# r3f-best-practices

A skill with 70+ rules for writing, reviewing, and optimizing React Three Fiber code. It prevents costly re-renders and organizes work with the Poimandres stack.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1500 installs · ★ 64
- Author: three-agent-skills
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/emalorenzo/three-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/r3f-best-practices/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-01-28
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/r3f-best-practices

## What it does

This skill guides coding agents through React Three Fiber and the surrounding Poimandres ecosystem. It contains over 70 rules split across 12 categories, categorized by impact prefixes such as `perf-`, `frame-`, and `drei-`. Performance and frame animations sit at the highest priority level.

Unnecessary re-renders are the primary performance bottleneck in R3F scenes. The rules instruct the agent to mutate object properties directly via `useRef` inside `useFrame`, avoiding state dispatches on every frame. For state management, it enforces focused Zustand selectors so that store updates do not trigger redraws across the entire canvas.

The rule set triggers on tasks involving `@react-three/fiber`, `@react-three/drei`, `zustand`, `@react-three/postprocessing`, `@react-three/rapier`, or `leva`. Running these guidelines on projects that do not use this specific stack provides no value.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add emalorenzo/three-agent-skills --skill r3f-best-practices -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/r3f-best-practices/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/r3f-best-practices/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add emalorenzo/three-agent-skills --skill r3f-best-practices -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/r3f-best-practices/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add emalorenzo/three-agent-skills --skill r3f-best-practices -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/r3f-best-practices/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install emalorenzo/three-agent-skills r3f-best-practices
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/r3f-best-practices/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add emalorenzo/three-agent-skills --skill r3f-best-practices -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/emalorenzo/three-agent-skills --path skills/r3f-best-practices
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/r3f-best-practices/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add emalorenzo/three-agent-skills --skill r3f-best-practices -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/emalorenzo/three-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/r3f-best-practices/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- eliminate frame rate drops caused by calling setState inside useFrame
- isolate Zustand scene state changes using targeted selectors
- configure Drei asset loaders with Suspense and preloading
- integrate Rapier physics and post-processing without performance loss

## Example prompts
- Review this React Three Fiber scene for unnecessary re-renders and useFrame bugs.
- Refactor our Zustand store integration in this 3D component using r3f-best-practices.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 15c1a5150105e30a.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 15c1a5150105e30a
```text
---
name: r3f-best-practices
description: React Three Fiber (R3F) and Poimandres ecosystem best practices. Use when writing, reviewing, or optimizing R3F code. Triggers on tasks involving @react-three/fiber, @react-three/drei, zustand, @react-three/postprocessing, @react-three/rapier, or leva.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: three-agent-skills
  version: "1.1.0"
---

# React Three Fiber Best Practices

Comprehensive guide for React Three Fiber and the Poimandres ecosystem. Contains 70+ rules across 12 categories, prioritized by impact.

## Sources & Credits

> Additional tips from [100 Three.js Tips](https://www.utsubo.com/blog/threejs-best-practices-100-tips) by [Utsubo](https://www.utsubo.com)

## When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:
- Writing new R3F components
- Optimizing R3F performance (re-renders are the #1 issue)
- Using Drei helpers correctly
- Managing state with Zustand
- Implementing post-processing or physics

## Ecosystem Coverage

- **@react-three/fiber** - React renderer for Three.js
- **@react-three/drei** - Useful helpers and abstractions
- **@react-three/postprocessing** - Post-processing effects
- **@react-three/rapier** - Physics engine
- **zustand** - State management
- **leva** - Debug GUI

## Rule Categories by Priority

| Priority | Category | Impact | Prefix |
|----------|----------|--------|--------|
| 1 | Performance & Re-renders | CRITICAL | `perf-` |
| 2 | useFrame & Animation | CRITICAL | `frame-` |
| 3 | Component Patterns | HIGH | `component-` |
| 4 | Canvas & Setup | HIGH | `canvas-` |
| 5 | Drei Helpers | MEDIUM-HIGH | `drei-` |
| 6 | Loading & Suspense | MEDIUM-HIGH | `loading-` |
| 7 | State Management | MEDIUM | `state-` |
| 8 | Events & Interaction | MEDIUM | `events-` |
| 9 | Post-processing | MEDIUM | `postpro-` |
| 10 | Physics (Rapier) | LOW-MEDIUM | `physics-` |
| 11 | Leva (Debug GUI) | LOW | `leva-` |

## Quick Reference

### 1. Performance & Re-renders (CRITICAL)

- `perf-never-set-state-in-useframe` - NEVER call setState in useFrame
- `perf-isolate-state` - Isolate components that need React state
- `perf-zustand-selectors` - Use Zustand selectors, not entire store
- `perf-transient-subscriptions` - Use transient subscriptions for continuous values
- `perf-memo-components` - Memoize expensive components
- `perf-keys-for-lists` - Use stable keys for dynamic lists
- `perf-avoid-inline-objects` - Avoid creating objects/arrays in JSX
- `perf-dispose-auto` - Understand R3F auto-dispose behavior
- `perf-visibility-toggle` - Toggle visibility instead of remounting
- `perf-r3f-perf` - Use r3f-perf for performance monitoring

### 2. useFrame & Animation (CRITICAL)

- `frame-priority` - Use priority for execution order
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 15c1a5150105e30a

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 15c1a5150105e30a tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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