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Installation

Installation

How to install dependencies and structure your app.

New Project

Run the following command to create a new Next.js project using the next-template template:

npx create-next-app -e https://github.com/shadcn/next-template
npx create-next-app -e https://github.com/shadcn/next-template

This creates a new Next.js 13 project with the following features:

create-next-app

If you have created a project using create-next-app, you can use the shadcn-ui CLI to initialize the project.

Create a new project

npx create-next-app my-app
npx create-next-app my-app

Run the CLI

npx shadcn-ui init
npx shadcn-ui init

This will install dependencies, setup Tailwind CSS, and configure the cn utils for you.

Manual Installation

Add dependencies

Add the following dependencies to your project:

npm install tailwindcss-animate class-variance-authority clsx tailwind-merge lucide-react
npm install tailwindcss-animate class-variance-authority clsx tailwind-merge lucide-react

Path Aliases

I use the @ alias to make it easier to import components. This is how I configure it in tsconfig.json:

tsconfig.json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "baseUrl": ".",
    "paths": {
      "@/*": ["./*"]
    }
  }
}
tsconfig.json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "baseUrl": ".",
    "paths": {
      "@/*": ["./*"]
    }
  }
}

If you use a different alias such as ~, you'll need to update import statements when adding components.

Configure tailwind.config.js

Here's what my tailwind.config.js file looks like:

tailwind.config.js
const { fontFamily } = require("tailwindcss/defaultTheme")
 
/** @type {import('tailwindcss').Config} */
module.exports = {
  darkMode: ["class"],
  content: ["app/**/*.{ts,tsx}", "components/**/*.{ts,tsx}"],
  theme: {
    container: {
      center: true,
      padding: "2rem",
      screens: {
        "2xl": "1400px",
      },
    },
    extend: {
      colors: {
        border: "hsl(var(--border))",
        input: "hsl(var(--input))",
        ring: "hsl(var(--ring))",
        background: "hsl(var(--background))",
        foreground: "hsl(var(--foreground))",
        primary: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--primary))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--primary-foreground))",
        },
        secondary: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--secondary))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--secondary-foreground))",
        },
        destructive: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--destructive))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--destructive-foreground))",
        },
        muted: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--muted))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--muted-foreground))",
        },
        accent: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--accent))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--accent-foreground))",
        },
        popover: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--popover))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--popover-foreground))",
        },
        card: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--card))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--card-foreground))",
        },
      },
      borderRadius: {
        lg: `var(--radius)`,
        md: `calc(var(--radius) - 2px)`,
        sm: "calc(var(--radius) - 4px)",
      },
      fontFamily: {
        sans: ["var(--font-sans)", ...fontFamily.sans],
      },
      keyframes: {
        "accordion-down": {
          from: { height: 0 },
          to: { height: "var(--radix-accordion-content-height)" },
        },
        "accordion-up": {
          from: { height: "var(--radix-accordion-content-height)" },
          to: { height: 0 },
        },
      },
      animation: {
        "accordion-down": "accordion-down 0.2s ease-out",
        "accordion-up": "accordion-up 0.2s ease-out",
      },
    },
  },
  plugins: [require("tailwindcss-animate")],
}
tailwind.config.js
const { fontFamily } = require("tailwindcss/defaultTheme")
 
/** @type {import('tailwindcss').Config} */
module.exports = {
  darkMode: ["class"],
  content: ["app/**/*.{ts,tsx}", "components/**/*.{ts,tsx}"],
  theme: {
    container: {
      center: true,
      padding: "2rem",
      screens: {
        "2xl": "1400px",
      },
    },
    extend: {
      colors: {
        border: "hsl(var(--border))",
        input: "hsl(var(--input))",
        ring: "hsl(var(--ring))",
        background: "hsl(var(--background))",
        foreground: "hsl(var(--foreground))",
        primary: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--primary))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--primary-foreground))",
        },
        secondary: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--secondary))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--secondary-foreground))",
        },
        destructive: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--destructive))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--destructive-foreground))",
        },
        muted: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--muted))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--muted-foreground))",
        },
        accent: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--accent))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--accent-foreground))",
        },
        popover: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--popover))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--popover-foreground))",
        },
        card: {
          DEFAULT: "hsl(var(--card))",
          foreground: "hsl(var(--card-foreground))",
        },
      },
      borderRadius: {
        lg: `var(--radius)`,
        md: `calc(var(--radius) - 2px)`,
        sm: "calc(var(--radius) - 4px)",
      },
      fontFamily: {
        sans: ["var(--font-sans)", ...fontFamily.sans],
      },
      keyframes: {
        "accordion-down": {
          from: { height: 0 },
          to: { height: "var(--radix-accordion-content-height)" },
        },
        "accordion-up": {
          from: { height: "var(--radix-accordion-content-height)" },
          to: { height: 0 },
        },
      },
      animation: {
        "accordion-down": "accordion-down 0.2s ease-out",
        "accordion-up": "accordion-up 0.2s ease-out",
      },
    },
  },
  plugins: [require("tailwindcss-animate")],
}

Configure styles

Add the following to your styles/globals.css file. You can learn more about using CSS variables for theming in the theming section.

styles/globals.css
@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;
 
@layer base {
  :root {
    --background: 0 0% 100%;
    --foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --muted: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --muted-foreground: 215.4 16.3% 46.9%;
 
    --popover: 0 0% 100%;
    --popover-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --card: 0 0% 100%;
    --card-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --border: 214.3 31.8% 91.4%;
    --input: 214.3 31.8% 91.4%;
 
    --primary: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
    --primary-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --secondary: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --secondary-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --accent: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --accent-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --destructive: 0 100% 50%;
    --destructive-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --ring: 215 20.2% 65.1%;
 
    --radius: 0.5rem;
  }
 
  .dark {
    --background: 224 71% 4%;
    --foreground: 213 31% 91%;
 
    --muted: 223 47% 11%;
    --muted-foreground: 215.4 16.3% 56.9%;
 
    --popover: 224 71% 4%;
    --popover-foreground: 215 20.2% 65.1%;
 
    --card: 224 71% 4%;
    --card-foreground: 213 31% 91%;
 
    --border: 216 34% 17%;
    --input: 216 34% 17%;
 
    --primary: 210 40% 98%;
    --primary-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 1.2%;
 
    --secondary: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
    --secondary-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --accent: 216 34% 17%;
    --accent-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --destructive: 0 63% 31%;
    --destructive-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --ring: 216 34% 17%;
 
    --radius: 0.5rem;
  }
}
 
@layer base {
  * {
    @apply border-border;
  }
  body {
    @apply bg-background text-foreground;
    font-feature-settings: "rlig" 1, "calt" 1;
  }
}
styles/globals.css
@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;
 
@layer base {
  :root {
    --background: 0 0% 100%;
    --foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --muted: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --muted-foreground: 215.4 16.3% 46.9%;
 
    --popover: 0 0% 100%;
    --popover-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --card: 0 0% 100%;
    --card-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --border: 214.3 31.8% 91.4%;
    --input: 214.3 31.8% 91.4%;
 
    --primary: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
    --primary-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --secondary: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --secondary-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --accent: 210 40% 96.1%;
    --accent-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
 
    --destructive: 0 100% 50%;
    --destructive-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --ring: 215 20.2% 65.1%;
 
    --radius: 0.5rem;
  }
 
  .dark {
    --background: 224 71% 4%;
    --foreground: 213 31% 91%;
 
    --muted: 223 47% 11%;
    --muted-foreground: 215.4 16.3% 56.9%;
 
    --popover: 224 71% 4%;
    --popover-foreground: 215 20.2% 65.1%;
 
    --card: 224 71% 4%;
    --card-foreground: 213 31% 91%;
 
    --border: 216 34% 17%;
    --input: 216 34% 17%;
 
    --primary: 210 40% 98%;
    --primary-foreground: 222.2 47.4% 1.2%;
 
    --secondary: 222.2 47.4% 11.2%;
    --secondary-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --accent: 216 34% 17%;
    --accent-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --destructive: 0 63% 31%;
    --destructive-foreground: 210 40% 98%;
 
    --ring: 216 34% 17%;
 
    --radius: 0.5rem;
  }
}
 
@layer base {
  * {
    @apply border-border;
  }
  body {
    @apply bg-background text-foreground;
    font-feature-settings: "rlig" 1, "calt" 1;
  }
}

Add a cn helper

I use a cn helper to make it easier to conditionally add Tailwind CSS classes. Here's how I define it in lib/utils.ts:

lib/utils.ts
import { clsx, type ClassValue } from "clsx"
import { twMerge } from "tailwind-merge"
 
export function cn(...inputs: ClassValue[]) {
  return twMerge(clsx(inputs))
}
lib/utils.ts
import { clsx, type ClassValue } from "clsx"
import { twMerge } from "tailwind-merge"
 
export function cn(...inputs: ClassValue[]) {
  return twMerge(clsx(inputs))
}

Icons

I use icons from Lucide. You can use any icon library.

App structure

Here's how I structure my app. I use Next.js, but this is not required.

.
├── app
│   ├── layout.tsx
│   └── page.tsx
├── components
│   ├── ui
│   │   ├── alert-dialog.tsx
│   │   ├── button.tsx
│   │   ├── dropdown-menu.tsx
│   │   └── ...
│   ├── main-nav.tsx
│   ├── page-header.tsx
│   └── ...
├── lib
│   └── utils.ts
├── styles
│   └── globals.css
├── next.config.js
├── package.json
├── postcss.config.js
├── tailwind.config.js
└── tsconfig.json
.
├── app
│   ├── layout.tsx
│   └── page.tsx
├── components
│   ├── ui
│   │   ├── alert-dialog.tsx
│   │   ├── button.tsx
│   │   ├── dropdown-menu.tsx
│   │   └── ...
│   ├── main-nav.tsx
│   ├── page-header.tsx
│   └── ...
├── lib
│   └── utils.ts
├── styles
│   └── globals.css
├── next.config.js
├── package.json
├── postcss.config.js
├── tailwind.config.js
└── tsconfig.json
  • I place the UI components in the components/ui folder.
  • The rest of the components such as <PageHeader /> and <MainNav /> are placed in the components folder.
  • The lib folder contains all the utility functions. I have a utils.ts where I define the cn helper.
  • The styles folder contains the global CSS.

That's it. You can now start adding components to your project.

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