Introduction to Style Dictionary

What is Style Dictionary?

Style Dictionary is a build system that allows you to define and manage design tokens, which are the visual design elements of your brand and product. By using Style Dictionary, you can create a consistent design language across your applications.

Installation

To install Style Dictionary, you can use npm or yarn:

npm install style-dictionary --save-dev

yarn add style-dictionary --dev

Configuration

To configure Style Dictionary, create a configuration file, usually named config.json:

{
  "source": ["tokens/**/*.json"],
  "platforms": {
    "css": {
      "transformGroup": "css",
      "buildPath": "build/css/",
      "files": [{
        "destination": "tokens.css",
        "format": "css"
      }]
    }
  }
}

Creating Design Tokens

Design tokens are defined in JSON files. For instance, you can create a file color.json:

{
  "color": {
    "primary": {
      "value": "#007bff"
    },
    "secondary": {
      "value": "#6c757d"
    }
  }
}

Style Dictionary will then transform these into usable formats based on your configuration.

Best Practices

Keep tokens organized by categories (colors, typography, spacing).
Use meaningful names to ensure clarity and ease of use.
Regularly update tokens to reflect design changes.
Utilize version control for your token files.

FAQ

What are design tokens?

Design tokens are a way to store design decisions, such as colors, typography, spacing, and other design properties, in a format that can be easily shared across platforms.

Why should I use Style Dictionary?

Style Dictionary streamlines the process of managing design tokens, making it easier to maintain consistency across different platforms and reduce redundancy in design specifications.

Can I integrate Style Dictionary with other tools?

Yes, Style Dictionary can be easily integrated with build systems and design tools, allowing for automatic updates to design tokens in your projects.

Flowchart

graph TD;
            A[Start] --> B[Define Design Tokens];
            B --> C{Is JSON format?};
            C -- Yes --> D[Configure Style Dictionary];
            C -- No --> E[Convert to JSON];
            E --> D;
            D --> F[Build Tokens];
            F --> G[Use Tokens in Project];
            G --> H[End];