Figma Command-Line Tool: Building Design Systems with Code Efficiency

In modern product development workflows, collaboration between design and engineering teams has always been a challenge. With advancements in AI technology, we’re seeing innovative tools that bridge this gap. Today, I want to introduce figma-useCLI – a command-line interface for Figma that enables efficient design automation through code-based workflows. This tool is particularly valuable for teams integrating AI models into their design processes.

Why a Figma Command-Line Interface?

Before diving into figma-useCLI, let’s address a fundamental question: Why do we need a command-line interface for Figma? Traditional plugin APIs have limitations when working with AI models that need to generate complex design elements. Each API call involves data transfer overhead that accumulates with multiple operations.

figma-useCLI takes a different approach by utilizing Figma’s internal multiplayer protocol, achieving approximately 100x faster performance than standard plugin APIs. This efficiency makes it particularly well-suited for AI integration, providing a streamlined interface for generative models.

JSX Over JSON: Lowering the AI Integration Barrier

One of figma-useCLI’s standout features is its support for JSX syntax. Why choose JSX instead of traditional JSON configurations?

The answer lies in AI training data. Language models have been trained on millions of React components, making them naturally familiar with JSX syntax. Consider this example:

<Frame style={{ flexDirection: 'column', gap: 16, padding: 24 }}>
  <Text style={{ fontSize: 24, fontWeight: 'bold' }}>Title</Text>
  <Text style={{ fontSize: 14, color: '#666' }}>Description text</Text>
</Frame>

This syntax is not only intuitive but also highly efficient. The documentation shows that creating a frame using CLI commands requires 47 tokens, compared to approximately 200 tokens for equivalent JSON requests. For AI agents performing dozens of Figma operations, this efficiency becomes significant.

Installation & Setup: Getting Started

To begin using figma-useCLI, follow these installation steps:

Global Installation

Install the tool globally using the bun package manager:

bun install -g @dannote/figma-use

Plugin Installation

Install the companion Figma plugin (exit Figma before installation):

figma-use plugin install

Starting the Proxy Server

The CLI tool requires a proxy server to communicate with Figma:

Terminal 1: Start Figma with debugging port

figma --remote-debugging-port=9222

Terminal 2: Launch the proxy server

figma-use proxy

After setup, access the tool in Figma through “Plugins → Development → Figma UseRender: JSX → Figma (Experimental)”.

Note: This tool uses Figma’s internal multiplayer protocol, which provides 100x speed improvement but may require updates when Figma changes its internal protocol.

Basic Usage: From Simple Operations

figma-useCLI offers two primary usage patterns: direct commands and JSX rendering.

Direct Command Operations

For simple tasks, use command-line arguments:

# Create a frame with specific properties
figma-use create frame --width 400 --height 300 --fill "#FFF" --radius 12 --layout VERTICAL --gap 16

# Render JSX from standard input
echo '<Frame style={{width: 200, height: 100, backgroundColor: "#FF0000"}} />' | figma-use render --stdin

# Render from a file
figma-use render ./Card.figma.tsx

# Render with parameters
figma-use render ./Card.figma.tsx --props '{"title": "Hello"}'

JSX Rendering: Creating Complex Layouts

JSX rendering is the core of figma-useCLI, enabling React-like syntax for design systems. Supported elements include:

Frame (Framework)
Rectangle
Ellipse
Text
Line
Star
Polygon
Vector
Group

Each element supports rich styling properties:

<Frame style={{
  flexDirection: 'column',
  justifyContent: 'center',
  alignItems: 'stretch',
  gap: 16,
  padding: 24,
  width: 400,
  height: 300,
  backgroundColor: '#3B82F6',
  borderRadius: 12,
  opacity: 0.9
}}>
  <Text style={{
    fontSize: 24,
    fontFamily: 'Inter',
    fontWeight: 'bold',
    color: '#FFF',
    textAlign: 'center'
  }}>
    Welcome to Figma
  </Text>
</Frame>

Advanced Features: Design System Building Blocks

Reusable Components

figma-useCLI allows creating reusable Figma components similar to React patterns:

import { defineComponent, Frame, Text } from '@dannote/figma-use/render'

const Card = defineComponent('Card', 
  <Frame style={{ 
    padding: 24, 
    backgroundColor: '#FFF', 
    borderRadius: 12 
  }}>
    <Text style={{ fontSize: 18, color: '#000' }}>
      Card content
    </Text>
  </Frame>
)

export default () => (
  <Frame style={{ gap: 16, flexDirection: 'row' }}>
    <Card /> {/* Creates main component */}
    <Card /> {/* Creates instance */}
    <Card /> {/* Creates instance */}
  </Frame>
)

Component Variants

Create component sets with variants – a core feature of advanced design systems:

import { defineComponentSet, Frame, Text } from '@dannote/figma-use/render'

const Button = defineComponentSet('Button', {
  variant: ['Primary', 'Secondary'] as const,
  size: ['Small', 'Large'] as const,
}, ({ variant, size }) => (
  <Frame style={{ 
    padding: size === 'Large' ? 16 : 8,
    backgroundColor: variant === 'Primary' ? '#3B82F6' : '#E5E7EB',
    borderRadius: 8,
  }}>
    <Text style={{ 
      color: variant === 'Primary' ? '#FFF' : '#111' 
    }}>
      {variant} {size}
    </Text>
  </Frame>
))

export default () => (
  <Frame style={{ gap: 16, flexDirection: 'column' }}>
    <Button variant="Primary" size="Large" />
    <Button variant="Secondary" size="Small" />
  </Frame>
)

Variable Binding

Modern design systems rely on design variables for consistency:

import { defineVars, Frame, Text } from '@dannote/figma-use/render'

const colors = defineVars({
  bg: { name: 'Colors/Gray/50', value: '#F8FAFC' },
  text: { name: 'Colors/Gray/900', value: '#0F172A' },
})

export default () => (
  <Frame style={{ backgroundColor: colors.bg }}>
    <Text style={{ color: colors.text }}>Bound to variables</Text>
  </Frame>
)

Command Reference: Flexible Operations

figma-useCLI provides comprehensive command-line operations covering Figma’s full functionality:

Creation Commands

# Create frames
figma-use create frame --width 400 --height 300 --fill "#FFF" --radius 12 --layout VERTICAL --gap 16

# Create rectangles
figma-use create rect --width 100 --height 50 --fill "#FF0000" --radius 8

# Create text elements
figma-use create text --text "Hello" --fontSize 24 --fill "#000"

Modification Commands

# Set fill colors
figma-use set fill <id> "#FF0000"

# Set text content
figma-use set text <id> "New text"

# Set layout properties
figma-use set layout <id> --mode VERTICAL --gap 12 --padding 16

Query Commands

# Get node properties
figma-use node get <id>

# Tree view of pages
figma-use node tree

# Search by name
figma-use find --name "Button"

Vector Path Operations

# Create vectors
figma-use create vector --x 0 --y 0 --path "M 0 0 L 100 50 L 0 100 Z" --fill "#F00"

# Path manipulation
figma-use path move <id> --dx 10 --dy -5

Export Features

# Export nodes
figma-use export node <id> --output design.png

# Export screenshots
figma-use export screenshot --output viewport.png

Advanced Feature: Diff Comparison

Experimental diff functionality compares two frames and generates unified difference patches:

# Create diff
figma-use diff create --from 123:456 --to 789:012

# Apply patches
figma-use diff apply patch.diff

AI Agent Integration

figma-useCLI works exceptionally well with AI agents. The project provides a SKILL.md reference document for AI agents like Claude Code:

# For Claude Code setup
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/figma-use
cp node_modules/@dannote/figma-use/SKILL.md ~/.claude/skills/figma-use/

MCP Server Support

For clients supporting MCP (Multi-Code Protocol), the proxy server exposes an endpoint at http://localhost:38451/mcp with 80+ auto-generated tools.

How It Works

figma-useCLI’s architecture balances functionality and performance:

┌─────────────┐   ┌─────────────┐   ┌─────────────┐
│   AI Agent  │──▶│ figma-use   │──▶│   Plugin    │
│             │   │ CLI Proxy   │   │ WebSocket   │
└─────────────┘   └──────┬──────┘   └─────────────┘
                         ▼          ┌─────────────┐
                       ┌─────────────┐   │  Figma  │
                       │             │   │  Server │
                       └─────────────┘   └─────────────┘

Frequently Asked Questions

How does figma-useCLI differ from standard Figma plugins?

figma-useCLI is a command-line tool that interacts with Figma through a proxy server. Compared to standard plugins, it offers superior efficiency and AI compatibility by using Figma’s internal multiplayer protocol, achieving about 100x speed improvement over standard plugin APIs.

Why is JSX better suited for AI models?

Language models trained on React code naturally understand JSX syntax. JSX provides a more intuitive way to express design structures while reducing token usage. For instance, creating a styled frame with JSX might require 47 tokens versus 200 tokens for equivalent JSON. This difference becomes significant for AI agents generating designs with multiple operations.

How to handle Figma protocol changes?

figma-useCLI uses Figma’s internal multiplayer protocol for optimal performance, which comes with certain risks. The development team actively monitors Figma updates and provides fixes promptly. For production environments, understanding traditional plugin API methods as alternatives is recommended.

Can this tool be used in team environments?

Yes, figma-useCLI works well in team settings. It supports all Figma collaboration features including variables, component libraries, and styles. Team members can share JSX component definitions to ensure design consistency. The generated designs are fully compatible with standard Figma features.

How does this tool help build design systems?

figma-useCLI helps establish and maintain design systems through:

Component Definition: Create reusable master components with defineComponent
Component Variants: Create multi-dimensional variant sets with defineComponentSet
Variable Binding: Link properties to Figma variables
Version Control: Track design changes with diff functionality
Code-based Design: Represent designs as code for version control

How to handle complex vector graphics?

figma-useCLI provides comprehensive vector path operations:

Create vectors: figma-use create vector --path "M 0 0 L 100 100 Z"
Read paths: figma-use path get <id>
Modify paths: figma-use path set <id> "new path data"

Does it support design asset export?

Yes, figma-useCLI supports multiple export options:

Export specific nodes: figma-use export node <id> --output file.png
Export viewport screenshots: figma-use export screenshot --output viewport.png

How to integrate with existing design workflows?

figma-useCLI complements rather than replaces existing workflows:

Design Exploration: Use AI for initial design concepts
Component Creation: Define reusable UI elements
Design System Maintenance: Ensure consistency through code
Automated Tasks: Batch create or modify elements
Design Review: Add comments and annotations via CLI

Future Outlook: Code and Design Convergence

figma-useCLI represents an evolution in design tools by tightly integrating code with visual design. Through its efficient CLI interface and JSX support, it lowers barriers for design automation, enabling AI to participate more effectively in the design process.

This tool won’t replace designers but will enhance their capabilities by handling repetitive tasks, allowing designers to focus on creativity and user experience. As technology progresses, we’ll likely see more tools emerge that further blur the lines between code and design.

For teams looking to improve design system consistency and development efficiency, figma-useCLI offers a compelling option. Its command-line nature makes it easy to integrate into existing workflows and automation systems, while the JSX syntax opens doors for AI-assisted design.

Whether you’re a designer, developer, or product manager, understanding these emerging tools’ capabilities and limitations will help you stay competitive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. The evolution of design tools not only changes how we work but also redefines the possibilities of the creative process itself.

Figma Command-Line Tool: How to Build Design Systems 100x Faster with AI