Skip to main content

​
Zencoder + Figma: Design-to-Code in Minutes

The Figma Model Context Protocol (MCP) server bridges Figma and Zencoder, letting the AI analyze your designs and generate production-ready code instantly.

​
Prerequisites

  • Figma account (web or desktop)
  • VS Code with Zencoder extension installed
  • React project with Tailwind CSS
  • Node.js 18+

​
Select the Web Dev Agent

Zencoder has a specialized Web Dev Agent tailored for UI tasks. Use it for optimal design-to-code results:
  1. Open the agent selector with Cmd + . (Mac) or Ctrl + . (Windows/Linux)
  2. Select Web Dev from the dropdown menu
  3. The Web Dev Agent will handle your Figma-to-code conversion with browser testing and real-time validation
The Web Dev Agent is purpose-built for design-to-code workflows. It combines Figma MCP integration with browser automation to validate your generated components in real browsers.

​
1. Configure Figma MCP in Zencoder

Zencoder needs to be configured to access Figma’s MCP server. In VS Code with Zencoder:
  1. Open VS Code Settings (Cmd + , / Ctrl + ,)
  2. Search for “MCP” or “Model Context Protocol”
  3. Add the Figma MCP server configuration: 
    {
  "type": "http",
  "url": "http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp"
}
  4. Save and reload VS Code
  5. Zencoder now has access to Figma designs via MCP

​
2. Enable Local MCP in Figma

Enable the local Figma MCP server on your machine at http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp: Setup on Mac:
  1. Open Figma desktop app
  2. Click Figma → Preferences (Cmd + ,)
  3. Find Developer or MCP Server section
  4. Toggle Enable Local MCP Server to ON
  5. You’ll see: http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp ✅
Setup on Windows:
  1. Open Figma desktop app
  2. Click File → Preferences (Ctrl + ,)
  3. Find Developer or MCP Server section
  4. Toggle Enable Local MCP Server to ON
  5. Server starts at http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp ✅
  1. Select your component frame in Figma (the whole thing, not individual elements)
  2. Right-click on the selected frame → Copy link to selection
  3. You’ll get a URL like: https://www.figma.com/design/[file-id]/[name]?node-id=1-2&t=[token]
  4. The node-id parameter identifies your selected component

​
Paste in Zencoder & Generate Code

  1. Open Zencoder in VS Code chat panel
  2. Paste your Figma link in your message to the Web Dev Agent

​
How Figma MCP Works with Zencoder

When you paste your Figma link, here’s what happens behind the scenes:
  • Figma MCP connects to your selected Figma frame using the node-id parameter
  • Zencoder analyzes the design structure, including components, variants, colors, typography, spacing, and layout properties
  • The Web Dev Agent extracts design tokens and styling information directly from your design
  • TypeScript code is generated with proper prop types, responsive design patterns, and production-ready exports
  • Best practices are applied including semantic HTML, accessibility features, and modern React patterns
  • Tailwind CSS is used for styling, with class-variance-authority (cva) for handling component variants
  • The code is ready to use immediately—just copy it into your project and customize as needed
The entire process eliminates manual translation of designs into code, reducing errors and development time.

​
4. Best Practices

Follow these patterns in Figma for perfect code generation:

​
✅ DO’s

  • Use Figma Components (not plain frames)
  • Name clearly: Button, Card, InputField (not “btn”, “container”, “frame1”)
  • Create variants: primary | secondary | outline, sm | md | lg
  • Use design tokens: Colors, typography, spacing (not hardcoded)
  • Keep structure clean: Clear hierarchy, minimal nesting

​
❌ DON’Ts

  • ❌ Plain rectangles without components
  • ❌ Deeply nested groups
  • ❌ Unclear names like “frame1”, “group”, “box”
  • ❌ Hardcoded colors instead of style tokens
  • ❌ Mixed styled and unstyled elements

​
5. Troubleshooting

Cause: The Figma MCP server isn’t configured in Zencoder or isn’t running.Fix:
  • Verify MCP config in VS Code Settings (search “MCP”)
  • If using local MCP: Open Figma desktop app
  • Go to Preferences → Developer/MCP Server
  • Enable “Local MCP Server”
  • Reload VS Code
Cause: Frame not selected properly or link not shared correctly.Fix:
  • Make sure you have the component frame selected (not nested elements)
  • Click directly on the main frame/component in Figma
  • Copy link to selection – Right-click frame → Copy link to selection
  • Paste the full URL (with node-id) into your Zencoder prompt
  • Try creating a Figma Component instead of a plain frame
Cause: Design structure is unclear or missing styling details.Fix:
  • Check Figma component properties are clearly defined
  • Ensure colors use design color styles (not hardcoded)
  • Verify typography uses Figma text styles
  • Add clear variant names: variant: primary
  • Regenerate with a more detailed prompt specifying the exact variants and styles
Cause: Too much nesting in Figma or unclear element purposes.Fix:
  • Simplify your Figma component (fewer nested groups)
  • Name layers clearly: “Background”, “Label”, “Icon”
  • Remove visual-only decorative elements
  • Use clear hierarchy: Background → Content → Interactive Elements

​
6. What’s Next?

Update your design, regenerate code:
  1. Edit your Figma component
  2. Select it again
  3. Copy the link to selection
  4. Ask Zencoder: “Regenerate this component from the updated Figma design: [link]”
  5. Zencoder shows you what changed
  6. Copy the new code to your project
Generate multiple components at once: 
Generate React components for all these Figma frames:
Figma file: [link]

Create:
1. Button component
2. Input component
3. Card component
4. Badge component

Use TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and cva.