This skill provides patterns for Tamagui v1.x that go beyond fundamentals. It focuses on Config v4, compiler optimization, compound components, and common mistakes.
Mandatory Context Loading
When working with these components, read the corresponding pattern file BEFORE writing code:
Component Type Required Reading Cross-Skills
Dialog, Sheet, modal overlays @DIALOG_PATTERNS.md
Form, Input, Label, validation @FORM_PATTERNS.md typescript-best-practices (zod)
Animations, transitions @ANIMATION_PATTERNS.md
Popover, Tooltip, Select @OVERLAY_PATTERNS.md
Compiler optimization @COMPILER_PATTERNS.md
Design tokens, theming @DESIGN_SYSTEM.md
Config v4 Quick Start
Use @tamagui/config/v4 for simplified setup:
// tamagui.config.ts import { defaultConfig } from '@tamagui/config/v4' import { createTamagui } from 'tamagui'
export const config = createTamagui(defaultConfig)
type CustomConfig = typeof config
declare module 'tamagui' { interface TamaguiCustomConfig extends CustomConfig {} }
Recommended setting for new projects (aligns flexBasis to React Native):
export const config = createTamagui({ ...defaultConfig, settings: { ...defaultConfig.settings, styleCompat: 'react-native', }, })
createThemes Pattern
For custom themes, use createThemes with palette/accent/childrenThemes:
import { createThemes, defaultComponentThemes } from '@tamagui/config/v4'
const generatedThemes = createThemes({ componentThemes: defaultComponentThemes, base: { palette: { dark: ['#050505', '#151515', / ...12 colors / '#fff'], light: ['#fff', '#f8f8f8', / ...12 colors / '#000'], }, extra: { light: { ...Colors.blue, shadowColor: 'rgba(0,0,0,0.04)' }, dark: { ...Colors.blueDark, shadowColor: 'rgba(0,0,0,0.2)' }, }, }, accent: { palette: { dark: lightPalette, light: darkPalette }, // inverted }, childrenThemes: { blue: { palette: { dark: Object.values(Colors.blueDark), light: Object.values(Colors.blue) } }, red: { / ... / }, green: { / ... / }, }, })
Token and Theme Syntax
$ Prefix Rules
Props: Use $ prefix for token references:
Special spread operators map token categories to variant values:
const Button = styled(View, { variants: { size: { // Maps size tokens: $1, $2, $true, etc. '...size': (size, { tokens }) => ({ height: tokens.size[size] ?? size, borderRadius: tokens.radius[size] ?? size, gap: tokens.space[size]?.val * 0.2, }), }, textSize: { // Maps fontSize tokens '...fontSize': (name, { font }) => ({ fontSize: font?.size[name], }), }, } as const, })
Important: Use as const on variants object until TypeScript supports inferred const generics.
Compound Components with createStyledContext
For compound APIs like :
import { SizeTokens, View, Text, createStyledContext, styled, withStaticProperties, } from '@tamagui/core'
// 1. Create context with shared variant types export const ButtonContext = createStyledContext<{ size: SizeTokens }>({ size: '$medium', })
// 2. Create frame with context export const ButtonFrame = styled(View, { name: 'Button', context: ButtonContext, variants: { size: { '...size': (name, { tokens }) => ({ height: tokens.size[name], borderRadius: tokens.radius[name], gap: tokens.space[name].val * 0.2, }), }, } as const, defaultVariants: { size: '$medium', }, })
// 3. Create text with same context (variants auto-sync) export const ButtonText = styled(Text, { name: 'ButtonText', context: ButtonContext, variants: { size: { '...fontSize': (name, { font }) => ({ fontSize: font?.size[name], }), }, } as const, })
// 4. Compose with withStaticProperties export const Button = withStaticProperties(ButtonFrame, { Props: ButtonContext.Provider, Text: ButtonText, })
Usage:
// Or override defaults from above:
Note: context pattern does not work with compiler flattening. Use for higher-level components (Button, Card), not primitives (Stack, Text).
styleable() for Wrapper Components
When wrapping a styled component in a functional component, use .styleable() to preserve variant inheritance:
const StyledText = styled(Text)
// WITHOUT styleable - BROKEN variant inheritance
const BrokenWrapper = (props) =>
// WITH styleable - CORRECT
const CorrectWrapper = StyledText.styleable((props, ref) => (
// Now this works: const StyledCorrectWrapper = styled(CorrectWrapper, { variants: { bold: { true: { fontWeight: 'bold' } }, }, })
Adding Extra Props
Pass generic type argument for additional props:
type ExtraProps = { icon?: React.ReactNode }
const IconText = StyledText.styleable
accept Prop for Custom Components
Enable token/theme resolution on non-standard props:
// For SVG fill/stroke that should accept theme colors const StyledSVG = styled(SVG, {}, { accept: { fill: 'color', stroke: 'color' } as const, })
// Usage:
// For style objects (like ScrollView's contentContainerStyle) const MyScrollView = styled(ScrollView, {}, { accept: { contentContainerStyle: 'style' } as const, })
// Usage:
Important: Use as const on the accept object.
Prop Order Matters
In styled(), prop order determines override priority:
// backgroundColor can be overridden by props
const Overridable = (props) => (
// Variant order matters too:
Anti-Patterns
Dynamic Styles Break Optimization
// BAD - breaks compiler optimization
// GOOD - use variants
const Box = styled(View, {
variants: {
dark: { true: { backgroundColor: '$gray1' }, false: { backgroundColor: '$gray12' } },
},
})
Inline Functions
// BAD - new function every render
// GOOD - stable reference
const handlePressCallback = useCallback(() => handlePress(id), [id])
Wrong Import Paths // These are different packages with different contents: import { View } from 'tamagui' // Full UI kit import { View } from '@tamagui/core' // Core only (smaller) import { Button } from '@tamagui/button' // Individual component
// Pick one approach and be consistent
Mixing RN StyleSheet with Tamagui
// BAD - StyleSheet values don't resolve tokens
const styles = StyleSheet.create({ box: { padding: 20 } })
// GOOD - all Tamagui
Platform.OS Branching for Dialog/Sheet
// BAD - manual platform branching
if (Platform.OS === 'web') {
return
}
return
// GOOD - use Adapt (see @DIALOG_PATTERNS.md)
Fetching Current Documentation
For latest API details, fetch markdown docs directly:
Core docs
curl -sL "https://tamagui.dev/docs/core/configuration.md" curl -sL "https://tamagui.dev/docs/core/styled.md" curl -sL "https://tamagui.dev/docs/core/variants.md" curl -sL "https://tamagui.dev/docs/core/animations.md"
Component docs
curl -sL "https://tamagui.dev/ui/sheet.md" curl -sL "https://tamagui.dev/ui/dialog.md" curl -sL "https://tamagui.dev/ui/select.md"
Full docs index
curl -sL "https://tamagui.dev/llms.txt"
For HTML pages, use the web-fetch skill with appropriate selectors.
Quick Reference Config v4 Shorthands (Tailwind-aligned) Shorthand Property bg backgroundColor p padding m margin w width h height br borderRadius Media Query Breakpoints Token Default Server Default $xs 660px true $sm 800px false $md 1020px false $lg 1280px false $xl 1420px false Animation Drivers Driver Platform Use Case css Web Default, best performance react-native-reanimated Native Required for native animations Additional Pattern Files @DIALOG_PATTERNS.md - Dialog, Sheet, Adapt, accessibility @FORM_PATTERNS.md - Form, Input, Label, validation with zod @ANIMATION_PATTERNS.md - Animation drivers, enterStyle/exitStyle @OVERLAY_PATTERNS.md - Popover, Tooltip, Select @COMPILER_PATTERNS.md - Compiler optimization details @DESIGN_SYSTEM.md - Design tokens and theming