Agent skill · design visual · jeremylongshore
figma-architecture-variants
Choose between Figma integration architectures: CLI script, webhook
Why this skill is useful
Provides specific architectural patterns and executable scripts for integrating with Figma that the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
Requires node installed locally. About 4k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 2,604 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Figma Architecture Variants Overview Three proven architecture patterns for Figma integrations, based on the two primary Figma APIs: the REST API (external tools) and the Plugin API (in-editor experiences). Prerequisites Clear use case requirements Understanding of Figma REST API vs Plugin API differences Instructions Step 1: Choose Your Architecture Architecture API Used Best For Hosting ------------- ---------- ---------- --------- CLI/Script REST API Design token sync, asset export None (runs locally or in CI) Webhook Service REST API Real-time automation, Slack bots Server/serverless Figma Plugin Plugin API In-editor tools, design linting Runs in Figma desktop app Variant A: CLI Script (Simplest) Use case: Extract design tokens, export icons, sync to code Pros: Zero infrastructure, runs in CI, easy to debug Cons: Not real-time, manual trigger, no webhook support --- Variant B: Webhook Service (Event-Driven) Use case: Auto-sync on file save, Slack notifications, build triggers Pros: Real-time, event-driven, no polling waste Cons: Requires hosting, HTTPS endpoint, webhook management --- Variant C: Figma Plugin (In-Editor) Use case: Design linting, component generation, data population Pros: Direct document access, instant feedback, rich UI Cons: Only works in Figma desktop, no server-side processing, sandboxed Step 2: Decision Matrix Factor CLI Script Webhook Service Figma Plugin -------- ----------- ----------------- -------------- Real-time No Yes Yes (in-editor) Infrastructure None Server/serverless None CI/CD integration Natural Via webhook Not applicable User interaction No No Yes API used REST API REST API Plugin API File modification No (read-only) No (read-only) Yes (full access) Figma app required No No Yes Auth PAT PAT + webhook passcode None (runs in Figma) Step 3: Hybrid Architecture Many production systems combine variants: Output Architecture variant selected based on use case Data flow documented API choice justified (REST vs Plugin) Implementation …
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@skills jeremylongshore/figma-architecture-variants--0ff723