Basecoat UI
shadcn/ui without React
- Theming
What Is the Basecoat UI?
Basecoat UI is a modern, MIT-licensed Tailwind CSS component library that recreates the shadcn/ui experience without React. It uses clean, readable classes, minimal vanilla JS for interactivity, and works with virtually any backend or frontend stack.
Key stats & terms:
Framework-agnostic: usable with Laravel, Rails, Django, Flask, Astro, or plain HTML.
Licensing: MIT (free & permissive).
Accessibility: components follow a11y best practices.
What Features Stand Out? ✨
Lightweight styles with no runtime JS; tiny vanilla JS only where needed
Clean class names (avoid “class soup”)
Themeable and dark-mode ready; compatible with shadcn/ui themes
Accessible defaults (ARIA, focus, keyboard)
Works anywhere Tailwind runs; framework-agnostic
Optional CLI to scaffold and speed setup
Open source (MIT) with docs and examples
What’s Included Out of the Box? 📒
You’ll find essentials like buttons, inputs/forms, cards, alerts, nav elements, dialogs/modals, dropdowns/menus, tabs, accordions, toasts, and more; structured to keep HTML readable and theming consistent. (Exact set evolves; check docs for the latest.)
What Are the Pros and Cons?
Pros ✅
No React required; bring shadcn/ui-style design to any stack
Readable HTML—maintainable Tailwind without massive utility chains
Theme compatibility with shadcn/ui; dark mode support
Tiny JS footprint and focus on accessibility
MIT license for commercial projects
Cons ⚠️
Component breadth still growing compared to older kits
JS-heavy widgets may need extra wiring (since there’s no React runtime)
Ecosystem size smaller than long-standing libraries (e.g., Flowbite/Preline)
How Does It Integrate?
Works with: Laravel, Rails, Django, Flask, Astro, Hugo, or plain HTML
Tailwind CSS required; plays nicely with existing Tailwind configs
Optional Alpine.js for simple interactivity if desired
Theme sharing with shadcn/ui design tokens/themes
CLI & docs guide install and scaffolding
FAQ
Is Basecoat UI free for commercial use?
Yes, it’s MIT-licensed, so commercial use is allowed.
Do I need React or Next.js?
No. It’s built for plain HTML + Tailwind and any web stack.
Can I use shadcn/ui themes with it?
Yes. It’s compatible with shadcn/ui themes and supports dark mode.
How much JavaScript is required?
Only a tiny amount for interactive parts; there’s no JS runtime by default.