How to Set Up a Development Environment for Nutlope/Hallmark

Set up a Hallmark development environment by cloning the repository, installing Node.js (no dependencies required), running npm run serve to start a local demo server, and optionally copying the skill files to Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex.

Hallmark is a self-contained design skill for AI-coding assistants that generates high-quality UI with thematic consistency. Whether you want to run the demo site locally or integrate the skill into your AI workflow, the setup process is minimal. This guide walks you through each step using the actual source structure from Nutlope/hallmark.

Clone the Repository

Start by cloning the repository and entering the project directory:

git clone https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark.git
cd hallmark

The repository contains the skill definition in skills/hallmark/, a static demo site in site/, and project metadata in package.json. No build step or dependency installation is required to run the demo.

Install Node.js (Minimal Requirements)

Hallmark requires only a Node.js runtime—no npm install needed. The package.json file contains zero runtime dependencies and only declares a single serve script.

Install Node.js 18 LTS or later:

# Verify your Node version

node --version  # Should be >= 18.0.0

As shown in the package.json, the project uses a lightweight static server without external packages:

{
  "scripts": {
    "serve": "npx serve@latest site -p 4173"
  },
  "skill": {
    "entry": "skills/hallmark/SKILL.md",
    "references": "skills/hallmark/references/"
  }
}

Run the Demo Server Locally

Start the local development server to view all example pages:

npm run serve

This executes npx serve@latest site -p 4173, which serves the site/ folder on http://localhost:4173. The demo includes generated pages like examples/hum-07 and examples/cobalt-01 that showcase Hallmark's thematic output.

Navigate to http://localhost:4173 in your browser. Press T to cycle through themes—this behavior is implemented in site/js/main.js.

Add the Skill to Your AI Assistant (Optional)

Hallmark's entry point and reference files are defined in package.json under the skill field. Integrate the skill with your preferred AI assistant:

Claude Code

mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/hallmark
cp -r skills/hallmark/* ~/.claude/skills/hallmark/

Restart Claude Code, then invoke commands like hallmark audit or hallmark redesign as documented in skills/hallmark/SKILL.md.

Cursor

mkdir -p .cursor/rules
cp skills/hallmark/SKILL.md .cursor/rules/hallmark.mdc

Cursor loads the rules automatically—no frontmatter required.

Codex

# Personal scope

mkdir -p ~/.codex/skills/hallmark
cp -r skills/hallmark/* ~/.codex/skills/hallmark/

# Or project-scoped

mkdir -p .codex/skills/hallmark
cp -r skills/hallmark/* .codex/skills/hallmark/

Explore the Reference Material

The skills/hallmark/references/ directory contains the design specifications that drive Hallmark's behavior:

• Macrostructures – layout patterns and component hierarchies
• Themes – color systems, typography scales, and spacing tokens
• Slop-test rules – quality gates to prevent generic output
• Usage verbs – audit, redesign, study command definitions

These markdown files are read by the skill during its pre-flight scan, which automatically detects existing package.json, tailwind.config.*, or token files in your target project.

Iterate and Test Changes

Edit any source file and refresh your browser to see changes immediately:

# Example: modify a theme token

echo '{ "primary": "#ff6b6b" }' > site/themes/custom.json

The skill's pre-flight scan preserves your project's existing configuration—fonts, color palettes, and spacing scales—before generating new UI. This behavior is defined in skills/hallmark/SKILL.md under the "0. Pre-flight Scan" section.

Key Files in the Repository

File	Purpose
package.json	Declares skill entry point (skills/hallmark/SKILL.md), reference folder, and serve script
skills/hallmark/SKILL.md	Core rule-set driving all verbs and design flow
skills/hallmark/references/	Design specifications: macrostructures, themes, slop-tests
site/	Static HTML/CSS demo assets
site/js/main.js	Demo navigation and theme cycling

Summary

• Clone Nutlope/hallmark to get the skill definition and demo site
• Install Node.js 18+—no npm install required due to zero runtime dependencies
• Run npm run serve to start a local server on port 4173
• Copy skill files to ~/.claude/skills/, .cursor/rules/, or ~/.codex/skills/ for AI assistant integration
• Reference files in skills/hallmark/references/ control all design behavior and quality gates

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hallmark require npm dependencies to run?

No. Hallmark has zero runtime dependencies. The package.json only declares metadata and a serve script that uses npx serve@latest to launch a static server. You can run the demo immediately after cloning with npm run serve.

How do I update the skill after installing it to Claude Code?

Re-copy the skills/hallmark/ directory to your Claude Code skills folder whenever you pull updates from the repository. The skill does not auto-update, so manual synchronization ensures you have the latest reference files and rule definitions.

Can I use Hallmark without running the local server?

Yes. The local server is only needed to preview the demo site. You can copy the skill files directly to your AI assistant and use Hallmark's verbs (audit, redesign, study) without ever starting npm run serve.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}