Vibecode Figma
track this build5 steps, step by step0%You can make a small drawing/prototyping tool, but Figma's moat is real-time multiplayer editing, plugin ecosystem, design-system workflows, performance, and enterprise trust.
You are building a lean indie version of Figma. Create the following project files first, then implement the application by following them. Keep the files updated as decisions change. Do not collapse this into a single README or prompt. ===== README.md ===== # Figma indie build ## Goal Build the smallest trustworthy replacement for the core Figma workflow for one developer or a tiny team. ## Scope Build a simple canvas editor with rectangles/text/components and export, but expect it to be a toy compared with Figma. ## Quick start 1. Install the documented dependencies. 2. Copy `.env.example` to `.env`. 3. Run the development command chosen during implementation. 4. Complete the acceptance checks in `BUILD_PLAN.md`. ## Honest limits This build deliberately does not replace: - real-time multiplayer that just works - your team, who are all on Figma - the plugin ecosystem - ten years of canvas performance engineering If those capabilities are essential, use Penpot instead of pretending the gap is solved. ===== AGENTS.md ===== # Agent instructions - Optimize for a working, understandable weekend build. - Prefer the fewest moving parts that satisfy the brief. - Do not invent cryptography, security guarantees, APIs, or compliance claims. - Keep secrets out of source control and logs. - Add focused tests for destructive, security-sensitive, and data-loss paths. - Run the project checks before declaring the build complete. - Record any deliberate shortcut in the README under "Tradeoffs". ===== BUILD_PLAN.md ===== # Build plan ## Original build brief Build me a single-player vector canvas editor, a weekend sketch of Figma's core canvas. Requirements: - A canvas editor with rectangles, ellipses, text, and frames; select, move, and resize with handles; fill, stroke, and corner-radius controls in a right panel. - A layers list with drag-reorder. - Export the current selection as SVG and PNG. - Local-first: documents persist to IndexedDB, with import and export as JSON. - Vanilla JS or Svelte on a single canvas element, pick the simpler to ship; no backend at all. - No accounts, no telemetry, everything stays in the browser on my machine. - Out of scope: multiplayer, comments, components, auto-layout, and plugins. Do not build any collaboration or sync layer. - README: state that this is not a Figma replacement, the moat is real-time multiplayer plus the network of people already on it, and point to Penpot or Excalidraw for serious single-player use. ## Required capabilities - web canvas/WebGL/SVG expertise - real-time collaboration backend - file format - permissions - plugin model ## Delivery order 1. Scaffold the smallest runnable application and document its commands. 2. Implement the primary data model and core workflow. 3. Add validation, safe failure states, and persistence. 4. Cover the critical path with automated tests. 5. Exercise a clean install from the README and fix every missing step. ## Done when - A new user can go from clone to first successful workflow using only the README. - The core workflow works without paid infrastructure unless the brief requires it. - Tests cover the highest-risk behavior. - Known limitations are explicit rather than hidden. ===== .env.example ===== # Copy to .env and document every variable when it is introduced. # Never put real credentials in this file. APP_ENV=development # Add only values required by the selected implementation.
You are building a lean indie version of Figma. Create the following project files first, then implement the application by following them. Keep the files updated as decisions change. Do not collapse this into a single README or prompt. ===== README.md ===== # Figma indie build ## Goal Build the smallest trustworthy replacement for the core Figma workflow for one developer or a tiny team. ## Scope Build a simple canvas editor with rectangles/text/components and export, but expect it to be a toy compared with Figma. ## Quick start 1. Install the documented dependencies. 2. Copy `.env.example` to `.env`. 3. Run the development command chosen during implementation. 4. Complete the acceptance checks in `BUILD_PLAN.md`. ## Honest limits This build deliberately does not replace: - real-time multiplayer that just works - your team, who are all on Figma - the plugin ecosystem - ten years of canvas performance engineering If those capabilities are essential, use Penpot instead of pretending the gap is solved. ===== AGENTS.md ===== # Agent instructions - Optimize for a working, understandable weekend build. - Prefer the fewest moving parts that satisfy the brief. - Do not invent cryptography, security guarantees, APIs, or compliance claims. - Keep secrets out of source control and logs. - Add focused tests for destructive, security-sensitive, and data-loss paths. - Run the project checks before declaring the build complete. - Record any deliberate shortcut in the README under "Tradeoffs". ===== BUILD_PLAN.md ===== # Build plan ## Original build brief Build me a single-player vector canvas editor, a weekend sketch of Figma's core canvas. Requirements: - A canvas editor with rectangles, ellipses, text, and frames; select, move, and resize with handles; fill, stroke, and corner-radius controls in a right panel. - A layers list with drag-reorder. - Export the current selection as SVG and PNG. - Local-first: documents persist to IndexedDB, with import and export as JSON. - Vanilla JS or Svelte on a single canvas element, pick the simpler to ship; no backend at all. - No accounts, no telemetry, everything stays in the browser on my machine. - Out of scope: multiplayer, comments, components, auto-layout, and plugins. Do not build any collaboration or sync layer. - README: state that this is not a Figma replacement, the moat is real-time multiplayer plus the network of people already on it, and point to Penpot or Excalidraw for serious single-player use. ## Required capabilities - web canvas/WebGL/SVG expertise - real-time collaboration backend - file format - permissions - plugin model ## Delivery order 1. Scaffold the smallest runnable application and document its commands. 2. Implement the primary data model and core workflow. 3. Add validation, safe failure states, and persistence. 4. Cover the critical path with automated tests. 5. Exercise a clean install from the README and fix every missing step. ## Done when - A new user can go from clone to first successful workflow using only the README. - The core workflow works without paid infrastructure unless the brief requires it. - Tests cover the highest-risk behavior. - Known limitations are explicit rather than hidden. ===== .env.example ===== # Copy to .env and document every variable when it is introduced. # Never put real credentials in this file. APP_ENV=development # Add only values required by the selected implementation.
You are building a production product version of Figma. Create the following project files first, then implement the application by following them. Keep the files updated as decisions change. Do not collapse this into a single README or prompt. ===== PRODUCT.md ===== # Figma product brief ## Problem You can make a small drawing/prototyping tool, but Figma's moat is real-time multiplayer editing, plugin ecosystem, design-system workflows, performance, and enterprise trust. ## Product outcome Build a simple canvas editor with rectangles/text/components and export, but expect it to be a toy compared with Figma. ## Target user A serious builder who needs a maintainable product foundation rather than a one-off demo. ## Required capabilities - web canvas/WebGL/SVG expertise - real-time collaboration backend - file format - permissions - plugin model ## Explicit non-goals for v1 - real-time multiplayer that just works - your team, who are all on Figma - the plugin ecosystem - ten years of canvas performance engineering ## Success criteria - The primary workflow is measurable end to end. - Setup is reproducible in a clean environment. - Failure, recovery, and support paths are documented. - Product claims match what the implementation actually guarantees. ===== ARCHITECTURE.md ===== # Architecture ## Starting brief Build me a single-player vector canvas editor, a weekend sketch of Figma's core canvas. Requirements: - A canvas editor with rectangles, ellipses, text, and frames; select, move, and resize with handles; fill, stroke, and corner-radius controls in a right panel. - A layers list with drag-reorder. - Export the current selection as SVG and PNG. - Local-first: documents persist to IndexedDB, with import and export as JSON. - Vanilla JS or Svelte on a single canvas element, pick the simpler to ship; no backend at all. - No accounts, no telemetry, everything stays in the browser on my machine. - Out of scope: multiplayer, comments, components, auto-layout, and plugins. Do not build any collaboration or sync layer. - README: state that this is not a Figma replacement, the moat is real-time multiplayer plus the network of people already on it, and point to Penpot or Excalidraw for serious single-player use. ## Boundaries Separate the product into replaceable modules for interface, application logic, persistence, external integrations, and operational concerns. Keep domain logic independent from delivery frameworks and vendors. ## Production baseline - Configuration: validated at startup with safe local defaults where possible. - Security: least privilege, input validation, secret redaction, rate limits on abuse-prone paths, and no invented security primitives. - Data: explicit schema and migrations, transactional writes where integrity matters, backup and restore instructions. - Integrations: adapters around third-party providers, idempotent webhook or job processing, bounded retries, and timeouts. - Observability: structured logs with request or operation IDs, an error-tracking hook, and health/readiness checks where a server exists. - Quality: unit tests for domain rules, integration tests at module boundaries, and one end-to-end critical-path test. ## Decision records For each major dependency, document why it was chosen, its failure mode, and how it can be replaced. Do not introduce infrastructure until a requirement justifies it. ===== AGENTS.md ===== # Agent instructions - Read `PRODUCT.md` and `ARCHITECTURE.md` before changing code. - Implement milestone by milestone; keep each change reviewable and leave the application runnable. - Treat authentication, payments, encryption, imports, webhooks, and destructive actions as high-risk boundaries when present. - Never invent cryptography or silently weaken a requirement to make a test pass. - Use provider interfaces for external services and deterministic fakes in tests. - Add migrations and rollback or recovery notes for persistent data changes. - Log useful operational context without credentials, tokens, passwords, or personal data. - Update documentation and run all checks before completing a milestone. ===== MILESTONES.md ===== # Delivery milestones ## M0 — Decisions and scaffold - Confirm the runtime, persistence model, threat boundaries, and deployment target. - Create a reproducible local environment and continuous checks. ## M1 — Core workflow - Implement the smallest end-to-end product path with validation and tests. - Keep integrations behind interfaces. ## M2 — Trust layer - Add secure failure behavior, recovery paths, audit-relevant events, and data safeguards. - Test abuse cases and destructive operations. ## M3 — Operability - Add structured logs, error reporting hooks, health signals, backup/restore documentation, and deployment configuration. ## M4 — Release gate - Run a clean-install test, critical-path end-to-end test, dependency review, and documented rollback exercise. - Compare the shipped behavior with `PRODUCT.md` and publish remaining limitations. ===== OPERATIONS.md ===== # Operations ## Before release - Validate configuration and secrets at startup. - Define backup, restore, and rollback procedures and test them. - Document logs, error tracking, health signals, and alert ownership. - Set dependency update and vulnerability review expectations. ## Incident checklist 1. Contain the issue without destroying evidence or user data. 2. Record the timeline and affected scope. 3. Rotate exposed secrets and revoke compromised sessions or credentials. 4. Restore from a verified source when needed. 5. Document the root cause, remediation, and regression test. ## Launch constraint Do not market omitted Figma capabilities as implemented. The v1 non-goals in `PRODUCT.md` remain user-visible limitations until they are deliberately delivered.
# Figma indie build ## Goal Build the smallest trustworthy replacement for the core Figma workflow for one developer or a tiny team. ## Scope Build a simple canvas editor with rectangles/text/components and export, but expect it to be a toy compared with Figma. ## Quick start 1. Install the documented dependencies. 2. Copy `.env.example` to `.env`. 3. Run the development command chosen during implementation. 4. Complete the acceptance checks in `BUILD_PLAN.md`. ## Honest limits This build deliberately does not replace: - real-time multiplayer that just works - your team, who are all on Figma - the plugin ecosystem - ten years of canvas performance engineering If those capabilities are essential, use Penpot instead of pretending the gap is solved.
# Agent instructions - Optimize for a working, understandable weekend build. - Prefer the fewest moving parts that satisfy the brief. - Do not invent cryptography, security guarantees, APIs, or compliance claims. - Keep secrets out of source control and logs. - Add focused tests for destructive, security-sensitive, and data-loss paths. - Run the project checks before declaring the build complete. - Record any deliberate shortcut in the README under "Tradeoffs".
# Build plan ## Original build brief Build me a single-player vector canvas editor, a weekend sketch of Figma's core canvas. Requirements: - A canvas editor with rectangles, ellipses, text, and frames; select, move, and resize with handles; fill, stroke, and corner-radius controls in a right panel. - A layers list with drag-reorder. - Export the current selection as SVG and PNG. - Local-first: documents persist to IndexedDB, with import and export as JSON. - Vanilla JS or Svelte on a single canvas element, pick the simpler to ship; no backend at all. - No accounts, no telemetry, everything stays in the browser on my machine. - Out of scope: multiplayer, comments, components, auto-layout, and plugins. Do not build any collaboration or sync layer. - README: state that this is not a Figma replacement, the moat is real-time multiplayer plus the network of people already on it, and point to Penpot or Excalidraw for serious single-player use. ## Required capabilities - web canvas/WebGL/SVG expertise - real-time collaboration backend - file format - permissions - plugin model ## Delivery order 1. Scaffold the smallest runnable application and document its commands. 2. Implement the primary data model and core workflow. 3. Add validation, safe failure states, and persistence. 4. Cover the critical path with automated tests. 5. Exercise a clean install from the README and fix every missing step. ## Done when - A new user can go from clone to first successful workflow using only the README. - The core workflow works without paid infrastructure unless the brief requires it. - Tests cover the highest-risk behavior. - Known limitations are explicit rather than hidden.
# Copy to .env and document every variable when it is introduced. # Never put real credentials in this file. APP_ENV=development # Add only values required by the selected implementation.
# Figma product brief ## Problem You can make a small drawing/prototyping tool, but Figma's moat is real-time multiplayer editing, plugin ecosystem, design-system workflows, performance, and enterprise trust. ## Product outcome Build a simple canvas editor with rectangles/text/components and export, but expect it to be a toy compared with Figma. ## Target user A serious builder who needs a maintainable product foundation rather than a one-off demo. ## Required capabilities - web canvas/WebGL/SVG expertise - real-time collaboration backend - file format - permissions - plugin model ## Explicit non-goals for v1 - real-time multiplayer that just works - your team, who are all on Figma - the plugin ecosystem - ten years of canvas performance engineering ## Success criteria - The primary workflow is measurable end to end. - Setup is reproducible in a clean environment. - Failure, recovery, and support paths are documented. - Product claims match what the implementation actually guarantees.
# Architecture ## Starting brief Build me a single-player vector canvas editor, a weekend sketch of Figma's core canvas. Requirements: - A canvas editor with rectangles, ellipses, text, and frames; select, move, and resize with handles; fill, stroke, and corner-radius controls in a right panel. - A layers list with drag-reorder. - Export the current selection as SVG and PNG. - Local-first: documents persist to IndexedDB, with import and export as JSON. - Vanilla JS or Svelte on a single canvas element, pick the simpler to ship; no backend at all. - No accounts, no telemetry, everything stays in the browser on my machine. - Out of scope: multiplayer, comments, components, auto-layout, and plugins. Do not build any collaboration or sync layer. - README: state that this is not a Figma replacement, the moat is real-time multiplayer plus the network of people already on it, and point to Penpot or Excalidraw for serious single-player use. ## Boundaries Separate the product into replaceable modules for interface, application logic, persistence, external integrations, and operational concerns. Keep domain logic independent from delivery frameworks and vendors. ## Production baseline - Configuration: validated at startup with safe local defaults where possible. - Security: least privilege, input validation, secret redaction, rate limits on abuse-prone paths, and no invented security primitives. - Data: explicit schema and migrations, transactional writes where integrity matters, backup and restore instructions. - Integrations: adapters around third-party providers, idempotent webhook or job processing, bounded retries, and timeouts. - Observability: structured logs with request or operation IDs, an error-tracking hook, and health/readiness checks where a server exists. - Quality: unit tests for domain rules, integration tests at module boundaries, and one end-to-end critical-path test. ## Decision records For each major dependency, document why it was chosen, its failure mode, and how it can be replaced. Do not introduce infrastructure until a requirement justifies it.
# Agent instructions - Read `PRODUCT.md` and `ARCHITECTURE.md` before changing code. - Implement milestone by milestone; keep each change reviewable and leave the application runnable. - Treat authentication, payments, encryption, imports, webhooks, and destructive actions as high-risk boundaries when present. - Never invent cryptography or silently weaken a requirement to make a test pass. - Use provider interfaces for external services and deterministic fakes in tests. - Add migrations and rollback or recovery notes for persistent data changes. - Log useful operational context without credentials, tokens, passwords, or personal data. - Update documentation and run all checks before completing a milestone.
# Delivery milestones ## M0 — Decisions and scaffold - Confirm the runtime, persistence model, threat boundaries, and deployment target. - Create a reproducible local environment and continuous checks. ## M1 — Core workflow - Implement the smallest end-to-end product path with validation and tests. - Keep integrations behind interfaces. ## M2 — Trust layer - Add secure failure behavior, recovery paths, audit-relevant events, and data safeguards. - Test abuse cases and destructive operations. ## M3 — Operability - Add structured logs, error reporting hooks, health signals, backup/restore documentation, and deployment configuration. ## M4 — Release gate - Run a clean-install test, critical-path end-to-end test, dependency review, and documented rollback exercise. - Compare the shipped behavior with `PRODUCT.md` and publish remaining limitations.
# Operations ## Before release - Validate configuration and secrets at startup. - Define backup, restore, and rollback procedures and test them. - Document logs, error tracking, health signals, and alert ownership. - Set dependency update and vulnerability review expectations. ## Incident checklist 1. Contain the issue without destroying evidence or user data. 2. Record the timeline and affected scope. 3. Rotate exposed secrets and revoke compromised sessions or credentials. 4. Restore from a verified source when needed. 5. Document the root cause, remediation, and regression test. ## Launch constraint Do not market omitted Figma capabilities as implemented. The v1 non-goals in `PRODUCT.md` remain user-visible limitations until they are deliberately delivered.
$ choose a build depth, inspect the files, then open the complete pack in your agent
They pay because entire product/design teams coordinate inside the file, not because drawing rectangles is hard.
xreal-time multiplayer that just works
xyour team, who are all on Figma
xthe plugin ecosystem
xten years of canvas performance engineering
Don't feel like building it? These folks already made it free.
all 3 free alternatives to Figma →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Figma pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| starter | $0/workspace | $0/workspace | 3 Figma Design/Sites files, 3 FigJam files and 3 Slides files per team; 3 pages per Starter team file; 30-day version history; 150 AI credits/day capped at 500/month. |
| professional, full seat | $20/user | $16/user | 3,000 AI credits/month; unlimited team files and version history. |
| professional, dev seat | $15/user | $12/user | 500 AI credits/month; Dev Mode access without full design editing. |
| professional, collab seat | $5/user | $3/user | 500 AI credits/month; FigJam and Slides editing, but not full Figma Design editing. |
| organization, full seat | — | $55/user | 3,000 AI credits/month; organization-wide libraries and admin controls. |
| organization, dev seat | — | $25/user | 500 AI credits/month; Dev Mode seat. |
| organization, collab seat | — | $5/user | 500 AI credits/month; collaboration seat. |
| enterprise, full seat | — | $90/user | 3,000 AI credits/month; enterprise governance and workspaces. |
| enterprise, dev seat | — | $35/user | 500 AI credits/month; Dev Mode seat. |
| enterprise, collab seat | — | $5/user | 500 AI credits/month; collaboration seat. |
| paid-plan view seat | $0/user | $0/user | Unlimited viewers; 500 AI credits/month; view/comment/basic inspection only. |
free tierStarter: unlimited drafts, but each team gets 3 Design/Sites files, 3 FigJam files and 3 Slides files; 3 pages per team file; 30-day history; 150 AI credits/day up to 500/month.
billingProfessional monthly + annual; Organization and Enterprise annual-only; AI credits reset monthly without rollover
hidden costsExtra AI credits require an add-on subscription or pay-as-you-go usage at prices not publicly listed. On a Professional annual plan, added seats can be charged separately at the full monthly rate until renewal; Organization/Enterprise additions are prorated and invoiced quarterly.
verified 2026-08-11 · source ↗
Is Figma free?
The free Starter plan gives limited access with unlimited drafts and daily AI credits. Paid is Professional Full seat at $20/mo (checked 2026-08-07).
Vibecode Figma
Not really. Figma's value is not the code: Figma's value is multiplayer CRDTs, a decade of canvas engineering, and everyone else being on it. See the honest breakdown above.
How much does Figma cost?
Figma costs about $20/month (Professional Full seat, checked 2026-08-07), which is $240 per year.
What do I lose by replacing Figma?
Honestly: real-time multiplayer that just works; your team, who are all on Figma; the plugin ecosystem; ten years of canvas performance engineering. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Figma?
Yes: Penpot (The real open-source answer: browser UI design, components, tokens, prototypes, comments, and multiplayer without pretending a whiteboard is Figma.) Quant-UX (Browser prototypes, collaboration, user tests, and analytics in one product; weaker than Figma for pixel-perfect design systems.) Lunacy (A polished free desktop UI editor with components, prototypes, cloud documents, and native apps; collaboration limits are small-team sized.) All 3 curated free alternatives are at vibecodeit.com/figma/alternatives. The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.