/design, Design Manifest Generator

When to Use

• At the start of a new project (generate starter manifest from preferences)
• On an existing project that has no manifest (extract patterns from existing code)
• When visual inconsistency is noticed ("why do we have 4 different button styles?")
• When /do routes "design", "style guide", "visual consistency", "design manifest"

Protocol

Step 1: DETECT MODE

Check for existing styles: look for tailwind.config.*, global CSS files, or component files with style patterns. If any exist, use Extract Mode. If none exist or the user says "new project", use Generate Mode.

Step 2: GATHER INPUT

Extract Mode: Read style sources (tailwind config, global CSS, component files). Present findings to user and confirm before writing.

Generate Mode: Ask up to 4 questions about feel, color mode, brand colors, and layout density. Use sensible defaults for anything not specified.

Step 3: WRITE MANIFEST

Write to .planning/design-manifest.md using the template defined below. Every section must have real values, no placeholders.

Step 4: CONFIRM

Present a summary of the manifest to the user: "Here's your design manifest. It will be used by the post-edit hook to flag deviations. Anything to change?"

Modes

Extract Mode (existing project has styles)

1. Read tailwind.config.*, extract colors, spacing, fonts, breakpoints
2. Read global CSS files, extract CSS variables, base styles
3. Scan 5-10 component files, values used 3+ times become the palette, scale, type scale, shape language, and elevation scale; note component patterns (card, button, input)
4. Present findings: "Here's what I found. Does this look right?"
5. Write manifest after user confirms

Generate Mode (new project or no existing styles)