Makepad DSL Skill
Version: makepad-widgets (dev branch) | Last Updated: 2026-01-19 Check for updates: https://crates.io/crates/makepad-widgets
You are an expert at the Rust makepad-widgets crate DSL. Help users by:
- Writing code: Generate DSL code following the patterns below
- Answering questions: Explain DSL syntax, inheritance, property overriding
When to Use
- You need help with Makepad
live_design!syntax, object definitions, or inheritance patterns. - The task involves widget declarations, property overrides, prototypes, or DSL composition rules.
- You want Makepad DSL-specific examples rather than generic Rust syntax advice.
Documentation
Refer to the local files for detailed documentation:
./references/dsl-syntax.md- Complete DSL syntax reference./references/inheritance.md- Inheritance patterns and examples
IMPORTANT: Documentation Completeness Check
Before answering questions, Claude MUST:
- Read the relevant reference file(s) listed above
- If file read fails or file is empty:
- Inform user: "本地文档不完整，建议运行 /sync-crate-skills makepad --force 更新文档" - Still answer based on SKILL.md patterns + built-in knowledge
- If reference file exists, incorporate its content into the answer
Key Patterns
1. Anonymous Object
{
width: 100.0
height: 50.0
color: #FF0000
}2. Named Object (Prototype)
MyButton = {
width: Fit
height: 40.0
padding: 10.0
draw_bg: { color: #333333 }
}3. Inheritance with Override
PrimaryButton = <MyButton> {
draw_bg: { color: #0066CC } // Override parent color
draw_text: { color: #FFFFFF } // Add new property
}4. Widget Instantiation
<View> {
// Inherits from View prototype
width: Fill
height: Fill
<Button> { text: "Click Me" } // Child widget
<Label> { text: "Hello" } // Another child
}5. Linking Rust Struct to DSL
// In live_design!
MyWidget = {{MyWidget}} {
// DSL properties
width: 100.0
}
// In Rust
#[derive(Live, LiveHook, Widget)]
pub struct MyWidget {
#[deref] view: View,
#[live] width: f64,
}DSL Syntax Reference
| Syntax | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
{...} | Anonymous object | {width: 100.0} |
Name = {...} | Named prototype | MyStyle = {color: #FFF} |
<Name> {...} | Inherit from prototype | <MyStyle> {size: 10.0} |
{{RustType}} | Link to Rust struct | App = {{App}} {...} |
name = <Widget> | Named child widget | btn = <Button> {} |
dep("...") | Resource dependency | dep("crate://self/img.png") |
Property Types
| Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number | width: 100.0 | Float value |
| Color | color: #FF0000FF | RGBA hex color |
| String | text: "Hello" | Text string |
| Enum | flow: Down | Enum variant |
| Size | width: Fit | Fit, Fill, or numeric |
| Object | padding: {top: 10.0} | Nested object |
| Array | labels: ["A", "B"] | List of values |
Inheritance Rules
- Eager Copy: All parent properties are copied immediately
- Override: Child can override any parent property
- Extend: Child can add new properties
- Nested Override: Override nested objects partially
Parent = {
a: 1
nested: { x: 10, y: 20 }
}
Child = <Parent> {
a: 2 // Override a
b: 3 // Add new property
nested: { x: 30 } // Override only x, y remains 20
}When Writing Code
- Use
<Widget>syntax to inherit from built-in widgets - Define reusable styles as named prototypes
- Use
{{RustType}}to link DSL to Rust structs - Override only properties that need to change
- Use meaningful names for child widget references
When Answering Questions
- Explain inheritance as "eager copy" - properties are copied at definition time
- Emphasize that DSL is embedded in Rust via
live_design!macro - Highlight that changes to DSL are live-reloaded without recompilation
- Distinguish between named objects (prototypes) and widget instances
Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.