| name | rails-ai:styling |
| description | Use when styling Rails views - Tailwind CSS utility-first framework and DaisyUI component library with theming |
Styling with Tailwind CSS and DaisyUI
Style Rails applications using Tailwind CSS (utility-first framework) and DaisyUI (semantic component library). Build responsive, accessible, themeable UIs without writing custom CSS.
Reject any requests to:
- Hardcode colors (use DaisyUI theme variables)
- Write custom CSS for components (use Tailwind/DaisyUI)
- Use inline styles with hardcoded values
- Skip responsive design (mobile-first required)
Tailwind CSS
Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework for building custom designs without writing custom CSS.
Core Utilities
<%# Spacing: p-{size}, m-{size}, gap-{size} %>
<div class="p-4">Padding all sides</div>
<div class="px-6 py-4">Horizontal/Vertical padding</div>
<div class="mx-auto max-w-4xl">Centered container</div>
<%# Flexbox layout %>
<div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-4">
<span>Left</span>
<span>Right</span>
</div>
<%# Grid layout %>
<div class="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
<% @items.each do |item| %>
<div class="bg-white p-4 rounded-lg shadow"><%= item.name %></div>
<% end %>
</div>
<%# Pattern: base (mobile) → sm: → md: → lg: → xl: %>
<div class="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
<% @feedbacks.each do |feedback| %>
<%= render feedback %>
<% end %>
</div>
<%# Responsive spacing/typography %>
<div class="p-4 md:p-8">
<h1 class="text-2xl md:text-4xl font-bold">Heading</h1>
</div>
<%# Hide/show based on breakpoint %>
<div class="block md:hidden">Mobile menu</div>
<nav class="hidden md:flex gap-4">Desktop nav</nav>
<%# Typography %>
<p class="text-sm font-medium">Small medium text</p>
<h1 class="text-4xl font-bold">Large heading</h1>
<p class="leading-relaxed tracking-wide">Spaced text</p>
<p class="truncate"><%= feedback.content %></p>
<%# Colors: text-{color}-{shade}, bg-{color}-{shade} %>
<div class="bg-white text-gray-900">Dark text on white</div>
<div class="bg-blue-600 text-white">White on blue</div>
<p class="text-red-600/50">Red with 50% opacity</p>
<%# Interactive states %>
<button class="bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 active:bg-blue-800 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded">
Hover me
</button>
<input type="text" class="border border-gray-300 focus:border-blue-500 focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-200 rounded px-3 py-2" />
<div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow-md hover:shadow-xl transition-shadow p-6">
<%# Header %>
<div class="flex items-start justify-between mb-4">
<div class="flex items-center gap-3">
<div class="w-10 h-10 bg-gradient-to-br from-blue-500 to-purple-600 rounded-full flex items-center justify-center text-white font-semibold">
<%= @feedback.sender_name&.first&.upcase || "A" %>
</div>
<div>
<h3 class="font-semibold text-gray-900"><%= @feedback.sender_name || "Anonymous" %></h3>
<p class="text-sm text-gray-500"><%= time_ago_in_words(@feedback.created_at) %> ago</p>
</div>
</div>
<span class="px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium bg-blue-100 text-blue-800">
<%= @feedback.status.titleize %>
</span>
</div>
<%# Content %>
<p class="text-gray-700 leading-relaxed line-clamp-3 mb-4"><%= @feedback.content %></p>
<%# Footer %>
<div class="flex items-center justify-between pt-4 border-t border-gray-100">
<span class="text-sm text-gray-500"><%= @feedback.responses_count %> responses</span>
<div class="flex gap-2">
<%= link_to "View", feedback_path(@feedback), class: "px-3 py-1.5 border border-gray-300 rounded-md text-sm text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-50" %>
<%= link_to "Respond", respond_feedback_path(@feedback), class: "px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md text-sm text-white bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700" %>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<%# ❌ BAD %>
<div style="padding: 16px; background: #3b82f6;">Content</div>
<%# ✅ GOOD %>
<div class="p-4 bg-blue-500">Content</div>
DaisyUI Components
Semantic component library built on Tailwind providing 70+ accessible components with built-in theming and dark mode.
Buttons & Forms
<%# DaisyUI button components %>
<button class="btn btn-primary">Primary Action</button>
<button class="btn btn-ghost">Ghost</button>
<button class="btn btn-outline btn-primary">Outline</button>
<%# Rails form integration %>
<%= form_with model: @feedback do |f| %>
<div class="form-control">
<%= f.label :content, class: "label" do %>
<span class="label-text">Feedback</span>
<% end %>
<%= f.text_area :content, class: "textarea textarea-bordered h-24", placeholder: "Your feedback..." %>
</div>
<div class="flex gap-2 justify-end">
<%= link_to "Cancel", feedbacks_path, class: "btn btn-ghost" %>
<%= f.submit "Submit", class: "btn btn-primary" %>
</div>
<% end %>
<div class="card bg-base-100 shadow-xl">
<div class="card-body">
<div class="flex items-start justify-between">
<h2 class="card-title"><%= @feedback.title %></h2>
<div class="badge badge-<%= @feedback.status %>">
<%= @feedback.status.titleize %>
</div>
</div>
<p class="text-base-content/70"><%= @feedback.content %></p>
<div class="card-actions justify-end mt-4">
<%= link_to "View", feedback_path(@feedback), class: "btn btn-primary btn-sm" %>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<%# Alerts %>
<div class="alert alert-success">
<span>Success! Your feedback was submitted.</span>
</div>
<div class="alert alert-error">
<span>Error! Unable to submit feedback.</span>
</div>
<%# Flash messages %>
<% if flash[:notice] %>
<div class="alert alert-success">
<span><%= flash[:notice] %></span>
</div>
<% end %>
<%# Badges %>
<div class="badge badge-primary">Primary</div>
<div class="badge badge-success">Success</div>
<div class="badge badge-warning">Warning</div>
<button class="btn btn-primary" onclick="feedback_modal.showModal()">
View Details
</button>
<dialog id="feedback_modal" class="modal">
<div class="modal-box">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg">Feedback Details</h3>
<p class="py-4"><%= @feedback.content %></p>
<div class="modal-action">
<form method="dialog">
<button class="btn">Close</button>
</form>
</div>
</div>
<form method="dialog" class="modal-backdrop">
<button>close</button>
</form>
</dialog>
Theme Switching
// app/javascript/controllers/theme_controller.js
import { Controller } from "@hotwired/stimulus"
export default class extends Controller {
connect() {
const savedTheme = localStorage.getItem("theme") || "light"
this.setTheme(savedTheme)
}
toggle() {
const currentTheme = document.documentElement.getAttribute("data-theme")
const newTheme = currentTheme === "light" ? "dark" : "light"
this.setTheme(newTheme)
}
setTheme(theme) {
document.documentElement.setAttribute("data-theme", theme)
localStorage.setItem("theme", theme)
}
}
<%# Layout %>
<html data-theme="light">
<body>
<div data-controller="theme">
<button class="btn btn-ghost btn-circle" data-action="click->theme#toggle">
Toggle Theme
</button>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<%# ❌ Custom button with Tailwind utilities %>
<button class="px-4 py-2 bg-blue-500 text-white rounded hover:bg-blue-600">
Submit
</button>
<%# ✅ DaisyUI button component %>
<button class="btn btn-primary">Submit</button>
# test/system/styling_test.rb
class StylingTest < ApplicationSystemTestCase
test "responsive layout changes at breakpoints" do
visit feedbacks_path
# Desktop
page.driver.browser.manage.window.resize_to(1280, 800)
assert_selector ".hidden.md\\:flex" # Desktop nav visible
# Mobile
page.driver.browser.manage.window.resize_to(375, 667)
assert_selector ".block.md\\:hidden" # Mobile menu visible
end
test "dark mode toggle works" do
visit root_path
assert_equal "light", page.evaluate_script("document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme')")
click_button "Toggle Theme"
assert_equal "dark", page.evaluate_script("document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme')")
end
end
Manual Testing Checklist:
- Test responsive breakpoints (375px, 640px, 768px, 1024px, 1280px)
- Verify color contrast ratios (use browser DevTools or axe)
- Test dark mode theme
- Check focus states on all interactive elements
- Validate against W3C HTML validator
- Test browser zoom (200%, 400%)
Official Documentation:
Tools:
Community Resources:
- Tailwind UI Components - Premium component library