Pick UI Library
Pick the right library for a given frontend task from a curated, opinionated list, ...
Install
npx skills add emilkowalski/skills --skill pick-ui-library -g -a claude-code -y- Repository
- emilkowalski/skills52.7k
- Category
- Design
- Updated
- 7d ago
- License
- MIT
- Context cost
- Lightabout 1,106 tokens
- Runs scripts
- No, instructions only
What it does
Pick the right library for a given frontend task from a curated, opinionated list, numbers, OTP inputs, charts, command menus, virtualization, drag and drop, toasts, state, styling, and more. Only runs when explicitly invoked; it does not trigger on its own.
Picking The Right Library
Initial Response
When this skill is first invoked without a specific question, respond only with:
I'm ready to pick the right library for your task, my picks come from Emil Kowalski's curated list.
Do not provide any other information until the user asks a question.
A lookup skill. When invoked with a task ("I need toasts", "what should I use for drag and drop?"), match the task to the curated list below and recommend the library. These are deliberate, taste-driven picks, don't substitute alternatives outside this list unless the user asks for one or the task genuinely isn't covered.
How to use this
- Identify the task, not the library the user named. "I need to show a dropdown" is a UI-primitives task (base-ui), even if they asked about something else.
- Check what's already installed. Look at
package.jsonfirst. If the project already uses a listed library, use it. If it uses a competitor (e.g. react-window instead of Virtuoso), flag the recommendation but don't churn the dependency without being asked. - Recommend one library, state what it's for in one sentence, and install/wire it up if that's part of the request. Don't present a menu of options when the list has a clear answer.
- If the task isn't covered by the list, say so explicitly and recommend from your own knowledge, but be clear you've left the curated list.
The list
UI components & primitives
| Task | Library |
|---|---|
| Unstyled, accessible UI components (dialogs, popovers, menus, selects…) | base-ui |
| Command menus (⌘K palettes) | cmdk |
| Toasts / notifications | Sonner |
| One-time password / verification code inputs | input-otp |
| Customizable GUIs / control panels | Leva, dialkit is an alternative |
