# tailwind-best-practices

Tailwind CSS v3.4+ and v4 conventions for AI coding agents. It guides responsive mobile-first layouts, dark mode, and migrations to version 4.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 941 installs · ★ 95
- Author: agent-skills
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/AsyrafHussin/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tailwind-best-practices/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-08-27
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/tailwind-best-practices

## What it does

The skill contains 29 rules. First, the assistant checks `package.json` to detect the Tailwind version. It references `tailwind.config.js` for version 3. For version 4, it switches directly to CSS-first styling.

The guidelines prioritize mobile-first responsive layouts and class-based dark mode. Another section covers conditional class merging with `clsx` and `twMerge`. For v4, the skill supplies patterns for `@utility` directives and renamed classes.

In Tailwind v4, adding a `tailwind.config.js` causes silent configuration failures because v4 relies entirely on in-CSS `@theme {}` blocks.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

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

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

### Codex

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

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

### Cursor

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

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install AsyrafHussin/agent-skills tailwind-best-practices
```

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

### Gemini CLI

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

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

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add AsyrafHussin/agent-skills --skill tailwind-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/AsyrafHussin/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tailwind-best-practices/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- migrate project styles from Tailwind v3 to v4
- structure responsive layouts using mobile-first breakpoints
- implement dark mode switching with CSS classes
- build variant-based UI components using `cn` helper

## Example prompts
- Help me migrate this project from Tailwind v3 to v4
- Style a responsive navbar with dark mode support in Tailwind
- Create a button component with primary and secondary variants using cn

## 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: fe258e2db3c137fa.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE fe258e2db3c137fa
````text
---
name: tailwind-best-practices
description: Tailwind CSS patterns and conventions. Use when writing responsive designs, implementing dark mode, creating reusable component styles, configuring Tailwind, or migrating from v3 to v4. Triggers on tasks involving Tailwind classes, responsive design, dark mode, CSS styling, or "migrate to Tailwind v4".
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: agent-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tailwindVersion: "3.4+ / 4.0+"
---

# Tailwind CSS Best Practices

Comprehensive patterns for building consistent, maintainable interfaces with Tailwind CSS v3.4+ and v4. Contains 29 rules covering responsive design, dark mode, component patterns, configuration, and v4 migration.

## Metadata

- **Version:** 1.0.0
- **Framework:** Tailwind CSS v3.4+ / v4.0+
- **Rule Count:** 29 rules across 8 categories
- **License:** MIT
- **Documentation:** [tailwindcss.com/docs](https://tailwindcss.com/docs)

## Step 1: Detect Tailwind Version

**Always check the version before giving any advice.** v3 and v4 are fundamentally different.

Check `package.json` for the installed version:
```json
{ "tailwindcss": "^3.x" }  // → v3 rules apply
{ "tailwindcss": "^4.x" }  // → v4 rules apply
```

Also check for these signals:

| Signal | Version |
|--------|---------|
| `tailwind.config.js` exists | v3 |
| `@import "tailwindcss"` in CSS | v4 |
| `@tailwindcss/vite` in dependencies | v4 |
| `@tailwindcss/postcss` in dependencies | v4 |
| `@theme {}` block in CSS | v4 |

**If v3**: Apply `resp-`, `dark-`, `comp-`, `config-` rules. Note that v4 is available.
**If v4**: Apply `v4-` rules. `tailwind.config.js` patterns do NOT apply — use `@theme {}` instead.
**If migrating v3 → v4**: Follow `v4-migration` rules directly.

## When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:
- Writing responsive layouts
- Implementing dark mode
- Creating reusable component styles
- Configuring Tailwind (v3 or v4)
- Migrating a project from v3 to v4
- Setting up a new project with v4

## Rule Categories by Priority

| Priority | Category | Impact | Prefix | Version |
|----------|----------|--------|--------|---------|
| 1 | Responsive Design | CRITICAL | `resp-` | v3 / v4 |
| 2 | Dark Mode | CRITICAL | `dark-` | v3 / v4 |
| 3 | Component Patterns | HIGH | `comp-` | v3 / v4 |
| 4 | Custom Configuration | HIGH | `config-` | v3 |
| 5 | V4 & Migration | HIGH | `v4-` | v4 only |
| 6 | Spacing & Typography | MEDIUM | `space-` | v3 / v4 |
| 7 | Animation | MEDIUM | `anim-` | v3 / v4 |
| 8 | Performance | LOW | `perf-` | v3 / v4 |

## Quick Reference

### 1. Responsive Design (CRITICAL)

- `resp-mobile-first` - Mobile-first approach
- `resp-breakpoints` - Use breakpoints correctly
- `resp-container` - Container patterns
- `resp-grid-flex` - Grid vs Flexbox decisions
- `resp-hidden-shown` - Conditional display

### 2. Dark Mode (CRITICAL)

- `dark-setup` - Configure dark mode
- `dark-classes` - Apply dark mode classes
- `dark-toggle` - Implement dark mode toggle
- `dark-system-preference` - Respect system preference
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE fe258e2db3c137fa

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First 3034 of 11337 bytes. © agent-skills · MIT · https://github.com/AsyrafHussin/agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tailwind-best-practices/SKILL.md

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