design-check

name	design-check
description	Quick design quality scan of changed frontend files. Checks for hardcoded colors (when design system exists), missing interactive states, and AI slop indicators. Code-only — does not use Lightpanda. Advisory only — never blocks. Invisible when no frontend files in diff.
version	1.0.0
modes	["build"]

Design Check (Light Mode)

Quick scan within quality-gates. Catches common design quality issues in changed frontend files. Code-only — does not require a browser.

Availability Check

FIRST: Check if the diff contains frontend files: .html, .css, .scss, .less, .jsx, .tsx, .vue, .svelte, .astro

If NO frontend files in diff:

• Return immediately
• No output, no warning, INVISIBLE

Design System Detection

Scan in order (stop at first match):

1. Design system skill in sage/skills/ or .claude/skills/
2. DESIGN.md or design-system.md in project root or .sage/docs/
3. CSS custom properties pattern (--color-*, --spacing-*, --font-*)

If found → enable token compliance checks. If not found → skip token checks, still run general quality checks.

Detection is automatic and INVISIBLE — do not announce whether a design system was found. Just use it (or don't) silently.

What It Checks (15 seconds max)

1. Hardcoded colors (when design system detected)

Scan changed files for raw hex colors (#fff, #333, rgb(), hsl()) that should be design system token references.

Finding: note — "N hardcoded colors in [file] (consider using tokens)"

2. Missing interactive states

Search changed component files for:

• :hover styles on interactive elements (buttons, links, cards)
• :focus or :focus-visible on focusable elements
• disabled attribute handling with visual distinction
• Loading/empty/error state handling in components

Finding: note — "[file] has no :focus style on [element]"

3. AI slop indicators

In new or heavily modified components, check for:

• Purple-to-blue gradient hero sections
• 3-column icon grids with uniform card styling
• Uniform large border-radius on every element
• Centered text on every section
• Decorative background shapes with no function
• Excessive shadow/elevation on flat content

Each indicator: warning (awareness, not judgment)

Report

If findings exist:

✓ Design check: PASS ({N} notes)
  - Note: {finding 1}
  - Note: {finding 2}
  - Warning: {AI slop indicator}

If clean:

✓ Design check: PASS

If no frontend files:

No output. Invisible.

Enforcement

• Advisory ONLY — never blocks the build
• Findings are notes and warnings, never issues
• Do NOT fabricate findings — if you didn't read the file, don't claim
• Do NOT invent a design system — if none detected, skip token checks
• Do NOT auto-fix design decisions — report only
• AI slop indicators are WARNINGS, not issues. Count, don't grade.