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[en] Build a theme with an AI coding assistant

[en] An AI coding assistant, such as Claude Code or GitHub Copilot, can build or change a theme from a description of what you want. You don't need to explain Paligo's rules to it first. Paligo Base includes an AGENTS.md file with instructions for coding assistants. It describes:

  • [en] the files a theme needs, and how to package them

  • [en] the rules a theme must follow to work with Paligo, such as keeping paligo.head and paligo.foot and the search box's class names

  • [en] the parts of Twig that templates can use

  • [en] the information and components that Paligo gives a template

  • [en] how to declare theme options

  • [en] how to check the result

[en] Coding assistants read AGENTS.md when they start working in a folder. Claude Code reads CLAUDE.md instead, and the CLAUDE.md in Paligo Base tells it to read AGENTS.md.

[en] To build a theme with an AI coding assistant:

  1. [en] Download Paligo Base, as described in [en] Download a theme, and unzip it.

  2. [en] Open the theme folder in Visual Studio Code, and start [en] Paligo Theme Studio's preview, as described in [en] Preview a theme in Paligo Theme Studio.

  3. [en] Start your coding assistant in the theme folder.

  4. [en] Describe the theme you want. For example:

    [en] Change the colors and fonts to match our website, use our logo in the portal banner, and add links to our support pages to the footer.

    [en] The preview updates each time the assistant saves a file, so you can follow its changes.

  5. [en] Check the result in the preview: on a topic page, the portal page and the search page, and in light and dark mode. Ask the assistant to change anything that isn't right.

  6. [en] When the theme is ready, upload it to a layout, as described in [en] Upload a custom theme, or push it from Theme Studio, as described in [en] Push a theme to a layout.

    [en] If Paligo reports a problem with the theme, give the assistant the messages, and it can fix them. For what they mean, see [en] Theme validation messages.

Tipp

[en] An assistant that can control a web browser can also look at the preview itself. Open the preview in a browser, as described in [en] Open the preview in a browser, and the assistant can read the page, follow links and check how it looks.

Anmerkung

[en] Keep AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md in your theme if you go on working on it with a coding assistant. Paligo doesn't publish them.