- Home
- Design System Software
- Spec Layer
Spec Layer
What it is
Spec Layer turns Figma components, variables, and styles into specifications for teams and AI coding agents. It adds component documentation and foundation references to the Figma canvas, including measurements, variants, anatomy, and token tables. Component specifications can be copied as YAML or Markdown, while variables and styles can be exported as DTCG JSON. A CLI brings published specifications and design tokens into a repository and can export CSS custom properties for web projects; it requires Node.js 22 or newer. Canonical JSON supports validation, inspection, and integrations. The MIT-licensed plugin has no user accounts, and deterministic measurements, states, anatomy, and tokens run locally in Figma. If AI writing is requested, derived component summaries and sometimes rendered images are sent through Spec Layer to Anthropic. Foundation writing sends token names and resolved values without a component image. The free plan covers one Figma file, ten publishing updates per month, and 20 AI writing uses in the first 30 days, then ten per month. Pro costs $7.99 a month and supports up to ten files. Published libraries have a 5 MB limit.
For and against
For
- Documents measurements, variants, anatomy, and tokens.
- Exports component specifications as YAML or Markdown.
- CLI can deliver tokens to repositories.
- Plugin has no user accounts.
- MIT licensed.
Against
- CLI requires Node.js 22 or newer.
- Free plan is limited to one Figma file.
- Published libraries have a 5 MB limit.
- AI writing sends derived data to Anthropic.
The verdict
Spec Layer offers several specification and token formats, from Figma canvas documentation to repository exports. Its local processing scope differs from AI writing, which sends derived data through the service to Anthropic.
Who it suits
Spec Layer suits design teams that need to document Figma components and foundations for developers or AI coding agents. Teams that want repository delivery can use its CLI if Node.js 22 or newer is available.
Plans and prices
Free
1 Figma file · 10 publishing updates/month · 20 AI writing uses first 30 days, then 10/month
Read 30 Sep 2026 · spec-layer.com
Pro
Up to 10 Figma files · unlimited updates under fair use · AI writing with no fixed cap for normal individual use · priority support
Read 30 Sep 2026 · spec-layer.com
Teams
Team licensing · agreed file and usage limits · onboarding and workflow guidance · custom integration scoping
Read 30 Sep 2026 · spec-layer.com
On the record
- AI context export
- Component specifications can be copied for coding agents as YAML or Markdown, while variables and styles can be exported as DTCG JSON.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- AI data flow
- When AI writing is requested, a derived component summary and sometimes a rendered image are sent through Spec Layer to Anthropic; foundation writing sends token names and resolved values without a component image.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Canvas documentation
- It creates component specifications and foundation references on the Figma canvas, including measurements, variants, anatomy, and token tables.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- CLI requirement
- The CLI requires Node.js 22 or newer.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- Canonical JSON is provided for validation, inspection, and building integrations, while Teams plans include custom integration scoping.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- License
- Spec Layer is MIT licensed.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Output formats
- The product supports canvas documentation, component YAML, component Markdown, foundation DTCG JSON, web CSS tokens, and canonical JSON.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Privacy
- The plugin has no user accounts, and deterministic measurements, states, anatomy, and tokens run locally in Figma without sending data elsewhere.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Publishing limit
- A published library has a 5 MB limit, and the Pro license can publish up to 10 libraries.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Spec Layer turns Figma components, variables, and styles into precise specifications for teams and AI coding agents.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Repository delivery
- The CLI pulls published component specifications and design tokens into a repository and can export CSS custom properties for web projects.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Security architecture
- The backend runs on Cloudflare Workers, the Anthropic API key remains server-side, prompts, rendered images, and generated text are never logged, and payment cards are handled by Lemon Squeezy.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- Spec Layer is maintained by an independent developer and support replies are expected within a few business days.spec-layer.com · read 30 Sep 2026
