shadcn

Run npx shadcn@latest add followed by component names, registry-prefixed names like @magicui/shimmer-button, or GitHub addresses like owner/repo/item. Use --dry-run to preview changes and --diff to compare against existing files before writing.

Run npx shadcn@latest add <component> --dry-run to see affected files, then --diff <file> to inspect upstream changes per file. Overwrite files with no local changes and manually merge files you have customized, preserving your modifications.

The base field in components.json determines the primitive library and component APIs. Radix uses asChild and type props, while base uses render, multiple booleans, items props on Select, and scalar Slider values. Check the base field via npx shadcn@latest info.

Use npx shadcn@latest apply <code> to overwrite an existing project with a preset, or init --preset <code> --force --no-reinstall to update only config and CSS. Presets accept named values like nova, base62 codes like a2r6bw, or URLs from ui.shadcn.com.

shadcn/ui conventions require flex with gap-* instead of space-x-*/space-y-* and semantic tokens like bg-primary or text-muted-foreground instead of raw colors like bg-blue-500. Semantic tokens handle dark mode automatically through CSS variables.

Yes, the CLI supports namespaced registries configured in components.json, public GitHub repos with a root registry.json via owner/repo addresses, and direct URLs. After adding third-party components, verify import aliases match your project configuration.