pick-ui-library Skill for Claude Code: Emil Kowalski's UI Library Picks

Makes Claude pick one frontend library for your task from Emil Kowalski's curated list, such as toasts, charts, drag and drop or state.

Installs: 200.7K; on skills.sh
Stars: 52.7K; on GitHub
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

pick-ui-library is a lookup skill. You tell Claude a task, like "I need toasts" or "what should I use for drag and drop?", and it matches the task to a list of 19 libraries chosen by Emil Kowalski. It recommends one, says what it is for, and wires it up if you asked for that.

It only runs when you call it, and it does not trigger on its own. If you call it with no question, Claude answers with one fixed line and waits. It checks your package.json first and keeps a library you already use. It bundles no scripts. If your task is not on the list, it says so before suggesting anything else.

Good for

React and Next.js developers who want a single clear answer instead of a menu of libraries
Designers and design engineers who like Emil Kowalski's taste in UI libraries
Claude Code users who want fewer hand-rolled toasts, dropdowns and counters

Install pick-ui-library

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the pick-ui-library skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx skills add https://github.com/emilkowalski/skills --skill pick-ui-library

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

From its listing on skills.sh. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Pick the right library for a given frontend task from a curated, opinionated list — numbers, OTP inputs, charts, command menus, virtualization, drag and drop, toasts, state, styling, and more. Only runs when explicitly invoked; it does not trigger on its own.

Sections in SKILL.md

Initial Response
How to use this
The list
UI components & primitives
Motion & visuals
Charts
Interaction & performance
State & styling
Common mismatches to catch

Key facts

Author: Emil Kowalski
License: MIT
Installs on skills.sh: 200,654 (Nov 2, 2026)
GitHub stars: 52,705 (Nov 2, 2026)
skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub: pass, Socket: pass, Snyk: pass
Last commit: 2026-10-28
Files: SKILL.md only (no bundled files)
Libraries on the list: 19, in 5 groups
Starts: Only when you invoke it (disable-model-invocation is set)

What it includes

Reads the task, not the library you named, and maps it to the list
If you ask about a dropdown, Claude treats it as a UI-primitives task and recommends base-ui, even if you named something else.
Read · Task matching
Keeps a listed library you already use and flags a competing one
If the project uses react-window instead of Virtuoso, Claude flags the pick but does not swap the dependency unless you ask.
Files · Check package.json
base-ui, cmdk, Sonner, input-otp, Leva
Covers accessible components, command menus, toasts, one-time-code inputs and control panels.
Read · UI components and primitives
motion, NumberFlow, torph, Cobe, Satori, shiki
Covers animation, animated numbers and text, 3D globes, dynamic OG images and syntax highlighting.
Read · Motion and visuals
Liveline, recharts, dnd kit, Virtuoso, zustand, clsx, cva, next-themes
Liveline is for live scrolling charts and recharts for everything else. clsx handles ad-hoc classes and cva handles real variants.
Read · Charts, interaction, state and styling
Flags 6 patterns, like hand-built toasts or 1,000-row lists
The skill names six habits to catch, each with the library that replaces it, such as Sonner for hand-built toasts and zustand for prop-passing state.
Read · Common mismatches

From the official docs

Permissions

Low risk

The skill only recommends, but if you ask Claude to set the library up it will add a dependency to your project. Check the package change before you commit it.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

It can install packages if you ask
The SKILL.md says Claude installs and wires up the chosen library when that is part of your request. Review the dependency change before you commit it.

Questions

What does pick-ui-library do?

It makes Claude recommend one library for a frontend task from a fixed list of 19 picks by Emil Kowalski. It states what the library is for and can install it if you asked.

How do I use it?

Install it with the box above, then call it by name, for example /pick-ui-library I need toasts. It does not run on its own, so Claude will not suggest libraries unless you invoke it.

What if my task is not on the list?

Claude says the task is not covered. It then recommends from its own knowledge and tells you it has left the curated list.

Will it change libraries my project already uses?

No. It checks package.json first and uses a listed library you already have. If you use a competitor, it flags the recommendation but does not swap the dependency unless you ask.

Does it need an API key or run scripts?

The SKILL.md mentions no API key and the skill bundles no scripts. It is one text file of picks and rules.

Is it safe to install?

It is a single SKILL.md with no bundled files. If you ask it to wire up a library, Claude may run a package install in your project, so review that step like any dependency change.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: emilkowalski/skills
Folder: skills/pick-ui-library

emilkowalski/skills skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 3

SKILL.md · github.com
skills.sh listing · skills.sh
GitHub repo · github.com