| name | html-artifact |
| description | Create polished, human-readable single-file HTML artifacts from supplied content, plans, specs, reports, reviews, notes, datasets, or explanations. Use when the user asks to make an HTML file/artifact, convert dense information into readable HTML, visualize content, make a spec/report/plan/review easier to read, or produce an interactive throwaway HTML surface for understanding or editing information. This skill is for artifacts, not websites or landing pages. |
HTML Artifact
Create a finished HTML artifact that a human will read, scan, share, or interact with. Treat HTML as a visual thinking surface, not as a prettier Markdown renderer and not as a marketing website.
Before writing code, read references/visual-systems.md.
Core Workflow
- Identify the artifact's job: explain, compare, plan, review, report, map, prototype, edit, triage, or summarize.
- Infer the reader's goal: what should they understand, decide, inspect, or change after opening the file?
- Choose a visual system: tone, density, typography, palette, layout rhythm, diagram style, and interaction level. Commit to it boldly.
- Transform the content into the clearest visual structure. Use sections, grids, diagrams, tables, timelines, annotations, callouts, tabs, filters, code panes, or editors as appropriate.
- Write a complete, self-contained HTML file with inline CSS and JavaScript unless the user asks for a multi-file output.
- Preserve all decision-critical content. Remove filler, repetition, generic AI phrasing, and throat-clearing.
- Deliver the file path and a concise note about what the artifact contains.
Artifact Principles
- Design for a person reading once, not an agent parsing text.
- Start with the artifact's actual purpose, not a generic hero section.
- Make the artifact feel designed, not merely styled. Use strong typography, color, spatial composition, and visual devices with confidence.
- Prefer visual hierarchy over long prose: make the main point obvious within seconds.
- Use rich HTML affordances when they help: sticky summaries, side-by-side comparisons, annotated snippets, swimlanes, matrices, dependency maps, expandable details, copy buttons, toggles, and lightweight controls.
- Avoid box-first layout. Reach first for editorial composition, rails, timelines, bands, annotations, diagrams, tables, connected flows, and canvas-like spatial grouping.
- Make interactive controls real. If a button, tab, slider, filter, or copy action appears, it must work.
- Keep the artifact portable. Avoid build steps, frameworks, package installs, tracking scripts, and fragile external dependencies.
- Use semantic HTML where practical, responsive CSS, and readable contrast.
- If source content is long, keep it complete through structure: summaries, anchors, grouped sections, appendices, or progressive disclosure.
Output Rules
- Produce actual HTML code/files, not a description of what the HTML would contain.
- Do not leave placeholders, TODOs, ellipses, skipped sections, or "repeat for the rest" comments.
- Do not invent data, people, tickets, metrics, citations, or examples unless explicitly asked. If a visual needs sample data, label it clearly as sample.
- Do not ask the user to choose style options unless the missing choice would materially change the artifact. Make a tasteful default decision.
- Do not open or verify the artifact in a browser unless the user specifically asks.