variant

Builds multiple UI variants of one component behind a URL-driven picker for comparison.

Updated Aug 22, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/falentio/cimi --skill variant-falentio
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: variant
Source: https://github.com/falentio/cimi/tree/main/.agents/skills/variant
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/falentio/cimi --skill variant-falentio

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Choosing a UI direction from a single mockup teaches nothing, and comparing variants that differ only in color wastes the review. This Skill builds three genuinely different versions of one UI piece, each taking a distinct position on a chosen design axis, and hosts them behind a picker on the real page so you can flip between them and decide. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Axis-based variant generation: Picks one primary axis (structure, density, emphasis, type, or voice) and gives each of three variants a distinct position on it, so differences are attributable. - URL-driven picker: Hosts variants on the real page with a ?variant= search param, keyboard navigation, and a deliberately neutral floating control specified in picker.md. - Accessibility floor and promotion workflow: Every variant must clear accessibility escalation triggers before entering the picker, and the chosen variant is promoted into production code while the harness is deleted. - Use Case: You are redesigning a metric card on a dashboard. The Skill builds Quiet, Editorial, and Dense versions with realistic data on the actual page, presents a tradeoff table, and lets you pick one to promote. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to build three variants of the metric card component so you can compare different layout directions and pick one.

Frequently Asked Questions about variant

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I compare multiple UI design variants of one component?

Build three variants that each take a different position on one design axis, such as structure or density, and host them on the real page behind a picker. Select variants with a URL search param like ?variant=quiet so each version is a shareable link.

How many UI variants should I generate for a design decision?

Default to three variants per run. Go to five only when asked or when the design space is genuinely wide, since past five people stop comparing and start scrolling.

Why should UI variants differ on only one design axis?

Varying every axis at once produces unattributable results where you learn which variant you liked but not what made it work. Pick one primary axis such as structure, density, emphasis, type, or voice, and let secondary choices follow from it.

Can I judge UI variants in isolation or with placeholder content?

No. Variants must render on the page that will actually contain the piece, with real chrome, neighbours, and realistic data. Lorem ipsum and three rows make every structure look good, and isolation hides spacing problems.

What accessibility requirements apply to design variants?

Every variant must clear the same accessibility floor before entering the picker: accessible names on controls, full keyboard reach, visible focus, no clipping at 320px, and no meaning carried by color alone. A direction that only works by breaking the floor is dropped.

What happens after I pick a winning UI variant?

The chosen variant is rebuilt properly where it belongs following the project's own conventions, and the other variants plus the picker harness are deleted. Until promotion, the harness never imports from production and production never imports from the harness.