Changelog
New updates, improvements, and fixes to DesignMD Directory.
Notion reference page now has clearer product and design context
The Notion DESIGN.md reference now has a clearer product description, reviewed sources, and a more useful overview section.
- Replaced the short catalog description with a factual overview of Notion's docs, wikis, projects, knowledge, and AI workspace
- Added a reviewed overview with product context, design summary, key highlights, study points, and official Notion source links
- Kept the full DESIGN.md, tokens, FAQ, source access, and existing reference page structure intact
Landing Page template now opens as a full conversion system
The Landing Page template now has a complete editorial launch preview, typed conversion rules, and protected repository-owned source exports.
- Added a full Relay landing-page specimen with navigation, hero, proof, product evidence, features, testimonial, final CTA, FAQ, and footer
- Added landing-specific anatomy, typography, copy, media, conversion, component-state, responsive, accessibility, and do/don't sections
- Moved the template onto the rich /t/ pipeline with a repository-owned source model instead of the old generic generated content
- Kept full Markdown, Tailwind, CSS variables, and token exports behind signed-in source access
Template pages now open as visual design-system workspaces
The Minimal SaaS Dashboard now has a redesigned live specimen, responsive preview controls, one canonical source panel, and reliable signed-in access states.
- Rebuilt the dashboard around warm neutral surfaces, graphite navigation, Signal highlights, and a focused Data Accent
- Replaced the duplicate Visual/Raw switch with a Preview Lab for Light/Dark and Desktop/Mobile inspection
- Fixed session restoration so signed-in users see loading, unlocked, or retry states instead of an incorrect sign-in notice
- Prevented anonymous Copy and Download actions from bypassing the full-source account gate
- Published a new cache-safe template thumbnail generated from the redesigned dashboard
Sign-in fix for returning users and cleaner search index
A sign-in error affecting some returning users is fixed — all accounts can now log in without issues. Utility pages have been excluded from search-engine crawling to keep the index focused on actual reference content.
- Fixed a sign-in error that affected some returning users — all accounts can now log in without hitting an error
- Utility and tool pages are now excluded from search-engine crawling, keeping the index focused on brand reference and guide content
Old brand links redirect automatically, brand pages load more reliably
Links shared to brand reference pages before June now automatically redirect to the correct current URL. Brand detail pages also load their reference content more reliably across different network and backend conditions.
- Old links and bookmarks to brand pages (shared before early June) now redirect automatically to the correct current URL — no broken links or 404s
- Brand reference pages now display their full content more consistently, including when backend response times vary
More brand references now use live design extraction
Several brand and design-system references now include deeper live-extracted design language with richer colors, typography, spacing, component signals, page intent, and visual DNA.
- Webflow, Ramp, Loops, Inngest, Amplitude, and Ant Design references were refreshed with live design extraction
- Previously short placeholder entries now include hundreds of lines of practical design-system detail
- Webflow was rechecked specifically and now uses a full live-extracted reference instead of the older short draft
- Ramp now uses a richer product-page extraction because the homepage returns a shallow capture
- Ant Design now includes a real source link and full component-system reference content
Reference workflow pages are now practical guides
Official and tool reference pages now include practical DESIGN.md workflows, source notes, examples, and real preview images instead of short placeholder copy.
- Expanded 25 official and tool reference pages into practical DESIGN.md workflow guides
- Added source-backed prompts, token examples, common mistakes, review checklists, and related guide links
- Codex, Cursor, Claude Code, Tailwind, shadcn/ui, Google Stitch, v0, Lovable, Bolt, Figma Make, MCP, and design token pages now have tool-specific guidance
- Reference pages use existing Cloudflare CDN thumbnails and only stay in the sitemap when marked as content-complete
- Page metadata now describes workflow/reference intent instead of treating every reference as a brand design-system page
86 brand references, brand-first homepage, and per-brand social previews
The catalog now covers 86 brands with static markdown delivery. The homepage was rebuilt around brand discovery. Every brand page now has its own OG and Twitter card with a real thumbnail and brand-specific keywords.
- 17 new brands added — catalog now covers 86 brand-inspired DESIGN.md references, all delivered statically with no database reads
- Homepage redesigned around brands — featured brand cards are the primary entry point, with the general feed moved to a secondary position
- Every brand detail page now has its own Open Graph and Twitter card metadata with the brand thumbnail, description, and keywords
- brandMarkdownContent moved to server-only module, preventing a 2.3 MB payload from leaking into the client bundle
- Sidebar category counts now reflect all 86 brands instead of only the 12 shown on the homepage
- Sitemap API limit corrected — was set to 2000 but the endpoint returned only 300, causing brand posts to be silently omitted from the sitemap
- AI files (llms.txt, ai.txt) updated with correct /guides and /library URLs; cache-control reduced from 24 h to 1 h so corrections reach crawlers faster
Zero-latency catalog with static delivery and deep SEO pass
The entire catalog now ships from static code — no database queries on page load. Paired with a full SEO pass: corrected sitemap priorities, noindex rules, robots.txt fix, CLS reduction, and improved LCP via CDN thumbnails.
- Hybrid static/DB architecture shipped — 101 curated brand posts are now embedded in code, eliminating database cold-start latency for catalog pages
- Navigation renamed for clarity — /discover is now /library and /learn is now /guides, with breadcrumbs and all internal links updated
- robots.txt moved to a Next.js route handler for correctness; /submit page marked noindex
- Full sitemap overhaul — corrected priorities, removed low-value utility pages, fixed ISR so sitemap stays fresh
- Fixed Google indexing regression — utility pages were mistakenly marked indexable and sitemap had stale entries
- CLS reduced and accessibility score improved across catalog and detail pages
- Official and tool entry thumbnails migrated to Cloudflare CDN with LCP preload hints, cutting largest contentful paint on detail pages
Faster catalog feed and more accurate category counts
Catalog feed queries now skip large markdown payloads to reduce database data transfer. Category counts are accurate across all entries, and a query bug that silently dropped data was fixed.
- Catalog feed queries no longer fetch full markdown content on every request, cutting database data transfer significantly
- Fixed a database query bug that was silently returning zero results for tag-based lookups
- All posts are now loaded on the initial feed request so sidebar category counts match the full catalog instead of the first page
- Database migration on startup is now non-fatal, preventing deploy startup failures when the schema is already current
designmd-cli 0.1.4 released with more agents and better brand color data
designmd-cli shipped three rapid updates adding Bolt, v0, Lovable, and Kiro support, a slug resolver, and a cleaner list view. 39 brand pages also got refreshed with more accurate color tokens, and search now covers all catalog entries.
- designmd-cli 0.1.2: added Bolt, v0, Lovable, and Kiro to the agent support list; popular slug table and works-with section added to output
- designmd-cli 0.1.3: slug auto-resolution — you no longer need the exact slug; categorized list view makes the full catalog easier to scan
- designmd-cli 0.1.4: fixed entry count in list view; removed unhelpful catch-all categories from the output
- 39 brand pages refreshed with more accurate color tokens pulled from real product sources
- Search now covers all 228 catalog entries — was previously capped at 100, missing the newer additions
- Submission form simplified — a short request replaces the previous multi-step form
- Upvote button now renders with a correct inactive state by default instead of an ambiguous style
Guides section redesigned and homepage SEO improved
The learn/guides section got a full layout overhaul with a pinned agent grid and category counts. The homepage now shows agent names, a visible "What is DESIGN.md?" block, and richer meta for search and AI crawlers.
- Guides section rewritten — single card grid with pinned AI agent guides and per-category counts
- BreadcrumbList JSON-LD, Open Graph image, and Twitter large card added to every learn article
- Homepage hero now shows agent names (Cursor, Claude Code, Kiro, Windsurf, Bolt, v0, Lovable) and a visible "What is DESIGN.md?" explanation block
- Hero badge and meta description updated for clearer SEO targeting
- Landing page content expanded to 150–300 words per section to improve keyword coverage
- LLM files (llms.txt, llms-full.txt) corrected — stale brand references removed, all URLs updated
- Removed /brands/ route — brand pages now live under /p/ and /library for cleaner URL structure
- Removed /for/ and /templates/[slug] helper routes that were creating thin duplicate pages
Template DESIGN.md files are much more detailed
The template library now has full design-system references for common product patterns, with practical tokens, layout rules, component guidance, states, accessibility notes, and agent instructions.
- Expanded all 35 template entries from thin placeholders into full DESIGN.md references
- Added pattern-specific guidance for SaaS dashboards, AI apps, landing pages, docs, admin panels, API dashboards, command centers, terminal apps, and more
- Each template now includes color tokens, dark mode, typography, spacing, radius, elevation, components, responsive behavior, states, accessibility, and workflow rules
- Templates are written as generic product patterns, so builders can adapt them without copying a specific brand
Catalog is now database-backed with real brand screenshots
The catalog moved from a static list to a live database so updates appear without a code deploy. All brand entries now have real visual screenshots. Load More lets you browse deeper without reloading the page.
- Catalog entries are now stored in and served from a database — additions and updates go live without a code release
- 62 brand-inspired entries now display real visual screenshots loaded via Cloudflare CDN
- Load More button added to the catalog — initial page loads fast and you browse deeper on demand
- Cloudflare Pages build migrated to OpenNext for more reliable edge delivery and correct static asset routing
More brand-inspired DESIGN.md references are available
The catalog now includes a broader set of detailed SaaS, AI, fintech, consumer, and developer-tool references, with clearer color, typography, spacing, and component guidance for AI coding agents.
- Added new SaaS, AI, fintech, consumer, developer-tool, IDE, and design-system inspired DESIGN.md references
- Each new file includes practical tokens, component rules, layout guidance, and agent instructions
- Expanded coverage for AI labs, model platforms, fintech products, commerce, consumer apps, IDEs, observability, and design systems
- References stay independent and are based on publicly observable design signals
Design reference pages are cleaner and more useful
Entry pages now make the screenshot, key actions, and supporting design sections easier to scan, so visitors can inspect a style and decide what to copy.
- Larger visual previews make each design system easier to judge at a glance
- Copy, download, save, share, and voting actions now sit in a more obvious place
- The DESIGN.md preview remains part of the page while full-file actions stay gated
- Tags, author context, and compatibility details are presented with less clutter
- Related content and page spacing were tuned for a smoother read
Faster screenshots and smoother catalog browsing
Catalog screenshots now load from a more reliable image setup, with resized versions for different screens and lighter homepage browsing.
- Screenshot images now come from a more stable asset pipeline instead of relying on external capture URLs
- Cards can request smaller image sizes for smaller screens
- The first catalog items receive loading priority so the homepage feels faster
- Search data is loaded only when needed, keeping the first visit lighter
- Public catalog responses use short-lived caching to avoid unnecessary repeated work
More practical guides for AI-built UI
The learn library now has deeper, more practical guidance for using DESIGN.md with AI coding tools, design tokens, Tailwind, shadcn/ui, and real project handoff workflows.
- Expanded the core guides with more examples, structure, and plain-language explanations
- Added clearer comparisons for teams deciding where DESIGN.md fits beside existing design docs
- Strengthened Tailwind and shadcn/ui guidance for people building real interfaces with agents
- Popular guides are now easier to discover from the homepage
- Article pages include richer summaries for sharing and reading tools
More ways to find the right DESIGN.md
The catalog now has clearer entry points for common tools, templates, examples, and brand-inspired references, so visitors can start from the problem they are solving.
- Added more focused browse pages for common DESIGN.md use cases
- Learn pages now link visitors into practical examples and template collections
- Catalog cards behave more like normal links, making browsing, sharing, and opening in new tabs easier
- Footer and navigation links were cleaned up to keep the site easier to move through
- Page summaries were refreshed so shared links describe the right page
Template pages are easier to preview and use
Template browsing now gives people a clearer first look at each design system, with richer previews, cleaner details, and direct paths to the template version of an entry.
- The templates page now opens with a clearer overview of the available styles and use cases
- Template details now have a dedicated experience focused on preview, context, and practical actions
- Entries that are templates now open in the template-focused view automatically
- Preview areas are more visual, so visitors can understand a template before opening the raw file
- The page layout is calmer on desktop and easier to scan on smaller screens
Learn section launched with AI agent guides and RSS
DesignMD now has a real /learn index, RSS feed, and five new long-form guides for using DESIGN.md with Kiro, Windsurf, Bolt, v0, and Lovable.
- Added /learn as a public guide index for DESIGN.md education and SEO content
- Moved learn article data into a shared data module so article pages, sitemap, and RSS use the same source
- Added date and reading time metadata to every learn article
- Published five new AI agent guides covering Kiro, Windsurf, Bolt, v0, and Lovable
- Added /feed.xml so crawlers, readers, and aggregators can subscribe to DesignMD learn content
- Added /learn to sitemap.xml with stable lastModified dates
AI crawler support, SEO fixes, and faster page loads
llms.txt and ai.txt added so AI search tools can understand the site correctly. Duplicate title bug fixed. Homepage and directory pages now load significantly faster with ISR caching.
- llms.txt and llms-full.txt added — AI crawlers (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, Perplexity) now get a plain-text site summary instead of an error page
- ai.txt added with a clear policy on what AI tools can and cannot use
- robots.txt updated with explicit allow rules for all major AI crawlers
- Duplicate title bug fixed — Google was showing "DesignMD Directory | DesignMD Directory" for post pages
- Homepage now loads up to 60 seconds of edge-cached content instead of re-querying the database on every visit
- Directory page cached for 5 minutes at the edge — significantly faster for repeat visitors
- Homepage initial feed reduced from 50 to 16 entries, cutting HTML size by roughly two-thirds
Post detail pages redesigned — color system, typography, and component previews
Every /p/[slug] page is now a long, scrollable design-system article with live color swatches, typography specimens, rendered component examples, and a multi-agent prompt panel — all visible to anonymous users.
- Breadcrumb navigation added at the top of every post detail page
- Color System section shows all brand swatches with click-to-copy hex values
- Typography Specimen section renders the brand font scale at actual sizes
- Component Showcase section renders real buttons, cards, form inputs, badges, and stat blocks styled with the brand palette
- Design Tokens section shows spacing scale, border radius scale, and elevation/shadow scale
- Agent Prompt Panel with ready-to-copy snippets for Cursor (.cursor/rules), Claude Code (CLAUDE.md), and Codex
- Expanded FAQ section with 5 questions covering official status, agent usage, and token licensing
- All new sections are visible to anonymous users — only full DESIGN.md copy/download remains gated
- Related posts capped at 8 entries for a lighter, more focused page
SEO pass — sitemap, canonical URLs, robots.txt
Full SEO baseline shipped alongside launch — dynamic sitemap with all curated entries, canonical meta tags on every page, and a robots.txt that guides crawlers correctly.
- Dynamic sitemap.xml covers static routes, learn articles, and all curated DESIGN.md pages
- Canonical URLs added to every page to prevent duplicate-content issues
- robots.txt configured to allow public crawlers and block irrelevant routes
- Open Graph and Twitter card meta on key landing and detail pages
DesignMD Directory launches on designmd.directory
DesignMD Directory is live — a curated catalog of DESIGN.md files that help AI coding agents produce better UI, shipped as a public community resource.
- Public launch of designmd.directory as the home for DESIGN.md files
- Community submission flow live — anyone can submit their DESIGN.md
- Curated catalog of 100+ entries organized by framework and use case
- Learn section with articles on writing effective DESIGN.md files
- Authentication with Better Auth for profile and submission management
Initial curated catalog — 100+ DESIGN.md entries
The founding catalog of DesignMD Directory — over 100 hand-curated DESIGN.md entries spanning popular frontend frameworks, design systems, and AI coding tools.
- 100+ curated DESIGN.md entries hand-reviewed before launch
- Coverage across React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui, and more
- Entries tagged by framework, tool compatibility, and use case
- Featured picks highlighted for AI-agent-ready quality
- Submission pipeline built to grow the catalog via community contributions