slint

description	Use when writing, editing, debugging, or reviewing `.slint` UI code, or wiring it to Rust/C++/JS/Python — the Slint language, layout, compile-time gotchas, interop, and the MCP server for runtime checks.
metadata	{"github-path":"skills/slint","github-ref":"refs/heads/master","github-repo":"https://github.com/slint-ui/ai-plugins","github-tree-sha":"f1fda1e72c62788cfb94c0a27104ddf408a4b523"}
name	slint

Slint Development Skill

For building, debugging, or reviewing apps that use Slint, a declarative GUI toolkit for desktop, embedded, mobile, and web.

Workflow

1. Find the project's Slint version first (Cargo.toml/Cargo.lock, package.json, pyproject.toml, or the CMake find_package/FetchContent line). This skill targets Slint ≥ 1.17 and its prose assumes the latest release; anything that needs a specific version is flagged inline as (1.17+), (1.18+), … When the project pins an older version, or for exact element/property/widget signatures, trust that version's docs over this file rather than guessing.
2. After editing: in an IDE with the Slint extension, trust the post-edit diagnostics; in a terminal, slint-viewer --check ui/main.slint compiles one file and prints diagnostics, and slint-viewer --screenshot renders it (both (1.17+); debugging-and-mcp.md).
3. Never declare UI work done without looking at a render — a screenshot for appearance, the MCP server for interactions. Review against polish.md.
4. Share the render when the host supports it: inline the screenshot in chat apps, or print its absolute path and summarize the visual checks in CLI-only environments.
5. Offer to run slint-viewer --auto-reload ui/main.slint so the user watches changes live while you edit.

Most "won't compile" / "won't fill" / "padding ignored" questions are answered in gotchas.md and language-and-layout.md.

Reference Files

Skim the matching file before building in that area, not only when stuck.

File	Read when…
setup.md	Starting a project / wiring the build (Rust/C++/Node/Python).
language-and-layout.md	Writing components; an element won't size/fill as expected.
gotchas.md	A file won't compile, or colors/units/math/enums behave oddly.
events-and-overlays.md	Clicks/keys/modifiers, or popovers/menus/context menus.
icons-and-theming.md	Icons, or light/dark theming.
interop.md	Connecting the UI to host-language logic (models, callbacks, globals).
polish.md	The UI works but looks rough; reviewing a rendered screenshot.
debugging-and-mcp.md	Runtime debugging, headless/CI rendering, screenshots, the MCP server.
tools-install.md	Installing slint-lsp (language server) or slint-viewer (preview / screenshots).

.slint in 30 seconds

Declarative and reactive: a property binding re-evaluates automatically when anything it reads changes.

import { Button, VerticalBox } from "std-widgets.slint";

component Counter inherits Rectangle {     // root element decides fill behavior
    in property <string> label;            // parent/host writes
    out property <int> count;              // component writes
    callback changed(int);                 // notify the outside world

    VerticalBox {
        Text { text: "\{root.label}: \{root.count}"; }   // interpolation
        Button { text: "+"; clicked => { root.count += 1; root.changed(root.count); } }
    }
}

Property directions: in / out / in-out / private. Two-way bind: a <=> b. Control flow: if cond : E {}, for it[i] in model : E {}. Shared state & host interop: export global Foo { ... }. One-time code: init => { ... }.

Documentation

Latest: https://slint.dev/docs. Pin a version with https://releases.slint.dev/<version>/docs (e.g. …/1.15.1/docs). Every docs page also serves its markdown source (1.17+) — replace the URL's trailing slash with .md (…/reference/colors-and-brushes/ → …/reference/colors-and-brushes.md). Prefer it when fetching: it is about 10× smaller than the HTML. It is raw MDX, so skip the import lines, and a few pages (mostly tutorials) pull code snippets from external files that won't appear inline. The skill files cover what agents commonly get wrong; the docs are the authority on element, property, and widget signatures.