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Handoff
What it is
Handoff is free, open-source software for documenting and automating design systems for designers, engineers, project managers, content editors, and their agents. Its browser UI, REST API, and MCP server use the same underlying workspace data. A workspace can import design tokens from Figma, then publish tokens, components, documentation, and assets to a registry. Handoff creates documentation pages for React and other component libraries with live previews, properties, and tokens. Its token pipeline converts Figma data into CSS, SCSS, Tailwind, and DTCG outputs. The MCP server offers 56 tools in 12 categories for tokens, components, assets, documentation, previews, building, and synchronization, with compatibility for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and other MCP-speaking tools. A promptable design space supports exploration with approved components, tokens, and brand patterns. Workspaces run locally or through a Postgres-backed registry deployable with Docker or Vercel. Each registry currently serves one workspace. The handoff-app package requires Node 20.9 or later.
For and against
For
- Free and open source
- Figma token import and publishing
- REST API and MCP server
- Documentation pages with live previews
- CSS, SCSS, Tailwind, and DTCG outputs
Against
- Figma is the only wired source
- Each registry serves one workspace
- Requires Node 20.9 or later
- Additional connectors are future direction
The verdict
Handoff brings design-system data, documentation, automation, and agent access into one workspace model. Its Figma-centered pipeline and one-workspace registry limit are important considerations for broader integrations or multi-workspace deployments.
Who it suits
Handoff suits teams maintaining shared design systems across design, engineering, project management, content, and AI-agent workflows. It is also suited to teams using Figma and React or other component libraries.
On the record
- Agent access
- Handoff’s MCP server lets compatible agents including Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf access design system data.handoff.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Agent contributions
- Agents can create component pages and usage guidelines, with team approval.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- API
- Each registry publishes an OpenAPI 3.1 specification for its REST API.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Code documentation
- Handoff can create documentation pages for React or other component libraries, including live previews, properties, and tokens.handoff.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Handoff has a local filesystem-backed workspace mode and a registry mode backed by Postgres; the registry can be deployed with Docker or Vercel.handoff.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Handoff serves design system data through a browser UI, a REST API, and an MCP server that read from the same underlying data.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Figma source
- The docs say Figma is the only source currently wired up, and workspaces can fetch design tokens from Figma.handoff.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Figma workflow
- A workspace can pull design tokens from Figma and push tokens, components, docs, and assets to a registry.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The docs describe deploying a registry with Docker or Vercel.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Install requirement
- The handoff-app package requires Node 20.9 or later.handoff.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Integration availability
- The docs say Figma is the only source wired up today; additional sources, npm packages, and CMS destinations are described as future direction rather than shipped connectors.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Handoff describes itself as built for designers, engineers, project managers, and their agents.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Local requirements
- The workspace install requires Node 20.9 or later.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- MCP support
- The MCP server is described as compatible with Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and other MCP-speaking tools.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- MCP tools
- The documentation lists 56 MCP tools across 12 categories, including tools for tokens, components, assets, documentation, and build and sync workflows.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- Handoff is design system documentation and automation with a UI, REST API, and MCP server reading from the same underlying data.handoff.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Prototype
- The product offers a promptable design space for exploring ideas with approved components, tokens, and brand patterns.handoff.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Prototyping
- The site describes a promptable design space for exploring ideas with approved components, tokens, and brand patterns.handoff.com · read 4 Oct 2026
