v0-dev — Codex skill: what it does, how to install

---
name: v0-dev
description: v0 by Vercel expert guidance. Use when discussing AI code generation, generating UI components from prompts, v0 CLI usage, v0 SDK/API integration, or integrating v0 into development workflows with GitHub and Vercel deployment.
metadata:
  priority: 5
  docs:
    - "https://v0.dev/docs"
    - "https://vercel.com/docs/v0"
  sitemap: "https://v0.dev/sitemap.xml"
  pathPatterns: []
  importPatterns:
    - '@v0/sdk'
    - 'v0'
  bashPatterns:
    - '\bnpx\s+v0\b'
    - '\bbunx\s+v0\b'
    - '\bv0\s+(generate|dev|chat)\b'
  promptSignals:
    phrases:
      - 'generate with v0'
      - 'v0 components'
      - 'use v0'
      - 'v0 generate'
    minScore: 6
---

# v0 by Vercel

You are an expert in v0 (v0.app) — Vercel's AI-powered development agent that generates production-ready code from natural language descriptions.

## Overview

v0 transforms prompts into working React/Next.js code. It supports 6M+ developers and 80K+ active teams globally. v0 operates as a universal coding agent with research, planning, debugging, and iteration capabilities.

## Core Capabilities

- **Natural language → code**: Describe what you want, get production React components
- **Visual input**: Upload Figma designs, screenshots, or sketches → code
- **Multi-framework**: Outputs React, Vue, Svelte, HTML, Markdown
- **Agentic intelligence**: Research, plan, debug, iterate autonomously
- **shadcn/ui + Tailwind CSS**: Default styling system
- **Full IDE**: Built-in VS Code editor, terminal, and git panel in the web UI

## CLI Usage

### Component Integration CLI (`v0` package)

Install and pull v0-generated components into your Next.js project:

```bash
# Initialize v0 in an existing Next.js project (one-time setup)
npx v0@latest init

# Add a specific v0-generated component by ID
npx v0@latest add <component-id>

# With pnpm
pnpm dlx v0@latest init
pnpm dlx v0@latest add <component-id>
```

`v0 init` installs required dependencies (`@radix-ui/react-icons`, `clsx`, `lucide-react`) and creates a `components.json` config file.

### "Add to Codebase" (Web UI → Local)

From the v0.dev web interface, click the "Add to Codebase" button (terminal icon) to generate a command:

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add "https://v0.dev/chat/b/<project_id>?token=<token>"
```

Run this in your project root to pull the entire generated project into your codebase.

### Typical Workflow

```bash
# 1. Scaffold a Next.js app
npx create-next-app@latest --typescript --tailwind --eslint

# 2. Initialize v0 integration
npx v0@latest init

# 3. Generate a component on v0.dev, get its ID
# 4. Add the component locally
npx v0@latest add a1B2c3d4

# 5. Import and use in your app
```

### Project Scaffolding CLI

```bash
# Create a new project from v0 templates
npx create-v0-sdk-app@latest my-v0-app

# Use the v0-clone template (full v0.dev replica with auth, DB, streaming)
npx create-v0-sdk-app@latest --template v0-clone
```

## v0 SDK (Programmatic API)

### Installation

```bash
npm install v0-sdk
```

### Authentication

```ts
import { v0 } from 'v0-sdk'
// Automatically reads from process.env.V0_API_KEY

// Or create a custom client:
import { createClient } from 'v0-sdk'
const v0 = createClient({ apiKey: process.env.CUSTOM_V0_KEY })
```

Get your API key at: https://v0.app/chat/settings/keys

### Create a Chat and Generate Code

```ts
import { v0 } from 'v0-sdk'

const chat = await v0.chats.create({
  message: 'Create a responsive navbar with dark mode toggle using Tailwind',
  system: 'You are an expert React developer',
})

console.log(`Open in browser: ${chat.webUrl}`)
```

### Full Project Workflow (Create → Chat → Deploy)

```ts
import { v0 } from 'v0-sdk'

// Create a project
const project = await v0.projects.create({ name: 'My App' })

// Initialize a chat with existing code
const chat = await v0.chats.init({
  type: 'files',
  files: [{ name: 'App.tsx', content: existingCode }],
  projectId: project.id,
})

// Send follow-up instructions
await v0.chats.sendMessage({
  chatId: chat.id,
  message: 'Add a sidebar with navigation links and a user avatar',
})

// Deploy when ready
const deployment = await v0.deployments.create({
  projectId: project.id,
  chatId: chat.id,
  versionId: chat.latestVersion.id,
})

console.log(`Live at: ${deployment.url}`)
```

### Download Generated Code

```ts
// Download files from a specific chat version
const files = await v0.chats.downloadVersion({
  chatId: chat.id,
  versionId: chat.latestVersion.id,
})
```

### SDK Method Reference

**Chats:**
- `v0.chats.create(params)` — Create a new chat
- `v0.chats.sendMessage(params)` — Send a message to an existing chat
- `v0.chats.getById(params)` — Retrieve a specific chat
- `v0.chats.update(params)` — Update chat properties
- `v0.chats.findVersions(params)` — List all versions of a chat
- `v0.chats.getVersion(params)` — Retrieve a specific version
- `v0.chats.updateVersion(params)` — Update files within a version
- `v0.chats.downloadVersion(params)` — Download files for a version
- `v0.chats.resume(params)` — Resume processing of a message

**Projects:**
- `v0.projects.create(params)` — Create a new project
- `v0.projects.getById(params)` — Retrieve a project
- `v0.projects.update(params)` — Update a project
- `v0.projects.find()` — List all projects
- `v0.projects.assign(params)` — Assign a chat to a project
- `v0.projects.getByChatId(params)` — Get project by chat ID
- `v0.projects.createEnvVars(params)` — Create env vars for a project

**Deployments:**
- `v0.deployments.create(params)` — Create deployment from a chat version
- `v0.deployments.getById(params)` — Get deployment details
- `v0.deployments.delete(params)` — Delete a deployment
- `v0.deployments.find(params)` — List deployments
- `v0.deployments.findLogs(params)` — Get deployment logs

## REST API

Base URL: `https://api.v0.dev/v1`
Auth: `Authorization: Bearer <V0_API_KEY>`

| Method | Endpoint | Description |
|--------|----------|-------------|
| `GET` | `/v1/projects` | List projects |
| `POST` | `/v1/projects` | Create project |
| `GET` | `/v1/projects/:id` | Get project |
| `PUT` | `/v1/projects/:id` | Update project |
| `DELETE` | `/v1/projects/:id` | Delete project |
| `POST` | `/v1/chats` | Create/initialize chat |
| `GET` | `/v1/chats/:id/messages` | Get messages |
| `POST` | `/v1/chats/:id/messages` | Send message |
| `POST` | `/v1/deployments` | Create deployment |

### Rate Limits

- API Requests: 10,000/day
- Chat Messages: 1,000/day
- Deployments: 100/day
- File Uploads: 1 GB/day
- Projects per account: 100

### Available Models

- `v0-1.5-md` — Everyday tasks and UI generation
- `v0-1.5-lg` — Advanced reasoning
- `v0-1.0-md` — Legacy model

## AI SDK Integration

### Using v0 as an AI Provider

```bash
npm i @ai-sdk/vercel
```

```ts
import { vercel } from '@ai-sdk/vercel'
import { generateText } from 'ai'

const { text } = await generateText({
  model: vercel('v0-1.5-md'),
  prompt: 'Create a login form with email and password fields',
})
```

### v0 AI Tools (Agent Integration)

Use v0's full capabilities as tools within an AI SDK agent:

```bash
npm install @v0-sdk/ai-tools ai
```

```ts
import { generateText } from 'ai'
import { openai } from '@ai-sdk/openai'
import { v0Tools } from '@v0-sdk/ai-tools'

const result = await generateText({
  model: openai('gpt-5.2'),
  prompt: 'Create a new React dashboard project with charts and a data table',
  tools: v0Tools({ apiKey: process.env.V0_API_KEY }),
})
```

For granular control, import specific tool sets:

```ts
import { createChatTools, createProjectTools, createDeploymentTools } from '@v0-sdk/ai-tools'
```

The `v0Tools` export includes 20+ tools: `createChat`, `sendMessage`, `getChat`, `updateChat`, `deleteChat`, `favoriteChat`, `forkChat`, `listChats`, `createProject`, `getProject`, `updateProject`, `listProjects`, `assignChatToProject`, `createEnvironmentVariables`, `createDeployment`, `getDeployment`, `deleteDeployment`, `listDeployments`, `getDeploymentLogs`.

## MCP Server

Connect v0 to any MCP-compatible IDE (Cursor, Codex, etc.):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "v0": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.v0.dev",
        "--header",
        "Authorization: Bearer ${V0_API_KEY}"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Exposes 4 tools: create chat, get chat info, find chats, send messages.

## GitHub Integration

### Setup

1. In the v0 chat sidebar → **Git** section → click **Connect**
2. Select GitHub account/org scope and repository name
3. Click **Create Repository** — links chat to a new private GitHub repo
4. A Vercel deployment is automatically created

### Branch Behavior (Automatic)

- Every chat creates a new branch (e.g., `v0/main-e7bad8e4`)
- Every prompt that changes code **automatically commits and pushes**
- You never work directly on `main`

### PR Workflow

1. Click the **Publish** button (shows PR icon when GitHub-connected)
2. Select **Open PR** — creates PR from `v0/main-abc123` → `main`
3. Review in the GitHub modal or on GitHub.com
4. Merge the PR → closes the chat permanently
5. Every PR gets a Preview Deployment; merging triggers Production Deployment

### Importing Existing Repos

1. In v0 prompt bar → click `+` → "Import from GitHub"
2. v0 reads your existing codebase and env vars from Vercel
3. Iterate with prompts; all changes committed to a new branch

## Prompt Engineering Tips

### 1. Be Specific About Design

```
Weak:  "Build a dashboard"
Strong: "Build a support ticket dashboard. Mobile-first, light theme, high
        contrast. Color code: red for urgent, yellow for medium, green for low.
        Show agent status badges. Maximum 2 columns on mobile."
```

### 2. Specify Your Tech Stack

```
"Build a real-time chat app using: Next.js 16 with App Router,
Socket.io for messaging, Vercel Postgres for storage,
NextAuth.js for authentication."
```

### 3. Define User Roles

```
"Create a team collaboration tool with admin, manager, and member
roles, task assignment, progress tracking, and file sharing."
```

### 4. Queue Multiple Prompts

You can queue up to 10 prompts while v0 is still generating:
1. "Create the base layout with navigation"
2. "Add authentication with NextAuth"
3. "Connect the database and add CRUD operations"
4. "Add a settings page with dark mode toggle"

### 5. Specify Error and Empty States

```
"Add comprehensive error handling for network failures, invalid
input, and empty states with helpful recovery suggestions."
```

### 6. Use Visual Selection for Precision

Click a specific element in the preview before typing to target exactly what you want to change. Eliminates ambiguity for multi-instance components.

### 7. Use Design Mode vs Prompts

- **Prompts**: Structural changes, adding features, wiring up logic
- **Design Mode** (click element → adjust): Colors, spacing, typography tweaks

### 8. v0's Default Output Stack

When no framework is specified, v0 generates:
- React with JSX + TypeScript
- Tailwind CSS
- shadcn/ui components
- Lucide React icons
- Complete, copy-paste-ready code (never partial stubs)

## Design Normalization for v0 Output

v0 is strongest when you specify both structure and aesthetic direction. For Vercel-stack projects, include guidance like: use shadcn/ui primitives, use Geist fonts, default to dark mode, use zinc/neutral tokens, avoid generic card grids. After importing v0 code, normalize it: replace ad-hoc controls with shadcn components, collapse repeated card grids into stronger patterns, align typography to Geist, remove mixed radii and decorative effects.

## Integration Patterns

### Pattern 1: Generate Components, Import Locally

Best for adding individual UI components to an existing app.

```bash
npx v0@latest init
npx v0@latest add <component-id>
```

Then import the component:

```tsx
import { DataTable } from '@/components/data-table'

export default function DashboardPage() {
  return <DataTable data={rows} columns={columns} />
}
```

### Pattern 2: GitHub Round-Trip

Best for iterating on a full feature branch with non-engineers.

1. Import repo into v0 from GitHub
2. Non-engineer iterates via prompts
3. v0 auto-commits each change to a feature branch
4. Engineer reviews the PR, merges

### Pattern 3: SDK Automation

Best for CI/CD pipelines or programmatic component generation.

```ts
import { v0 } from 'v0-sdk'

// Generate a component from a design spec
const chat = await v0.chats.create({
  message: `Create a pricing table component with these tiers:
    - Free: 0/mo, 1 project, community support
    - Pro: $20/mo, unlimited projects, priority support
    - Enterprise: Custom, SLA, dedicated support`,
})

// Wait for generation, then download
const files = await v0.chats.downloadVersion({
  chatId: chat.id,
  versionId: chat.latestVersion.id,
})
```

### Pattern 4: v0 as AI Agent Tool

Best for autonomous agents that need to generate and deploy UI.

```ts
import { Agent } from 'ai'
import { v0Tools } from '@v0-sdk/ai-tools'

const agent = new Agent({
  model: openai('gpt-5.2'),
  tools: {
    ...v0Tools({ apiKey: process.env.V0_API_KEY }),
    // ... other tools
  },
  system: 'You are a full-stack developer. Use v0 to generate UI components.',
})

const { text } = await agent.generateText({
  prompt: 'Create a dashboard for our analytics data and deploy it',
})
```

## Built-in Integrations

v0 has native support for these services in its sandbox:

- **Databases**: Neon (PostgreSQL), Supabase, Upstash Redis, Vercel Blob
- **AI**: OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, Grok, fal, Deep Infra (via Vercel AI Gateway)
- **Payments**: Stripe
- **External APIs**: Twilio, and others via the "Vars" panel

## Limitations

- Best for UI components and layouts (~20% of a full application)
- Backend, database, auth, and AI integration require separate implementation or explicit prompting
- Generated code may need manual fixes for complex business logic
- Enterprise-level scalability needs additional architecture review
- shadcn/ui is the primary component library; other libraries require explicit prompting

## Official Documentation

- [v0 App](https://v0.app)
- [v0 Documentation](https://v0.app/docs)
- [v0 API Overview](https://v0.app/docs/api/platform/overview)
- [v0 AI Tools](https://v0.app/docs/api/platform/packages/ai-tools)
- [v0 MCP Server](https://v0.app/docs/api/platform/adapters/mcp-server)
- [v0 GitHub Integration](https://v0.app/docs/github)
- [API Keys](https://v0.app/chat/settings/keys)
- [GitHub: v0 SDK](https://github.com/vercel/v0-sdk)