# json-render

**The Generative UI framework.**

Generate dynamic, personalized UIs from prompts without sacrificing reliability. Predefined components and actions for safe, predictable output.

```bash
# for React
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/react
# for React with pre-built shadcn/ui components
npm install @json-render/shadcn
# or for React Native
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/react-native
# or for video
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/remotion
# or for PDF documents
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/react-pdf
# or for HTML email
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/react-email @react-email/components @react-email/render
# or for Vue
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/vue
# or for Svelte
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/svelte
# or for SolidJS
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/solid
# or for terminal UIs
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/ink ink react
# or for full Next.js apps (routes, layouts, SSR, metadata)
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/react @json-render/next
# or for 3D scenes (and gaussian splatting via the GaussianSplat component)
npm install @json-render/core @json-render/react-three-fiber @react-three/fiber @react-three/drei three
```

## Why json-render?

json-render is a **Generative UI** framework: AI generates interfaces from natural language prompts, constrained to components you define. You set the guardrails, AI generates within them:

- **Guardrailed** - AI can only use components in your catalog
- **Predictable** - JSON output matches your schema, every time
- **Fast** - Stream and render progressively as the model responds
- **Cross-Platform** - React, Vue, Svelte, Solid (web), React Native (mobile) from the same catalog
- **Batteries Included** - 36 pre-built shadcn/ui components ready to use

## Quick Start

### 1. Define Your Catalog

```typescript
import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";
import { schema } from "@json-render/react/schema";
import { z } from "zod";

const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: {
    Card: {
      props: z.object({ title: z.string() }),
      description: "A card container",
    },
    Metric: {
      props: z.object({
        label: z.string(),
        value: z.string(),
        format: z.enum(["currency", "percent", "number"]).nullable(),
      }),
      description: "Display a metric value",
    },
    Button: {
      props: z.object({
        label: z.string(),
        action: z.string(),
      }),
      description: "Clickable button",
    },
  },
  actions: {
    export_report: { description: "Export dashboard to PDF" },
    refresh_data: { description: "Refresh all metrics" },
  },
});
```

### 2. Define Your Components

```tsx
import { defineRegistry, Renderer } from "@json-render/react";

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, {
  components: {
    Card: ({ props, children }) => (
      <div className="card">
        <h3>{props.title}</h3>
        {children}
      </div>
    ),
    Metric: ({ props }) => (
      <div className="metric">
        <span>{props.label}</span>
        <span>{format(props.value, props.format)}</span>
      </div>
    ),
    Button: ({ props, emit }) => (
      <button onClick={() => emit("press")}>{props.label}</button>
    ),
  },
});
```

### 3. Render AI-Generated Specs

```tsx
function Dashboard({ spec }) {
  return <Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />;
}
```

**That's it.** AI generates JSON, you render it safely.

---

## Packages

| Package                     | Description                                                            |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `@json-render/core`         | Schemas, catalogs, AI prompts, dynamic props, SpecStream utilities     |
| `@json-render/react`        | React renderer, contexts, hooks                                        |
| `@json-render/vue`          | Vue 3 renderer, composables, providers                                 |
| `@json-render/svelte`       | Svelte 5 renderer with runes-based reactivity                          |
| `@json-render/solid`        | SolidJS renderer with fine-grained reactive contexts                   |
| `@json-render/shadcn`       | 36 pre-built shadcn/ui components (Radix UI + Tailwind CSS)            |
| `@json-render/shadcn-svelte`| 36 pre-built shadcn-svelte components (Svelte 5 + Tailwind CSS)        |
| `@json-render/react-three-fiber` | React Three Fiber renderer for 3D scenes (20 built-in components, including GaussianSplat)  |
| `@json-render/react-native` | React Native renderer with standard mobile components                  |
| `@json-render/next`         | Next.js renderer — JSON becomes full apps with routes, layouts, SSR    |
| `@json-render/remotion`     | Remotion video renderer, timeline schema                               |
| `@json-render/react-pdf`    | React PDF renderer for generating PDF documents from specs             |
| `@json-render/react-email`  | React Email renderer for HTML/plain-text emails from specs             |
| `@json-render/ink`          | Ink terminal renderer with built-in components for interactive TUIs.   |
| `@json-render/image`        | Image renderer for SVG/PNG output (OG images, social cards) via Satori |
| `@json-render/directives`   | Pre-built custom directives — $format, $math, $concat, $count, $truncate, $pluralize, $join, $t (i18n) |
| `@json-render/codegen`      | Utilities for generating code from json-render UI trees                |
| `@json-render/devtools`     | Framework-agnostic devtools core — panel UI, event store, picker, stream taps |
| `@json-render/devtools-react`   | React adapter for `@json-render/devtools` (drop-in `<JsonRenderDevtools />`)     |
| `@json-render/devtools-vue`     | Vue adapter for `@json-render/devtools`                                           |
| `@json-render/devtools-svelte`  | Svelte adapter for `@json-render/devtools`                                        |
| `@json-render/devtools-solid`   | SolidJS adapter for `@json-render/devtools`                                       |
| `@json-render/redux`        | Redux / Redux Toolkit adapter for `StateStore`                         |
| `@json-render/zustand`      | Zustand adapter for `StateStore`                                       |
| `@json-render/jotai`        | Jotai adapter for `StateStore`                                         |
| `@json-render/xstate`       | XState Store (atom) adapter for `StateStore`                           |
| `@json-render/mcp`          | MCP Apps integration for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code              |
| `@json-render/yaml`         | YAML wire format with streaming parser, edit modes, AI SDK transform   |

## Renderers

### React (UI)

```tsx
import { defineRegistry, Renderer } from "@json-render/react";
import { schema } from "@json-render/react/schema";

// Flat spec format (root key + elements map)
const spec = {
  root: "card-1",
  elements: {
    "card-1": {
      type: "Card",
      props: { title: "Hello" },
      children: ["button-1"],
    },
    "button-1": {
      type: "Button",
      props: { label: "Click me" },
      children: [],
    },
  },
};

// defineRegistry creates a type-safe component registry
const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, { components });
<Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />;
```

### Vue (UI)

```typescript
import { h } from "vue";
import { defineRegistry, Renderer } from "@json-render/vue";
import { schema } from "@json-render/vue/schema";

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, {
  components: {
    Card: ({ props, children }) =>
      h("div", { class: "card" }, [h("h3", null, props.title), children]),
    Button: ({ props, emit }) =>
      h("button", { onClick: () => emit("press") }, props.label),
  },
});

// In your Vue component template:
// <Renderer :spec="spec" :registry="registry" />
```

### Svelte (UI)

```typescript
import { defineRegistry, Renderer } from "@json-render/svelte";
import { schema } from "@json-render/svelte/schema";

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, {
  components: {
    Card: ({ props, children }) => /* Svelte 5 snippet */,
    Button: ({ props, emit }) => /* Svelte 5 snippet */,
  },
});

// In your Svelte component:
// <Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />
```

### Solid (UI)

```tsx
import { defineRegistry, Renderer } from "@json-render/solid";
import { schema } from "@json-render/solid/schema";

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, {
  components: {
    Card: (renderProps) => <div>{renderProps.children}</div>,
    Button: (renderProps) => (
      <button onClick={() => renderProps.emit("press")}>
        {renderProps.element.props.label as string}
      </button>
    ),
  },
});

<Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />;
```

### shadcn/ui (Web)

```tsx
import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";
import { schema } from "@json-render/react/schema";
import { defineRegistry, Renderer } from "@json-render/react";
import { shadcnComponentDefinitions } from "@json-render/shadcn/catalog";
import { shadcnComponents } from "@json-render/shadcn";

// Pick components from the 36 standard definitions
const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: {
    Card: shadcnComponentDefinitions.Card,
    Stack: shadcnComponentDefinitions.Stack,
    Heading: shadcnComponentDefinitions.Heading,
    Button: shadcnComponentDefinitions.Button,
  },
  actions: {},
});

// Use matching implementations
const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, {
  components: {
    Card: shadcnComponents.Card,
    Stack: shadcnComponents.Stack,
    Heading: shadcnComponents.Heading,
    Button: shadcnComponents.Button,
  },
});

<Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />;
```

### React Native (Mobile)

```tsx
import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";
import { schema } from "@json-render/react-native/schema";
import {
  standardComponentDefinitions,
  standardActionDefinitions,
} from "@json-render/react-native/catalog";
import { defineRegistry, Renderer } from "@json-render/react-native";

// 25+ standard components included
const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: { ...standardComponentDefinitions },
  actions: standardActionDefinitions,
});

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, { components: {} });
<Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />;
```

### Remotion (Video)

```tsx
import { Player } from "@remotion/player";
import {
  Renderer,
  schema,
  standardComponentDefinitions,
} from "@json-render/remotion";

// Timeline spec format
const spec = {
  composition: {
    id: "video",
    fps: 30,
    width: 1920,
    height: 1080,
    durationInFrames: 300,
  },
  tracks: [{ id: "main", name: "Main", type: "video", enabled: true }],
  clips: [
    {
      id: "clip-1",
      trackId: "main",
      component: "TitleCard",
      props: { title: "Hello" },
      from: 0,
      durationInFrames: 90,
    },
  ],
  audio: { tracks: [] },
};

<Player
  component={Renderer}
  inputProps={{ spec }}
  durationInFrames={spec.composition.durationInFrames}
  fps={spec.composition.fps}
  compositionWidth={spec.composition.width}
  compositionHeight={spec.composition.height}
/>;
```

### React PDF (Documents)

```typescript
import { renderToBuffer } from "@json-render/react-pdf";

const spec = {
  root: "doc",
  elements: {
    doc: {
      type: "Document",
      props: { title: "Invoice" },
      children: ["page-1"],
    },
    "page-1": {
      type: "Page",
      props: { size: "A4" },
      children: ["heading-1", "table-1"],
    },
    "heading-1": {
      type: "Heading",
      props: { text: "Invoice #1234", level: "h1" },
      children: [],
    },
    "table-1": {
      type: "Table",
      props: {
        columns: [
          { header: "Item", width: "60%" },
          { header: "Price", width: "40%", align: "right" },
        ],
        rows: [
          ["Widget A", "$10.00"],
          ["Widget B", "$25.00"],
        ],
      },
      children: [],
    },
  },
};

// Render to buffer, stream, or file
const buffer = await renderToBuffer(spec);
```

### React Email (Email)

```typescript
import { renderToHtml } from "@json-render/react-email";
import { schema, standardComponentDefinitions } from "@json-render/react-email";
import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";

const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: standardComponentDefinitions,
});

const spec = {
  root: "html-1",
  elements: {
    "html-1": {
      type: "Html",
      props: { lang: "en", dir: "ltr" },
      children: ["head-1", "body-1"],
    },
    "head-1": { type: "Head", props: {}, children: [] },
    "body-1": {
      type: "Body",
      props: { style: { backgroundColor: "#f6f9fc" } },
      children: ["container-1"],
    },
    "container-1": {
      type: "Container",
      props: {
        style: { maxWidth: "600px", margin: "0 auto", padding: "20px" },
      },
      children: ["heading-1", "text-1"],
    },
    "heading-1": { type: "Heading", props: { text: "Welcome" }, children: [] },
    "text-1": {
      type: "Text",
      props: { text: "Thanks for signing up." },
      children: [],
    },
  },
};

const html = await renderToHtml(spec);
```

### Image (SVG/PNG)

```typescript
import { renderToPng } from "@json-render/image/render";

const spec = {
  root: "frame",
  elements: {
    frame: {
      type: "Frame",
      props: { width: 1200, height: 630, backgroundColor: "#1a1a2e" },
      children: ["heading"],
    },
    heading: {
      type: "Heading",
      props: { text: "Hello World", level: "h1", color: "#ffffff" },
      children: [],
    },
  },
};

// Render to PNG (requires @resvg/resvg-js)
const png = await renderToPng(spec, { fonts });

// Or render to SVG string
import { renderToSvg } from "@json-render/image/render";
const svg = await renderToSvg(spec, { fonts });
```

### Three.js (3D)

```tsx
import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";
import { schema, defineRegistry } from "@json-render/react";
import {
  threeComponentDefinitions,
  threeComponents,
  ThreeCanvas,
} from "@json-render/react-three-fiber";

const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: {
    Box: threeComponentDefinitions.Box,
    Sphere: threeComponentDefinitions.Sphere,
    AmbientLight: threeComponentDefinitions.AmbientLight,
    DirectionalLight: threeComponentDefinitions.DirectionalLight,
    GaussianSplat: threeComponentDefinitions.GaussianSplat,
    OrbitControls: threeComponentDefinitions.OrbitControls,
  },
  actions: {},
});

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, {
  components: {
    Box: threeComponents.Box,
    Sphere: threeComponents.Sphere,
    AmbientLight: threeComponents.AmbientLight,
    DirectionalLight: threeComponents.DirectionalLight,
    GaussianSplat: threeComponents.GaussianSplat,
    OrbitControls: threeComponents.OrbitControls,
  },
});

<ThreeCanvas
  spec={spec}
  registry={registry}
  shadows
  camera={{ position: [5, 5, 5], fov: 50 }}
  style={{ width: "100%", height: "100vh" }}
/>;
```

### Next.js (Full Apps)

```typescript
import type { NextAppSpec } from "@json-render/next";
import { createNextApp } from "@json-render/next/server";
import { NextAppProvider } from "@json-render/next";

const spec: NextAppSpec = {
  metadata: { title: { default: "My App", template: "%s | My App" } },
  layouts: {
    main: {
      root: "shell",
      elements: {
        shell: { type: "Container", props: {}, children: ["nav", "slot"] },
        nav: { type: "NavBar", props: {}, children: [] },
        slot: { type: "Slot", props: {}, children: [] },
      },
    },
  },
  routes: {
    "/": {
      layout: "main",
      metadata: { title: "Home" },
      page: {
        root: "hero",
        elements: {
          hero: { type: "Card", props: { title: "Welcome" }, children: [] },
        },
      },
    },
  },
};

// Server: creates Page, generateMetadata, generateStaticParams
const app = createNextApp({ spec });

// Client: wrap your layout with NextAppProvider
// <NextAppProvider registry={registry} handlers={handlers}>
//   {children}
// </NextAppProvider>
```

### shadcn-svelte (Svelte)

```typescript
import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";
import { schema } from "@json-render/svelte/schema";
import { defineRegistry, Renderer } from "@json-render/svelte";
import { shadcnComponentDefinitions } from "@json-render/shadcn-svelte/catalog";
import { shadcnComponents } from "@json-render/shadcn-svelte";

const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: {
    Card: shadcnComponentDefinitions.Card,
    Stack: shadcnComponentDefinitions.Stack,
    Heading: shadcnComponentDefinitions.Heading,
    Button: shadcnComponentDefinitions.Button,
  },
  actions: {},
});

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, {
  components: {
    Card: shadcnComponents.Card,
    Stack: shadcnComponents.Stack,
    Heading: shadcnComponents.Heading,
    Button: shadcnComponents.Button,
  },
});

// In your Svelte component:
// <Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />
```

### Devtools

Drop-in inspector panel for any json-render app. Spec tree, state editor, action log, stream log, catalog browser, DOM picker.

```tsx
// React
import { JsonRenderDevtools } from "@json-render/devtools-react";

<JSONUIProvider registry={registry} handlers={handlers}>
  <Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />
  <JsonRenderDevtools spec={spec} catalog={catalog} messages={messages} />
</JSONUIProvider>;
```

Floating toggle appears bottom-right. Hotkey: `Ctrl`/`Cmd` + `Shift` + `J`. Tree-shakes to `null` in production.

Available for React, Vue, Svelte, and Solid — swap `@json-render/devtools-react` for the adapter that matches your renderer.

### Ink (Terminal)

```tsx
import { defineCatalog } from "@json-render/core";
import {
  schema,
  standardComponentDefinitions,
  standardActionDefinitions,
  defineRegistry,
  Renderer,
  JSONUIProvider,
} from "@json-render/ink";

const catalog = defineCatalog(schema, {
  components: { ...standardComponentDefinitions },
  actions: standardActionDefinitions,
});

const { registry } = defineRegistry(catalog, { components: {} });

const spec = {
  root: "card-1",
  elements: {
    "card-1": {
      type: "Card",
      props: { title: "Status" },
      children: ["status-1"],
    },
    "status-1": {
      type: "StatusLine",
      props: { label: "Build", status: "success" },
      children: [],
    },
  },
};

<JSONUIProvider initialState={{}}>
  <Renderer spec={spec} registry={registry} />
</JSONUIProvider>;
```

## Features

### Streaming (SpecStream)

Stream AI responses progressively:

```typescript
import { createSpecStreamCompiler } from "@json-render/core";

const compiler = createSpecStreamCompiler<MySpec>();

// Process chunks as they arrive
const { result, newPatches } = compiler.push(chunk);
setSpec(result); // Update UI with partial result

// Get final result
const finalSpec = compiler.getResult();
```

### AI Prompt Generation

Generate system prompts from your catalog:

```typescript
const systemPrompt = catalog.prompt();
// Includes component descriptions, props schemas, available actions
```

### Conditional Visibility

```json
{
  "type": "Alert",
  "props": { "message": "Error occurred" },
  "visible": [
    { "$state": "/form/hasError" },
    { "$state": "/form/errorDismissed", "not": true }
  ]
}
```

### Dynamic Props

Any prop value can be data-driven using expressions:

```json
{
  "type": "Icon",
  "props": {
    "name": {
      "$cond": { "$state": "/activeTab", "eq": "home" },
      "$then": "home",
      "$else": "home-outline"
    },
    "color": {
      "$cond": { "$state": "/activeTab", "eq": "home" },
      "$then": "#007AFF",
      "$else": "#8E8E93"
    }
  }
}
```

Expression forms:

- **`{ "$state": "/state/key" }`** - reads a value from the state model
- **`{ "$cond": <condition>, "$then": <value>, "$else": <value> }`** - evaluates a condition and picks a branch
- **`{ "$template": "Hello, ${/user/name}!" }`** - interpolates state values into strings
- **`{ "$computed": "fn", "args": { ... } }`** - calls a registered function with resolved args

### Actions

Components can trigger actions, including the built-in `setState` action:

```json
{
  "type": "Pressable",
  "props": {
    "action": "setState",
    "actionParams": { "statePath": "/activeTab", "value": "home" }
  },
  "children": ["home-icon"]
}
```

The `setState` action updates the state model directly, which re-evaluates visibility conditions and dynamic prop expressions.

### State Watchers

React to state changes by triggering actions:

```json
{
  "type": "Select",
  "props": {
    "value": { "$bindState": "/form/country" },
    "options": ["US", "Canada", "UK"]
  },
  "watch": {
    "/form/country": {
      "action": "loadCities",
      "params": { "country": { "$state": "/form/country" } }
    }
  }
}
```

`watch` is a top-level field on elements (sibling of `type`/`props`/`children`). Watchers fire when the watched value changes, not on initial render.

---

## Demo

```bash
git clone https://github.com/vercel-labs/json-render
cd json-render
pnpm install
pnpm dev
```

- http://json-render.localhost:1355 - Docs & Playground
- http://dashboard-demo.json-render.localhost:1355 - Example Dashboard
- http://react-email-demo.json-render.localhost:1355 - React Email Example
- http://remotion-demo.json-render.localhost:1355 - Remotion Video Example
- Chat Example: run `pnpm dev` in `examples/chat`
- Svelte Example: run `pnpm dev` in `examples/svelte` or `examples/svelte-chat`
- Vue Example: run `pnpm dev` in `examples/vue`
- Vite Renderers (React + Vue + Svelte + Solid): run `pnpm dev` in `examples/vite-renderers`
- React Native example: run `npx expo start` in `examples/react-native`
- Gaussian Splatting (R3F): run `pnpm dev` in `examples/react-three-fiber-gsplat`
- Gaussian Splatting (experimental standalone gsplat.js demo): run `pnpm dev` in `examples/gsplat`

## How It Works

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[User Prompt] --> B[AI + Catalog]
    B --> C[JSON Spec]
    C --> D[Renderer]

    B -.- E([guardrailed])
    C -.- F([predictable])
    D -.- G([streamed])
```

1. **Define the guardrails** - what components, actions, and data bindings AI can use
2. **Prompt** - describe what you want in natural language
3. **AI generates JSON** - output is always predictable, constrained to your catalog
4. **Render fast** - stream and render progressively as the model responds

## License

Apache-2.0