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Onlook

Cursor for Designers – a visual code editor with AI that lets you design, prototype, and edit React websites directly in the browser.

Introduction

Onlook – Cursor for Designers

Onlook is a next‑generation visual code editor that bridges the gap between design and development. It lets designers, product managers, and developers work on live React/Next.js codebases with an infinite canvas, AI‑powered assistance, and real‑time code synchronization.


Key Features
  • Live Visual Editing: Drag‑and‑drop, resize, and reposition elements directly on the page while the underlying React code updates instantly.
  • AI‑Driven Design: Generate layouts, components, and styling suggestions with AI, turning natural language prompts into production‑ready code.
  • Component Library & Reusability: Create reusable components, version them, and swap them across projects without breaking the code.
  • Instant Prototyping: Start a blank project or import an existing Next.js app; the tool automatically maps the component tree for visual editing.
  • Version & Revision History: Track changes, revert to previous versions, and collaborate with teammates in real time.
  • Integrated Chat & Code Assistant: Ask the AI for design advice, code snippets, or bug fixes while you work.
  • Export & Publish: Deploy directly to a custom domain, or export the code to continue development locally.
  • Open‑Source & Extensible: The core is open‑source, allowing developers to contribute plugins or integrate custom workflows.

Use Cases
  • Design‑First Development: Designers can prototype UI directly on the live codebase, eliminating hand‑off delays.
  • Rapid MVP Building: Start with a blank canvas, generate UI components via AI, and have a functional React app in minutes.
  • Component Refactoring: Visualize component hierarchies, extract reusable parts, and refactor without leaving the UI.
  • Team Collaboration: Designers and engineers work on the same canvas, seeing each other's changes instantly.
  • Learning & Teaching: New developers can see how UI changes map to JSX/TSX, accelerating learning of React.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What kind of projects can I build with Onlook? A: Any web‑based project built with React, Next.js, or Tailwind. You can also import static HTML sites for quick redesign.

Q: Do I need to know code to use Onlook? A: No. The AI assistant can generate code from natural language, but you can also dive into the generated JSX/TSX for fine‑tuning.

Q: Where is my code stored? A: All changes are written locally to your project files. Onlook never hosts your source code on its servers.

Q: Is Onlook free? A: There is a free tier with unlimited projects and core features. Paid plans unlock advanced AI credits, team collaboration, and priority support.

Q: How does Onlook differ from Figma or other design tools? A: Onlook edits the actual code, not a design mock‑up. The design you see is the final product, eliminating the need for a separate hand‑off step.


Getting Started
  1. Sign Up – No credit card required.
  2. Create a Project – Choose a blank canvas or import a GitHub repo.
  3. Design with AI – Use the chat to generate components or ask for style suggestions.
  4. Export & Deploy – Publish to a custom domain or continue development locally.

Onlook empowers you to iterate faster, reduce friction between design and development, and ship high‑quality web experiences with AI assistance.


Ready to design with code? Visit https://onlook.com and start building today.