shadcn CLI v4 + Skills
shadcn CLI v4 (March 2026), overhaul 'built for you and your coding agents'. Introduces `shadcn/skills`: a markdown skill any agent (Claude Code, ChatGPT, Cursor, Copilot) reads to understand components, registry workflows and CLI patterns. Activates as soon as a `components.json` is present. Also adds the Presets engine (compresses colors+theme+fonts+icons+radius into a shareable code cross-Claude/v0/Replit), namespaced registries, new `registry:base` type, and AI-friendly flags (`--dry-run`, `--diff`, `--view`, `shadcn info --json`).
Strengths
- `shadcn/skills` activated by default as soon as a `components.json` exists, zero setup for Claude/Cursor agents
- Presets engine: compresses brand + theme + fonts into shareable code (1 line) cross-tool (v0, Bolt, Lovable, Claude Code)
- Namespaced registries: mix-and-match components from multiple registries (Origin UI + Aceternity + your internal DS) in a single project
- `shadcn info --json` injects project config directly into agent context, no guessing on paths
Limitations
- v3→v4 migration effort if you have a custom setup, verify Presets don't break your existing overrides
- Skills written in markdown are not typed, possible drift with real components if not maintained
Best for
- shadcn-first team opening Claude Code to multiple developers and wanting to eliminate component drift
- Designer/PM wanting to bootstrap a brand-compliant project in 1 command (Presets) instead of copying 3 config files