Connect your client first: MCP overview. Naming the server in the prompt ("use shads") helps your assistant pick it when several MCP servers are active.
Install a starter theme
Use shads to install the Workspace theme in this repo.
The assistant calls install_plan for an existing project (or get_theme_package for the theme, skill, and dependencies) and runs the shadcn commands it returns. Starter ids are in the themes catalog.
Start a new project
Use shads to create a new shadcn app with the Workspace theme.
Install a theme you shared or saved in the builder
Open Get theme in the builder and copy the message from the MCP tab. It names your theme and its id, for example:
Install this shared shads theme from shads (id: abc123).
Saved cloud themes need an API key in your client: see authentication.
Generate and save a theme (Pro)
Use shads to generate a calm, high-contrast theme for a finance dashboard, then save it as "Ledger".
Generation uses your monthly AI quota. Ask for check_subscription to see what is left.
Validate a theme
Use shads to validate this theme.json.
Explore design concepts
Use shads to list the visual-language concepts, then describe the terminal concept.