Purpose
- Produce an ASCII Text UI (TUI) representation of Form.
- Always output layout attributes (top/left/width/height, spacing, colors, typography, zIndex).
- Always output Pencil MCP–ready specs and a
batch_designplan (≤25 operations per call).
Workflow
- Parse input — Read the input model JSON (widthCols, grid, props, state, style, typography, layout, hotkeys).
- Calculate layout — Convert column/row positions to pixel coordinates using the grid (cellWidthPx=8, cellHeightPx=16).
- Render TUI_RENDER — Build the monospace ASCII art with box-drawing characters, respecting widthCols.
- Build COMPONENT_SPEC — Emit the JSON spec with bbox, style, typography, state, and hotkeys.
- Build PENCIL_SPEC — Emit the canvas and component list for Pencil MCP.
- Plan PENCIL_BATCH_DESIGN — Emit batch_design calls (max 25 ops per call) to create the design in Pencil.
- Validate — Verify bbox dimensions in COMPONENT_SPEC match the TUI_RENDER grid; confirm batch ops stay within the 25-op limit.
Input Model (Recommended)
{
"widthCols": 70,
"grid": { "cellWidthPx": 8, "cellHeightPx": 16 },
"props": {},
"modelValue": null,
"state": { "focused": false, "disabled": false, "loading": false, "error": null },
"style": {
"fillColor": "#ffffff",
"textColor": "#111111",
"strokeColor": "#e5e7eb",
"strokeThickness": 1,
"cornerRadius": 12
},
"typography": { "fontFamily": "Inter", "fontSize": 14, "fontWeight": 400, "lineHeight": 20 },
"layout": { "paddingPx": 16, "gapPx": 8 },
"hotkeys": []
}
Output Contract (Mandatory)
OUTPUT: TUI_RENDER
...monospace-only text...
OUTPUT: COMPONENT_SPEC
{
"id": "tui-form_1",
"name": "Form",
"type": "tui-form",
"bbox": { "topPx": 0, "leftPx": 0, "widthPx": 0, "heightPx": 0 },
"zIndex": 1,
"layout": { "paddingPx": 16, "gapPx": 8, "align": "left", "valign": "top" },
"style": {
"fillColor": "#ffffff",
"textColor": "#111111",
"strokeColor": "#e5e7eb",
"strokeThickness": 1,
"cornerRadius": 12,
"opacity": 1
},
"typography": { "fontFamily": "Inter", "fontSize": 14, "fontWeight": 400, "lineHeight": 20 },
"overflow": { "mode": "truncate", "ellipsis": "…", "maxLines": 1 },
"state": { "focused": false, "disabled": false, "loading": false, "error": null },
"hotkeys": []
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_SPEC
{
"canvas": { "widthPx": 390, "heightPx": 844, "backgroundColor": "#ffffff" },
"grid": { "cellWidthPx": 8, "cellHeightPx": 16 },
"nodes": [],
"components": []
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_BATCH_DESIGN
CALL 1:
root=G()
screen=I(root,{type:"frame",name:"Screen"})
U(screen,{width:390,height:844,x:0,y:0})
CALL 2:
cmpBg=I(screen,{type:"rect",name:"Form/Background"})
U(cmpBg,{x:24,y:24,width:342,height:96,fillColor:"#ffffff",strokeColor:"#e5e7eb",strokeThickness:1,cornerRadius:12})
cmpText=I(screen,{type:"text",name:"Form/Text",content:"Form"})
U(cmpText,{x:40,y:56,width:310,height:20,textColor:"#111111",fontFamily:"Inter",fontSize:14,fontWeight:600})
Rendering Rules (Component-Level)
Follow the shared rules from tui-front-ui:
- No TAB characters.
- Do not exceed
widthCols. - Provide a header row, body area, and minimal hotkeys if interactive.
disabled=truemust suppress interaction hints.loading=truemust show a stable placeholder.error!=nullmust be printed in a single line footer (truncated to width).
Component Mapping (Actionable)
Represent a form as an ordered list of fields inside props:
fields: Array<{ id: string, label: string, value: string, required?: boolean, placeholder?: string, error?: string, type?: "text" | "number" | "password" }>submitLabel?: string(optional action hint)readonly?: boolean(disables editing; still allows navigation)
Rendering rules:
- One row per field, aligned as
Label: [ value ]. - Required fields show
*after the label. - A field error renders on the next line as
Error: ...(truncate to width).
Interaction:
<up>/<down>change active field<enter>edit/commit<esc>back
Examples (Must include all output blocks)
Example 1 — Minimal / default
OUTPUT: TUI_RENDER
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [Form] │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ (default state) │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
OUTPUT: COMPONENT_SPEC
{
"id": "tui-form_ex1",
"name": "Form",
"type": "tui-form",
"bbox": { "topPx": 24, "leftPx": 24, "widthPx": 342, "heightPx": 96 },
"zIndex": 1,
"layout": { "paddingPx": 16, "gapPx": 8, "align": "left", "valign": "top" },
"style": { "fillColor": "#ffffff", "textColor": "#111111", "strokeColor": "#e5e7eb", "strokeThickness": 1, "cornerRadius": 12, "opacity": 1 },
"typography": { "fontFamily": "Inter", "fontSize": 14, "fontWeight": 400, "lineHeight": 20 },
"overflow": { "mode": "truncate", "ellipsis": "…", "maxLines": 1 },
"state": { "focused": false, "disabled": false, "loading": false, "error": null },
"hotkeys": []
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_SPEC
{
"canvas": { "widthPx": 390, "heightPx": 844, "backgroundColor": "#ffffff" },
"grid": { "cellWidthPx": 8, "cellHeightPx": 16 },
"nodes": [],
"components": [
{ "id": "tui-form_ex1", "name": "Form", "bbox": { "topPx": 24, "leftPx": 24, "widthPx": 342, "heightPx": 96 }, "zIndex": 1 }
]
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_BATCH_DESIGN
CALL 1:
root=G()
screen=I(root,{type:"frame",name:"Screen"})
U(screen,{width:390,height:844,x:0,y:0})
CALL 2:
cmpBg=I(screen,{type:"rect",name:"Form/Background"})
U(cmpBg,{x:24,y:24,width:342,height:96,fillColor:"#ffffff",strokeColor:"#e5e7eb",strokeThickness:1,cornerRadius:12})
cmpText=I(screen,{type:"text",name:"Form/Text",content:"Form"})
U(cmpText,{x:40,y:56,width:310,height:20,textColor:"#111111",fontFamily:"Inter",fontSize:14,fontWeight:600})
Example 2 — Styled / customized
OUTPUT: TUI_RENDER
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [Form] │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ (custom style: strong border, increased padding) │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
OUTPUT: COMPONENT_SPEC
{
"id": "tui-form_ex2",
"name": "Form",
"type": "tui-form",
"bbox": { "topPx": 24, "leftPx": 24, "widthPx": 342, "heightPx": 104 },
"zIndex": 1,
"layout": { "paddingPx": 20, "gapPx": 10, "align": "left", "valign": "top" },
"style": { "fillColor": "#ffffff", "textColor": "#111111", "strokeColor": "#111111", "strokeThickness": 2, "cornerRadius": 12, "opacity": 1 },
"typography": { "fontFamily": "Inter", "fontSize": 14, "fontWeight": 600, "lineHeight": 20 },
"overflow": { "mode": "truncate", "ellipsis": "…", "maxLines": 1 },
"state": { "focused": false, "disabled": false, "loading": false, "error": null },
"hotkeys": []
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_SPEC
{
"canvas": { "widthPx": 390, "heightPx": 844, "backgroundColor": "#ffffff" },
"grid": { "cellWidthPx": 8, "cellHeightPx": 16 },
"nodes": [],
"components": [
{ "id": "tui-form_ex2", "name": "Form", "bbox": { "topPx": 24, "leftPx": 24, "widthPx": 342, "heightPx": 104 }, "zIndex": 1 }
]
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_BATCH_DESIGN
CALL 1:
root=G()
screen=I(root,{type:"frame",name:"Screen"})
U(screen,{width:390,height:844,x:0,y:0})
CALL 2:
cmpBg=I(screen,{type:"rect",name:"Form/Background"})
U(cmpBg,{x:24,y:24,width:342,height:104,fillColor:"#ffffff",strokeColor:"#111111",strokeThickness:2,cornerRadius:12})
cmpText=I(screen,{type:"text",name:"Form/Text",content:"Form"})
U(cmpText,{x:40,y:60,width:310,height:20,textColor:"#111111",fontFamily:"Inter",fontSize:14,fontWeight:600})
Example 3 — Disabled / error / edge-case
OUTPUT: TUI_RENDER
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [Form] Disabled │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Error: Something went wrong… │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
OUTPUT: COMPONENT_SPEC
{
"id": "tui-form_ex3",
"name": "Form",
"type": "tui-form",
"bbox": { "topPx": 24, "leftPx": 24, "widthPx": 342, "heightPx": 112 },
"zIndex": 1,
"layout": { "paddingPx": 16, "gapPx": 8, "align": "left", "valign": "top" },
"style": { "fillColor": "#ffffff", "textColor": "#6b7280", "strokeColor": "#e5e7eb", "strokeThickness": 1, "cornerRadius": 12, "opacity": 1 },
"typography": { "fontFamily": "Inter", "fontSize": 14, "fontWeight": 400, "lineHeight": 20 },
"overflow": { "mode": "truncate", "ellipsis": "…", "maxLines": 1 },
"state": { "focused": false, "disabled": true, "loading": false, "error": "Something went wrong" },
"hotkeys": []
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_SPEC
{
"canvas": { "widthPx": 390, "heightPx": 844, "backgroundColor": "#ffffff" },
"grid": { "cellWidthPx": 8, "cellHeightPx": 16 },
"nodes": [],
"components": [
{ "id": "tui-form_ex3", "name": "Form", "bbox": { "topPx": 24, "leftPx": 24, "widthPx": 342, "heightPx": 112 }, "zIndex": 1 }
]
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_BATCH_DESIGN
CALL 1:
root=G()
screen=I(root,{type:"frame",name:"Screen"})
U(screen,{width:390,height:844,x:0,y:0})
CALL 2:
cmpBg=I(screen,{type:"rect",name:"Form/Background"})
U(cmpBg,{x:24,y:24,width:342,height:112,fillColor:"#ffffff",strokeColor:"#e5e7eb",strokeThickness:1,cornerRadius:12,opacity:1})
cmpText=I(screen,{type:"text",name:"Form/Error",content:"Error: Something went wrong…"})
U(cmpText,{x:40,y:60,width:310,height:20,textColor:"#6b7280",fontFamily:"Inter",fontSize:14,fontWeight:400})
Example 4 — Two fields with required + validation
OUTPUT: TUI_RENDER
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [Form] │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Username*: [ ada_lovelace________________________ ] │
│ Email*: [ ada@example.com______________________ ] │
│ Error: Email must contain '@' │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Keys: <up>/<down> field <enter> edit <esc> back │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
OUTPUT: COMPONENT_SPEC
{
"id": "tui-form_ex4",
"name": "Form",
"type": "tui-form",
"bbox": { "topPx": 96, "leftPx": 24, "widthPx": 342, "heightPx": 152 },
"zIndex": 1,
"layout": { "paddingPx": 16, "gapPx": 8, "align": "left", "valign": "top" },
"style": { "fillColor": "#ffffff", "textColor": "#111111", "strokeColor": "#e5e7eb", "strokeThickness": 1, "cornerRadius": 12, "opacity": 1 },
"typography": { "fontFamily": "Inter", "fontSize": 14, "fontWeight": 400, "lineHeight": 20 },
"overflow": { "mode": "wrap", "ellipsis": "…", "maxLines": 0 },
"state": { "focused": true, "disabled": false, "loading": false, "error": "Email must contain '@'" },
"hotkeys": ["<up>", "<down>", "<enter>", "<esc>"]
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_SPEC
{
"canvas": { "widthPx": 390, "heightPx": 844, "backgroundColor": "#ffffff" },
"grid": { "cellWidthPx": 8, "cellHeightPx": 16 },
"nodes": [],
"components": [
{ "id": "tui-form_ex4", "name": "Form", "bbox": { "topPx": 96, "leftPx": 24, "widthPx": 342, "heightPx": 152 }, "zIndex": 1 }
]
}
OUTPUT: PENCIL_BATCH_DESIGN
CALL 1:
root=G()
screen=I(root,{type:"frame",name:"Screen"})
U(screen,{width:390,height:844,x:0,y:0})
CALL 2:
bg=I(screen,{type:"rect",name:"Form/Background"})
U(bg,{x:24,y:96,width:342,height:152,fillColor:"#ffffff",strokeColor:"#e5e7eb",strokeThickness:1,cornerRadius:12})
u=I(screen,{type:"text",name:"Form/Row1",content:"Username*: [ ada_lovelace ]"})
U(u,{x:40,y:120,width:310,height:20,textColor:"#111111",fontFamily:"Inter",fontSize:14,fontWeight:400})
e=I(screen,{type:"text",name:"Form/Row2",content:"Email*: [ ada@example.com ]"})
U(e,{x:40,y:144,width:310,height:20,textColor:"#111111",fontFamily:"Inter",fontSize:14,fontWeight:400})
err=I(screen,{type:"text",name:"Form/Error",content:"Error: Email must contain '@'"})
U(err,{x:40,y:168,width:310,height:20,textColor:"#ef4444",fontFamily:"Inter",fontSize:12,fontWeight:400})
Component Summary Row (for page aggregation)
| id | name | top | left | width | height | z | keyProps | state | hotkeys |
| tui-form | Form | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | keyProps=... | state=... | hotkeys=... |