Skill v1.0.1
currentAutomated scan100/100+5 new
version: "1.0.1" name: platform-widget-generate description: "Use this skill to author a complete HXL WidgetBundle (UEM body + schema.json + -meta.xml). TRIGGER when: user asks for a widget, mosaic, fragment, card, or rich UI surface for any subject, domain, feature, or entity noun; the prompt names only an entity or data shape without invoking Lightning Types, CLTs, or Apex-backed types. DO NOT TRIGGER when: the prompt explicitly says 'Lightning Type', 'CLT', 'Custom Lightning Type', 'Apex-backed type', or references '@apexClassType/...' (use platform-lightning-type-widget-coordinate); authoring a custom-LWC renderer for a Custom Lightning Type (use platform-custom-lightning-type-generate); or editing only an LWC component." metadata: version: "1.3" domains: ["Platform", "Agentforce"] minApiVersion: "68.0" relatedSkills:
- "platform-apex-generate"
- "platform-custom-lightning-type-generate"
- "platform-lightning-type-widget-coordinate"
mcpTools: metadata-experts: tools: ["execute_metadata_action"] semver: ">=1.0.0"
Generating a Widget Bundle
Author a complete WidgetBundle: a UEM tree (tile/widget), a JSON Schema describing the widget's input contract, and the .uiwidget-meta.xml that registers the bundle.
When to Use This Skill
Use when the user asks for a widget, mosaic, fragment, or card-style rich UI surface. Do not use this skill for custom-LWC renderers or for renderer.json files inside a Custom Lightning Type bundle — those belong to platform-custom-lightning-type-generate.
Inputs
- `widgetName` (required) —
camelCaseidentifier; becomes the directory name underuiWidgets/. - A shape — what data the widget renders. The widget cannot be generated without it. The shape arrives one of two ways, in priority order:
- `lightningTypeSchema` —
{ path, apexClassFqn }for an existing Apex-backed Lightning Type. The FQN takes one of two forms: outer-class (<namespace>__<ClassName>) where the outer class is the payload, or inner-class (<namespace>__<ClassName>$<InnerClass>) where the named inner class is the payload. Passed in by theplatform-lightning-type-widget-coordinateorchestrator. When present, derive perreferences/schema-from-lightning-type.md. - Extracted from the user's prompt — when no
lightningTypeSchemais passed, infer the shape directly from what the user wrote: a pasted JSON payload, an enumerated field list ("id as string, total as number"), or descriptive prose. The output is the same ordered list of{ name, type, required }either way.
If neither source yields a shape, STOP and ask the user before proceeding.
Output
Three files in <pkgDir>/uiWidgets/<widgetName>/:
| File | Content | |
|---|---|---|
<widgetName>.json | Widget envelope — { "type": "lightning__agentforceWidget", "contentBody": { "widgetBody": { UEM tree rooted at tile/widget } } } | |
schema.json | JSON Schema — root has type: "object" + properties.attributes wrapper carrying lightning:type: "lightning__objectType" and the field properties | |
<widgetName>.uiwidget-meta.xml | <UiWidgetBundle> element with <masterLabel>, <description>, and <widgetType>JSON</widgetType> |
See references/widget-bundle-layout.md for the <pkgDir> resolution procedure and the exact <widgetName>.uiwidget-meta.xml shape.
Composition
A widget body is a UEM tree of blocks nested under contentBody.widgetBody. The root node is tile/widget. Every node — root and non-root — has the same shape: no type key; just definition, optional attributes, optional meta, and optional children. Block shape:
interface Block {definition: string // {namespace}/{blockName} — root is "tile/widget"attributes?: Record<string, any>meta?: { // see references/widget-meta-directives.mdforEach?: stringforItem?: stringif?: string}children?: Block[]}
The first child of tile/widget.children SHOULD be a single tile/column. All widget content typically goes inside that first child for predictable vertical structure across surfaces.
Available Metadata Actions
discoverUiComponents
Purpose: Discover the palette of blocks available for composition.
Required parameters: actionName: "discoverUiComponents", metadataType: "FRAGMENT", parameters.pageType: "FRAGMENT". Optional: searchQuery to filter by name/description.
Returns: list of { definition, description, label, attributes? }.
getUiComponentSchemas
Purpose: Fetch JSON schemas (property types, required vs optional, validation) for selected blocks.
Required parameters: actionName: "getUiComponentSchemas", metadataType: "FRAGMENT", parameters.pageType: "FRAGMENT", parameters.componentDefinitions: ["namespace/definition", ...]. Optional: includeKnowledge (default true).
Returns: componentSchemas[] — success entries carry the JSON schema, failure entries carry an error message. Partial failures are supported.
Never passtile/widgettogetUiComponentSchemas— it is a fixed wrapper, not a queryable component.
Attribute Binding
- Bind a block property to runtime data with
{!$attrs.<attrName>}.<attrName>MUST match a property name inschema.json. - Inside a
forEach, reference the loop variable instead — e.g."text": "{!$item.name}". Seereferences/widget-meta-directives.md.
Actions
tile/button supports an actions attribute that dispatches an action node on an event. Two action definitions are supported:
| Action | Timing | Required attributes | Effect | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
action/openLink | synchronous | url (string). Optional target (_blank\ | _self, default _blank) | Opens a URL | |
action/sendMessage | asynchronous | content (string) | Posts a new user message back to the agent and earns a fresh turn |
{"definition": "tile/button","attributes": {"label": "Button Label","variant": "primary","actions": { "click": [ { "definition": "action/sendMessage", "attributes": { "content": "content" } } ] }}}
{"definition": "tile/button","attributes": {"label": "Button Label","variant": "primary","actions": { "click": [ { "definition": "action/openLink", "attributes": { "url": "https://www.example.com", "target": "_blank" } } ] }}}
A `tile/button` with no `actions` attribute renders disabled — a button exists to trigger an action, so always attach a click action to a button meant to be interactive.
Layout Best Practices
These conventions cover widget structure — how blocks are grouped and stacked.
| Primitive | Purpose | When to use | |
|---|---|---|---|
tile/column | Vertical stack of children | Root wrapper, and any group of blocks that should stack | |
tile/row | Horizontal stack of children | Two or more blocks that belong on the same line | |
tile/spacer | Whitespace between blocks | When extra space is needed between content groups |
- Nesting: Prefer flat layouts. Only nest a
tile/columninside atile/row(or vice versa) when the visual orientation actually changes for that subgroup. - Authoritative palette: the table above lists typical layout primitives. Always confirm a block exists by inspecting
discoverUiComponentsoutput — do not assume a block name from this table without seeing it in the discovery response.
Styling Best Practices
Widgets express intent, not pixels. Each surface provides a default look and feel; brand/theme overrides apply automatically.
- Style semantically. Use
variant,size, and other enum-typed attributes (primary,destructive,success,warning). Do not pin literal colors or pixel values. - One primary action per visible group. At most one
tile/buttonwithvariant: primary. Usesecondaryordestructivefor additional actions (see thetile/buttonschema for the full variant enum). - Every `tile/button` needs a `click` action. See Actions above — an action-less button renders disabled.
- One `h1` per widget. Use
h2/h3for sub-section headings,bodyfor prose,captionfor helper text. - Use semantic state variants on state-bearing blocks (
tile/badge,tile/callout). - Accept schema defaults for `gap`, `size` unless there is a specific reason to override.
- Don't pin `width` unless a content constraint requires it.
- Use the Lucide icon set. Pass the Lucide name (
"check","alert-circle"); other icon libraries are not supported.
Workflow
- Resolve the widget spec — an ordered list of
{ name, type, required }. Source depends on which input was provided (see Inputs):
- If
lightningTypeSchemawas passed by the orchestrator → derive perreferences/schema-from-lightning-type.md. - Otherwise → infer the list directly from the user prompt (pasted JSON payload, enumerated field list, or descriptive prose).
- Discover blocks (REQUIRED — do NOT skip). Call the
discoverUiComponentsmetadata action viaexecute_metadata_action. Use property types from the widget spec to seedsearchQuery(text →"text", number →"number"). If `discoverUiComponents` returns `success: false`, an error, or an empty list, STOP and surface the error verbatim — do not improvise block names from memory, prior runs, or training data. Re-run discover with a different `searchQuery` only if the failure is search-query-specific.
- Select blocks. Choose one block per widget-spec property, plus structural primitives from Layout Best Practices.
- Get block schemas (REQUIRED — do NOT skip). Call the
getUiComponentSchemasmetadata action viaexecute_metadata_actionfor the selected blocks. Review property metadata. If `componentSchemas` returns all-failure or empty, STOP and surface the error — do not improvise from existing widgets in the project.
- Build the UEM tree (example reads REQUIRED — do NOT skip). First, identify which patterns match the widget spec and read each matching example file from this skill's own
examples/directory (<skill-root>/examples/):
| Pattern in the spec | Example to read | |
|---|---|---|
| Single object (no iteration) | <skill-root>/examples/single-object.json | |
| Any list iteration (root-level array, nested list, or list embedded in a single-object widget) | <skill-root>/examples/list-with-foreach.json | |
Conditional rendering (if bound to a boolean) | <skill-root>/examples/conditional.json |
A spec may match multiple patterns (e.g. a list of items where some items render conditionally reads both list-with-foreach.json and conditional.json). Read every matching example, and only those — do not skip the read because the pattern feels familiar.
Then:
- Map each widget-spec property to a block property; preserve spec order.
- Decide root iteration: single object → properties directly under root
tile/column. Collection → wrap repeating block inforEach/forItem. Seereferences/widget-meta-directives.md. - Bind values with
{!$attrs.X}(or{!$item.X}insideforEach). - For conditional blocks, add
"if"onmeta— only when the schema has a matchinglightning__booleanTypeproperty.
- Author `schema.json`. Build the JSON Schema from the widget spec. Fields live one level deep under an
attributeswrapper:
``json { "title": "<Widget Display Name>", "description": "<one line about what the widget shows>", "type": "object", "properties": { "attributes": { "lightning:type": "lightning__objectType", "properties": { "<propertyName>": { "title": "<label>", "description": "<short description>", "lightning:type": "<lightning__textType | lightning__numberType | ...>" } } } } } ``
Required root keys: title, type: "object", properties.attributes (with lightning:type: "lightning__objectType" and a nested properties map). See references/schema-from-lightning-type.md for full primitive type guidance.
- Author `<widgetName>.uiwidget-meta.xml`. See
references/widget-bundle-layout.mdfor the exact shape.
- Resolve `<pkgDir>` and write the bundle. Follow the procedure in
references/widget-bundle-layout.md(## Resolving <pkgDir>). A widget bundle is a three-file set — all three files must be written in the same step; a bundle with fewer than three files is incomplete and will not deploy.
``text <pkgDir>/uiWidgets/<widgetName>/<widgetName>.json # widget envelope — UEM tree (primary artifact) <pkgDir>/uiWidgets/<widgetName>/schema.json # attribute contract for the envelope <pkgDir>/uiWidgets/<widgetName>/<widgetName>.uiwidget-meta.xml # UiWidgetBundle registration ``
Each file has a distinct role:
<widgetName>.json— the widget envelope with thetile/widgetUEM tree. This is the primary artifact;schema.jsonis its companion contract, not a substitute.schema.json— the JSON Schema for the attributes referenced by{!$attrs.X}bindings in the envelope.<widgetName>.uiwidget-meta.xml— theUiWidgetBundleelement that registers the bundle for source tracking and deployment.
Write all three before proceeding to self-validation.
- Self-validate. Before reporting, confirm each check below and report each result individually (
passorfail (<reason>)). Do not summarize as a single "all passed" line — list every check so a reviewer can spot a silent skip.
- `schema-parses` —
<pkgDir>/uiWidgets/<widgetName>/schema.jsonparses as JSON. - `schema-root-keys` — root has
title(string),type: "object", andproperties.attributes(object) — whereproperties.attributescarrieslightning:type: "lightning__objectType"and a nestedpropertiesmap. NounevaluatedProperties: false. - `schema-leaf-types` — every leaf under
properties.attributes.propertiescarries alightning:type. Singular nested inner-class fields carrylightning:typeset to the inner Apex class reference (@apexClassType/<namespace>__<OuterClass>$<InnerClass>); the nested shape is not redeclared.List<InnerClass>fields carrylightning:type: "lightning__listType"withitems.lightning:typeset to the inner Apex class reference (@apexClassType/<namespace>__<OuterClass>$<InnerClass>), not a redeclared field map — seereferences/schema-from-lightning-type.md. When the list has no Apex-backed type (schema inferred from the prompt),items.lightning:type: "lightning__objectType"MUST carry an inline nestedpropertiesmap for every item field the body binds via{!$item.X}. - `bindings-resolve` — every
{!$attrs.X}(or{!$attrs.<outerField>.<innerField>}for nested objects) in<widgetName>.jsonresolves to a property underschema.jsonproperties.attributes.properties, and every{!$item.X}resolves to aforItemloop variable defined upstream. - `body-envelope` —
<widgetName>.jsonroot hastype: "lightning__agentforceWidget"and acontentBodyobject whosewidgetBodycarries the UEM tree rooted attile/widget. No node in the tree — root or non-root — carries atypekey. - `metaxml-wellformed` —
<widgetName>.uiwidget-meta.xmlparses as well-formed XML. - `metaxml-elements` —
<widgetName>.uiwidget-meta.xmlhas root<UiWidgetBundle>and contains<masterLabel>(non-empty),<description>(non-empty), and<widgetType>JSON</widgetType>. - `files-present` — all three files exist at the resolved
<pkgDir>/uiWidgets/<widgetName>/path. - `button-actions-present` — every
tile/buttonin<widgetName>.jsonhas anactions.clickaction node whosedefinitionisaction/openLinkoraction/sendMessage.
Rules / Constraints
| Constraint | Rationale | |
|---|---|---|
Block definitions follow {namespace}/{blockName} and must match discoverUiComponents output | Runtime resolves blocks by exact definition string | |
Never pass tile/widget to getUiComponentSchemas | It is a fixed wrapper, not a queryable component | |
Always supply parameters (with required keys) when calling execute_metadata_action | Missing parameters cause hard failure, not partial result | |
Every {!$attrs.X} in the body resolves to a property in the widget schema.json | No invented fields | |
Every tile/button carries an actions.click entry using action/openLink or action/sendMessage only | These are the only two supported tile action definitions; an action-less button renders disabled | |
No $(…), backticks, <(…), brace expansion {a,b,c}, or eval/exec in any Bash tool call | Vibes' safe-shell filter forces manual approval on these patterns even in Bypass mode. Emit separate commands (mkdir -p a && mkdir -p b) or print each value with its own command and reason about the output — do not capture into a shell variable |
Gotchas
| Issue | Resolution | |
|---|---|---|
getUiComponentSchemas returns a partial-failure entry | Pick a different block from discoverUiComponents; do not silently continue without a schema | |
Body references {!$attrs.foo} but foo is not under schema.json properties.attributes.properties | Add foo to schema.json properties.attributes.properties OR remove the body reference | |
Output written outside <pkgDir>/uiWidgets/<widgetName>/ | <pkgDir> = <packageDirectories[].path>/main/default (see references/widget-bundle-layout.md). Dropping the main/default/ segment is the common cause of widgets landing at force-app/uiWidgets/... instead of force-app/main/default/uiWidgets/... | |
if bound to a non-boolean | Use if only when the schema has a lightning__booleanType property | |
tile/button renders but does nothing when clicked | No actions.click entry was set — an action-less button renders disabled by design. Add one (see Actions above) | |
Using action/sendMessage for pure navigation, or action/openLink when the agent should respond | action/openLink is synchronous and does not consume a turn; action/sendMessage is asynchronous and earns a fresh turn. Pick the one matching the intended UX |
Reference File Index
| File | When to read | |
|---|---|---|
references/widget-meta-directives.md | For forEach / forItem (iteration) and if (conditional rendering), including nested loops | |
references/schema-from-lightning-type.md | When lightningTypeSchema is provided; how to derive the widget schema.json from an Apex-backed Lightning Type | |
references/widget-bundle-layout.md | Folder layout, -meta.xml shape, <pkgDir> resolution rules | |
examples/single-object.json | Single-object pattern (root binding via {!$attrs.X}, no iteration) | |
examples/list-with-foreach.json | Any list-iteration case — root-level collections, nested lists, and lists embedded inside a single-object widget (e.g. iterating a List<InnerClass> inside an outer Apex payload) | |
examples/conditional.json | Conditional pattern (if on meta, including if + forEach together) |