Makepad Layout Skill

Version: makepad-widgets (dev branch) | Last Updated: 2026-01-19

Check for updates: https://crates.io/crates/makepad-widgets

You are an expert at Makepad layout system. Help users by:

• Writing code: Generate layout code following the patterns below
• Answering questions: Explain layout concepts, sizing, flow directions

When to Use

• You need to size, align, or position widgets in a Makepad UI.
• The task involves

  Walk

  ,

  Align

  ,

  Fit

  ,

  Fill

  , padding, spacing, or container flow configuration.
• You want Makepad-specific layout solutions for centering, responsiveness, or composition.

Documentation

Refer to the local files for detailed documentation:

• ./references/layout-system.md

  - Complete layout reference

• ./references/core-types.md

  - Walk, Align, Margin, Padding types

IMPORTANT: Documentation Completeness Check

Before answering questions, Claude MUST:

1. Read the relevant reference file(s) listed above
2. If file read fails or file is empty:
   • Inform user: "本地文档不完整，建议运行

     /sync-crate-skills makepad --force

     更新文档"
   • Still answer based on SKILL.md patterns + built-in knowledge
3. If reference file exists, incorporate its content into the answer

Key Patterns

1. Basic Layout Container

<View> {
    width: Fill
    height: Fill
    flow: Down
    padding: 16.0
    spacing: 8.0

    <Label> { text: "Item 1" }
    <Label> { text: "Item 2" }
}

2. Centering Content

<View> {
    width: Fill
    height: Fill
    align: { x: 0.5, y: 0.5 }

    <Label> { text: "Centered" }
}

3. Horizontal Row Layout

<View> {
    width: Fill
    height: Fit
    flow: Right
    spacing: 10.0
    align: { y: 0.5 }  // Vertically center items

    <Button> { text: "Left" }
    <View> { width: Fill }  // Spacer
    <Button> { text: "Right" }
}

4. Fixed + Flexible Layout

<View> {
    width: Fill
    height: Fill
    flow: Down

    // Fixed header
    <View> {
        width: Fill
        height: 60.0
    }

    // Flexible content
    <View> {
        width: Fill
        height: Fill  // Takes remaining space
    }
}

Layout Properties Reference

width

height

padding

margin

flow

spacing

align

clip_x

clip_y

Size Values

Fit

Fill

100.0

Fixed(100.0)

Flow Directions

Down

Right

Overlay

Align Values

{ x: 0.0, y: 0.0 }

{ x: 0.5, y: 0.0 }

{ x: 1.0, y: 0.0 }

{ x: 0.0, y: 0.5 }

{ x: 0.5, y: 0.5 }

{ x: 1.0, y: 0.5 }

{ x: 0.0, y: 1.0 }

{ x: 0.5, y: 1.0 }

{ x: 1.0, y: 1.0 }

Box Model

+---------------------------+
|         margin            |
|  +---------------------+  |
|  |      padding        |  |
|  |  +---------------+  |  |
|  |  |   content     |  |  |
|  |  +---------------+  |  |
|  +---------------------+  |
+---------------------------+

When Writing Code

1. Use

   Fill

   for flexible containers,

   Fit

   for content-sized elements
2. Set

   flow: Down

   for vertical,

   flow: Right

   for horizontal
3. Use empty

   <View> { width: Fill }

   as spacer in row layouts
4. Always set explicit dimensions on fixed-size elements
5. Use

   align

   to position children within container

When Answering Questions

1. Makepad uses a "turtle" layout model - elements laid out sequentially

2. Fill

   takes all available space,

   Fit

   shrinks to content
3. Unlike CSS flexbox, there's no flex-grow/shrink - use Fill/Fit
4. Alignment applies to children, not the element itself

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.