Onlook

What is Onlook?

Onlook is an open-source visual editing tool designed specifically for React applications, facilitating more efficient collaboration between designers and developers. It allows users to directly modify the UI of React applications in the browser, preview changes in real-time, automatically synchronize design modifications into code, and push them to the code repository. Onlook supports React and TailwindCSS and will continue to expand support for more frameworks. It can be seamlessly integrated into existing projects without additional setup, with all operations completed locally to ensure data security. Designers can perform visual designs as they do with Figma, while developers can directly obtain the modified code, improving development efficiency.

The main functions of Onlook

• Real-time Design Modification: Users can directly modify the UI of a running React application in the browser and view the effects in real time.
•  Code Synchronization: Design modifications are automatically converted into code, which can be pushed to the code repository.
•  Local-first: All operations are performed locally to ensure data security and privacy.
•  Multi-framework Support: Supports React and TailwindCSS, with plans to expand to more frameworks.
•  Seamless Integration: Onlook can be easily integrated into existing React projects without complex setup or migration. Hot reloading is supported to ensure that design changes are instantly reflected in the application.
•  Optimized Team Collaboration: Designers and developers can collaborate more efficiently through Onlook. Designers can focus on visual design, while developers can quickly implement these designs, reducing communication costs.
•  Component Management: Onlook supports editing and managing components. Users can adjust styles, modify attributes, etc. of components while maintaining code maintainability.

Application scenarios of Onlook

•  Rapid UI Prototype Design: Designers can directly conduct interface design and testing in a real-time React environment, quickly creating new UI prototypes.
•  Design and Development Collaboration: Onlook bridges the collaboration gap between designers and developers. Designers can perform visual editing directly in the browser, and developers can obtain the modified code in real time and integrate it into the project.
•  Design System Maintenance: Teams can easily update and maintain the design system through Onlook. Onlook supports the use of design system components and variables already in the codebase, ensuring design consistency and code maintainability.
•  Local Development and Code Control: As a local-first tool, Onlook completes all operations on the user’s local machine, ensuring the security and privacy of the code.