brand.yml Skill

Create and use _brand.yml files for consistent branding across Shiny applications and Quarto documents.

What is brand.yml?

brand.yml is a YAML-based format that translates brand guidelines into a machine-readable file usable across Shiny and Quarto. A single _brand.yml file defines:

• Colors - Palette and semantic colors (primary, success, warning, etc.)
• Typography - Fonts, sizes, weights, line heights
• Logos - Multiple sizes and light/dark variants
• Meta - Company name, links, identity information

File Naming Convention

• Standard name: _brand.yml (auto-discovered by Shiny and Quarto)
• Custom names: Any name like company-brand.yml (requires explicit paths)
• Location: Typically at project root, or in _brand/ or brand/ subdirectories

Decision Tree

Determine the user's goal and follow the appropriate workflow:

1. Creating a new _brand.yml file? → Follow "Creating brand.yml Files"
2. Using brand.yml in Shiny for R? → Read references/shiny-r.md
3. Using brand.yml in Shiny for Python? → Read references/shiny-python.md
4. Using brand.yml in Quarto? → Read references/quarto.md
5. Using brand.yml in R (general)? → Read references/brand-yml-in-r.md (R Markdown, theming functions, programmatic access)
6. Modifying existing _brand.yml? → Follow "Modifying Existing Files"
7. Troubleshooting integration? → Follow "Troubleshooting"

Creating brand.yml Files

When creating _brand.yml files from brand guidelines:

Step 1: Gather Information

Collect brand information:

• Colors: Primary, secondary, accent colors with hex values
• Fonts: Font families and where they're sourced (Google Fonts, local files, etc.)
• Logos: Logo file paths or URLs for different sizes
• Company info: Name, website, social links (optional)

Step 2: Read the Specification