout, colors, typography, and
   component structure as your implementation spec. Generate realistic content based
   on the plan or user description (never lorem ipsum).

4. Read `DESIGN.md` tokens. These override any extracted values for system-level
   properties (brand colors, font family, spacing scale).

5. Output an "Implementation spec" summary: colors (hex), fonts (family + weights),
   spacing scale, component list, layout type.

---

## Step 2: Smart Pretext API Routing

Analyze the approved design and classify it into a Pretext tier. Each tier uses
different Pretext APIs for optimal results:

| Design type | Pretext APIs | Use case |
|-------------|-------------|----------|
| Simple layout (landing, marketing) | `prepare()` + `layout()` | Resize-aware heights |
| Card/grid (dashboard, listing) | `prepare()` + `layout()` | Self-sizing cards |
| Chat/messaging UI | `prepareWithSegments()` + `walkLineRanges()` | Tight-fit bubbles, min-width |
| Content-heavy (editorial, blog) | `prepareWithSegments()` + `layoutNextLine()` | Text around obstacles |
| Complex editorial | Full engine + `layoutWithLines()` | Manual line rendering |

State the chosen tier and why. Reference the specific Pretext APIs that will be used.

---

## Step 2.5: Framework Detection

Check if the user's project uses a frontend framework:

```bash
[ -f package.json ] && cat package.json | grep -o '"react"\|"svelte"\|"vue"\|"@angular/core"\|"solid-js"\|"preact"' | head -1 || echo "NONE"
```

If a framework is detected, use AskUserQuestion:
> Detected [React/Svelte/Vue] in your project. What format should the output be?
> A) Vanilla HTML — self-contained preview file (recommended for first pass)
> B) [React/Svelte/Vue] component — framework-native with Pretext hooks

If the user chooses framework output, ask one follow-up:
> A) TypeScript
> B) JavaScript

For vanilla HTML: proceed to Step 3 with vanilla output.
For framework output: proceed to Step 3 with framework-specific patterns.
If no framework detected: default to vanilla HTML, no question needed.

---

## Step 3: Generate Pretext-Native HTML

{{SECTION:pretext-patterns}}

### Pretext Source Embedding

For **vanilla HTML output**, check for the vendored Pretext bundle:
```bash
_PRETEXT_VENDOR=""
_ROOT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)
[ -n "$_ROOT" ] && [ -f "$_ROOT/.claude/skills/gstack/design-html/vendor/pretext.js" ] && _PRETEXT_VENDOR="$_ROOT/.claude/skills/gstack/design-html/vendor/pretext.js"
[ -z "$_PRETEXT_VENDOR" ] && [ -f ~/.claude/skills/gstack/design-html/vendor/pretext.js ] && _PRETEXT_VENDOR=~/.claude/skills/gstack/design-html/vendor/pretext.js
[ -n "$_PRETEXT_VENDOR" ] && echo "VENDOR: $_PRETEXT_VENDOR" || echo "VENDOR_MISSING"
```

- If `VENDOR` found: inline the file in a `<script type="module">` and put the page's
  Pretext code after it in that same script; the bundle ends in `export {...}` and sets
  no global. The HTML file is fully self-contained with zero network dependencies.
- If `VENDOR_MISSING`: use CDN import as fallback:
  `<script type="module">import { prepare, layout, prepareWithSegments, walkLineRanges, layoutNextLine, layoutWithLines } from 'https://esm.sh/@chenglou/pretext'</script>`
  Add a comment: `<!-- FALLBACK: vendor/pretext.js missing, using CDN -->`

For **framework output**, add to the project's dependencies instead:
```bash
# Detect package manager
[ -f bun.lockb ] && echo "bun add @chenglou/pretext" || \
[ -f pnpm-lock.yaml ] && echo "pnpm add @chenglou/pretext" || \
[ -f yarn.lock ] && echo "yarn add @chenglou/pretext" || \
echo "npm install @chenglou/pretext"
```
Run the detected install command. Then use standard imports in the component.

### HTML Generation

Write a single file using the Write tool. Save to:
`$GSTACK_STATE_ROOT/projects/$SLUG/designs/<screen-name>-YYYYMMDD/finalized.html`

For framework output, save to:
`$GSTACK_STATE_ROOT/projects/$SLUG/designs/<screen-name>-YYYYMMDD/finalized.[tsx|svelte|vue]`

**Always include in vanilla HTML:**
- Pretext source (inlined or CDN, see above)
- CSS custom properties for design tokens from DESIGN.md / Step 1 extraction
- Fonts from the source DESIGN.md names (Google Fonts, Fontshare, or self-hosted) via `<link>` tags + `document.fonts.ready` gate before first `prepare()`
- Semantic HTML5 (`<header>`, `<nav>`, `<main>`, `<section>`, `<footer>`)
- Responsive behavior via Pretext relayout (not just media queries)
- Breakpoint-specific adjustments at 375px, 768px, 1024px, 1440px
- ARIA attributes, heading hierarchy, focus-visible states
- `contenteditable` on text elements + MutationObserver to re-prepare + re-layout on edit
- ResizeObserver on containers to re-layout on resize
- `prefers-color-scheme` media query for dark mode
- `prefers-reduced-motion` for animation respect
- Real content extracted from the mockup (never lorem ipsum)

**Never include by default (AI slop blacklist):** an approved mockup that carries one, a DESIGN.md blessing, or an explicit user ask overrides it; say the tradeoff once.
- Purple/blue gradients as default <!-- ai-color-palette -->
- Cream-and-serif default palette <!-- cream-palette -->
- Gradient text <!-- gradient-text -->
- Generic 3-column feature grids <!-- feature-grid-3col -->
- Identical card grids, nested cards <!-- identical-cards --> <!-- nested-cards -->
- Center-everything layouts with no visual hierarchy <!-- centered-everything -->
- Kickers or icon tiles above headings <!-- kicker-above-heading --> <!-- icon-tile-stack -->
- Hero metric rows ("10k+ users") <!-- hero-metrics -->
- Decorative blobs, waves, or geometric patterns not in the mockup <!-- decorative-blobs -->
- Glowing edges or pulsing status dots <!-- dark-glow --> <!-- pulsing-dot -->
- Stock photo placeholder divs <!-- stock-photo-hero -->
- "Get Started" / "Learn More" generic CTAs not from the mockup <!-- generic-cta-copy -->
- Rounded-corner cards with drop shadows as the default component <!-- card-default-component -->
- Emoji as visual elements <!-- emoji-decoration -->
- Generic testimonial sections <!-- generic-testimonials -->
- Cookie-cutter hero sections with left-text right-image <!-- split-hero-template -->

Each `<!-- id -->` is the pattern's id in `lib/design-catalog.ts`; the design detector reports the same ids.

---

## Step 3.5: Live Reload Server

After writing the HTML file, start a simple HTTP server for live preview:

```bash
# Start a simple HTTP server in the output directory
_OUTPUT_DIR=$(dirname <path-to-finalized.html>)
cd "$_OUTPUT_DIR"
python3 -m http.server 0 --bind 127.0.0.1 &
_SERVER_PID=$!
_PORT=$(lsof -i -P -n | grep "$_SERVER_PID" | grep LISTEN | awk '{print $(9)}' | cut -d: -f2 | head -1)
echo "SERVER: http://localhost:$_PORT/finalized.html"
echo "PID: $_SERVER_PID"
```

Remember the printed `SERVER:` URL and `PID:` value; each bash block is a fresh
shell, so later blocks restate them literally.

If python3 is not available, fall back to:
```bash
open <path-to-finalized.html>
```

Tell the user: "Live preview running at <SERVER URL>.
After each edit, just refresh the browser (Cmd+R) to see changes."

When the refinement loop ends (Step 4 exits), kill the server:
```bash
kill <PID> 2>/dev/null || true
```

---

## Step 4: Preview + Refinement Loop

{{DESIGN_DETECTOR:gate}}

### Verification Screenshots

Take verification screenshots at 3 viewports. One `gstack-render` call serves
the HTML's directory on 127.0.0.1 (so relative assets resolve), opens the page
in the Aside browser when it is running — otherwise in gstack's own headless
browser (the first output line, `ENGINE=aside` or `ENGINE=browse`, says which)
— and captures each width:

```bash
bun run ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-render.ts <path-to-finalized.html> \
  --screenshot /tmp/gstack-verify-mobile.jpg --width 375 --jpeg \
  --screenshot /tmp/gstack-verify-tablet.jpg --width 768 --jpeg \
  --screenshot /tmp/gstack-verify-desktop.jpg --width 1440 --jpeg
```

Show all three screenshots inline using the Read tool. Check for:
- Text overflow (text cut off or extending beyond containers)
- Layout collapse (elements overlapping or missing)
- Responsive breakage (content not adapting to viewport)

If issues are found, note them and fix before presenting to the user.

Only if `gstack-render` prints `NEEDS_ASIDE` or `ASIDE_NOT_RUNNING` followed by
`ERROR: no browser available` (Aside is not open AND gstack's own browser is not
built), skip verification and note: "No browser available (open the Aside app,
or run ./setup in the gstack repo to build gstack's browser). Skipping automated
viewport verification." Never install either for the user.

### Refinement Loop

```
LOOP:
  1. If server is running, tell user to open http://localhost:PORT/finalized.html
     Otherwise: open <path>/finalized.html

  2. If an approved mockup PNG exists, show it inline (Read tool) for visual comparison.
     If in plan-driven or freeform mode, skip this step.

  3. AskUserQuestion (adjust wording based on mode):
     With mockup: "The HTML is live in your browser. Here's the approved mockup for comparison.
      Try: resize the window (text should reflow dynamically),
      click any text (it's editable, layout recomputes instantly).
      What needs to change? Say 'done' when satisfied."
     Without mockup: "The HTML is live in your browser. Try: resize the window
      (text should reflow dynamically), click any text (it's editable, layout
      recomputes instantly). What needs to change? Say 'done' when satisfied."

  4. If "done" / "ship it" / "looks good" / "perfect" → exit loop, go to Step 5

  5. Apply feedback using targeted Edit tool changes on the HTML file
     (do NOT regenerate the entire file — surgical edits only)

  6. Briefly say what changed

  7. If verification screenshots are available, re-take them to confirm the fix

  8. Go to LOOP
```

Maximum 10 iterations. If the user hasn't said "done" after 10, use AskUserQuestion:
"We've done 10 rounds of refinement. Want to continue iterating or call it done?"

---

## Step 5: Save & Next Steps

### Design Token Extraction

If no `DESIGN.md` exists in the repo root, offer to create one from the generated HTML:

Extract from the HTML:
- CSS custom properties (colors, spacing, font sizes)
- Font families and weights used
- Color palette (primary, secondary, accent, neutral)
- Spacing scale
- Border radius values
- Shadow values

Use AskUserQuestion:
> No DESIGN.md found. I can extract the design tokens from the HTML we just built
> and create a DESIGN.md for your project. This means future /design-shotgun and
> /design-html runs will be style-consistent automatically.
> A) Create DESIGN.md from these tokens
> B) Skip — I'll handle the design system later

If A: write `DESIGN.md` in the open DESIGN.md format (/design-consultation Phase 6 template): extracted values in the front matter's five token groups, line 2 `# gstack: design-md-format=spec`, rationale in the canonical sections. An existing file keeps its persisted format choice; never offer a conversion here.

### Save Metadata

Write `finalized.json` alongside the HTML:
```json
{
  "source_mockup": "<approved variant PNG path or null>",
  "source_plan": "<CEO plan path or null>",
  "mode": "<approved-mockup|plan-driven|freeform|evolve>",
  "html_file": "<path to finalized.html or component file>",
  "pretext_tier": "<selected tier>",
  "framework": "<vanilla|react|svelte|vue>",
  "iterations": <number of refinement iterations>,
  "date": "<ISO 8601>",
  "screen": "<screen name>",
  "branch": "<current branch>"
}
```

### Next Steps

Use AskUserQuestion:
> Design finalized with Pretext-native layout. What's next?
> A) Copy to project — copy the HTML/component into your codebase
> B) Iterate more — keep refining
> C) Done — I'll use this as a reference

---

## Important Rules

- **Source of truth fidelity over code elegance.** When an approved mockup exists,
  pixel-match it. If that requires `width: 312px` instead of a CSS grid class, that's
  correct. When in plan-driven or freeform mode, the user's feedback during the
  refinement loop is the source of truth. Code cleanup happens later during
  component extraction.

- **Always use Pretext for text layout.** Even if the design looks simple, Pretext
  ensures correct height computation on resize. The overhead is 30KB. Every page benefits.

- **Surgical edits in the refinement loop.** Use the Edit tool to make targeted changes,
  not the Write tool to regenerate the entire file. The user may have made manual edits
  via contenteditable that should be preserved.

- **Real content only.** When a mockup exists, extract text from it. In plan-driven mode,
  use content from the plan. In freeform mode, generate realistic content based on the
  user's description. Never use "Lorem ipsum", "Your text here", or placeholder content.

- **One page per invocation.** For multi-page designs, run /design-html once per page.
  Each run produces one HTML file.