Streamline Your Design System: A Guide to Using shadcn Registry MCP

Introduction to shadcn Registry MCP

The shadcn Registry MCP is a game-changer for developers looking to streamline their design system workflows. By combining shadcn—a popular component library and CLI tool—with the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard for AI-data integration, this feature allows you to automate the setup, configuration, and maintenance of design systems in your React projects. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through how to set up and use Registry MCP in a Next.js project, leveraging AI to handle the heavy lifting.

This guide is designed for developers with intermediate experience in React and Next.js. We’ll cover everything from setting up your environment to using components and keeping your project in sync with remote updates.

What is Registry MCP?

shadcn is a CLI tool that helps you create and manage reusable React components, hooks, and design system assets. It supports custom registries, which are collections of components, styles, and configurations that can be shared across projects. The Model Context Protocol (MCP), developed by Anthropic, is an open standard that enables AI models to interact with external systems in a standardized way.

When you make a shadcn registry “MCP-compatible” using the registry:mcp command, an AI tool (like Cursor AI) can interact with the registry to automate tasks such as:

• Initializing shadcn in your project.
• Installing custom tokens, fonts, and dependencies.
• Pulling and adapting components from multiple registries.
• Syncing your project with remote registry updates.

This integration aims for a “zero-config” experience, where the AI handles most of the setup, allowing you to focus on building your application.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following tools and knowledge:

Step 1: Set Up a Next.js Project

If you don’t already have a Next.js project, let’s create one. Run the following command to set up a new project:

npx create-next-app@latest my-shadcn-project
cd my-shadcn-project

Follow the prompts to configure your project. For this tutorial, we recommend using TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and the App Router, as they work seamlessly with shadcn.

Step 2: Install and Initialize shadcn

Next, install the shadcn CLI globally (if not already installed) and initialize it in your project.

npm install -g @shadcn/cli
npx shadcn-ui@latest init

Follow the prompts to set up shadcn. This will configure Tailwind CSS, create a components.json file, and prepare your project for shadcn components.

Step 3: Create or Use a Custom Registry

A shadcn registry is a collection of components, styles, and configurations. For this tutorial, we’ll create a simple registry called “Alpine Design System.” Create a registry.json file with the following content and host it somewhere accessible (e.g., a GitHub repository):

{
  "name": "alpine-design-system",
  "components": [
    {
      "name": "Button",
      "files": ["button.tsx"],
      "dependencies": ["react"]
    }
  ],
  "style": {
    "tokens": {
      "--primary": "#1a73e8",
      "--background": "#ffffff"
    },
    "fonts": [
      {
        "name": "DM_Sans",
        "url": "https://fonts.google.com/specimen/DM+Sans"
      }
    ]
  },
  "rules": {
    "@cursor_ai": {
      "setup": [
        "Install DM_Sans font",
        "Configure Tailwind CSS with custom tokens",
        "Update next.config.ts for font optimization"
      ]
    }
  }
}

For this tutorial, assume the registry is hosted at https://my-registry.com/registry.json.

Step 4: Make the Registry MCP-Compatible

Use the registry:mcp command to make your registry compatible with MCP, enabling AI-driven automation:

npx shadcn-ui@latest registry:mcp --url https://my-registry.com/registry.json

This command processes the registry and prepares it for interaction with an AI tool via MCP.

Step 5: Set Up Cursor AI

The tutorial uses Cursor AI, an MCP-compatible AI tool, to automate the setup. Follow these steps to set it up: Download and install Cursor AI from its official website. Configure MCP support in Cursor AI (check the documentation for details). Provide the URL of your MCP-compatible registry in Cursor AI so it can interact with it.

Step 6: Use Registry MCP to Set Up Your Project

With the registry made MCP-compatible, use Cursor AI to configure your project. In Cursor AI, type the following prompt: Set up my Next.js project with the Alpine Design System registry at https://my-registry.com/registry.json The AI will: Initialize shadcn (if not already done). Install custom tokens and fonts (e.g., DM_Sans). Configure your project files (e.g., tailwind.config.js, next.config.ts). Verify the setup by checking your project files. For example, tailwind.config.js should include the custom tokens defined in the registry.

Step 7: Start Using Components

Now that your project is set up, you can start using components from the registry. To add a Button component, run:

npx shadcn-ui@latest add button

Alternatively, ask Cursor AI to add the component: Add a Button component from the Alpine Design System registry to my project. The AI will pull the component and add it to your codebase (e.g., in the components/ui directory).

Step 8: Pull Components from Other Registries

Since shadcn registries share a common schema, you can pull components from other registries. For example, to add a Card component from a registry called Tailark, ask Cursor AI: Add a Card component from the Tailark registry to my project. The AI will adapt the component to match your project’s style.

Step 9: Sync with Remote Registry Updates

If a component in the remote registry is updated, you can sync the changes using Cursor AI: Check for updates to the Button component in the Alpine Design System registry and apply them to my project. The AI will pull and apply the updates seamlessly. Example: Using a Component in Your Next.js Project Let’s see how to use the Button component in a Next.js page. Open app/page.tsx and add the following code:

import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 
export default function Home() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>My Next.js Project</h1>
      <Button>Click me</Button>
    </div>
  );
}

Run your development server to see the result:

npm run dev

Visit http://localhost:3000 in your browser to see the page with the styled button.

Conclusion

The shadcn Registry MCP is a powerful tool for automating design system workflows in React projects. By leveraging AI and MCP, you can set up your project, add components, and keep everything in sync with minimal effort. This tutorial demonstrated how to integrate Registry MCP into a Next.js project, but the concepts can be applied to other React frameworks as well. If you encounter any issues, refer to the shadcn documentation or Cursor AI’s guides for additional support. Happy coding! References Source: shadcn’s X thread on Registry MCP, Author: shadcn, URL: https://x.com/shadcn/status/191759722851385360