Substack

# Substack Design System — .cursorrules
# Generated by StyleExtract · styleextract.com/vault/substack

You are a senior frontend developer building UI that matches the Substack design system exactly.
Read this entire file before writing any component.

## Brand Identity
Company    : Substack
Primary    : #FF6719
Secondary  : #F5F5F5
Accent     : #1A1A1A
Font       : Spectral, Georgia, serif
Radius     : 6px
Voice      : Bold orange — independent publishing with newsletter-native warmth.

## CSS Custom Properties
```css
:root {
  --color-primary:   #FF6719;
  --color-secondary: #F5F5F5;
  --color-accent:    #1A1A1A;
  --color-text:      #1D1D1F;
  --color-surface:   #FFFFFF;
  --color-border:    #E5E5E7;
  --font-sans:       "Spectral", system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;
  --radius:          6px;
}
```

## Tailwind Config
```js
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      colors: {
        primary:   "#FF6719",
        secondary: "#F5F5F5",
        accent:    "#1A1A1A",
      },
      fontFamily: {
        sans: ["Spectral", "system-ui", "sans-serif"],
      },
      borderRadius: {
        brand: "6px",
      },
    },
  },
};
```

## Typography
```
heading-font:    Spectral, Georgia, serif
heading-weight:  700
heading-tracking: -0.02em
body-font:       Spectral, Georgia, serif
body-size:       16px
body-line-height: 1.6
```

## Spacing Scale
Base: 4px  |  Scale: 4 · 8 · 12 · 16 · 24 · 32 · 48 · 64 · 96px
Never use arbitrary values like 13px, 22px, or 50px.

## Component Rules

### Primary Button
background-color: #FF6719
color: #FFFFFF
border-radius: 6px
padding: 12px 24px
font-weight: 600
font-size: 14px
transition: opacity 0.15s
&:hover { opacity: 0.88 }

### Secondary Button
background-color: transparent
border: 1.5px solid #FF6719
color: #FF6719
border-radius: 6px
padding: 11px 23px

### Card
background: #FFFFFF
border: 1px solid #E5E5E7
border-radius: 16px
padding: 24px
box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)

### Navigation
background: #F5F5F5
color: #1D1D1F
height: 60px
padding: 0 24px
```

## Rules
DO:
- Use the exact hex values defined in CSS Custom Properties
- Maintain Substack's aesthetic: Bold orange — independent publishing with newsletter-native warmth.
- Apply 4px base-unit spacing throughout
- Use Spectral for all text elements
- Meet WCAG AA contrast (4.5:1 minimum for body text)

DON'T:
- Invent colors outside the defined palette
- Use system-default blue (#0000EE) for links — use var(--color-primary)
- Apply border-radius values not on the brand scale
- Use font-weight below 400 or above 900

---
brand:
  name: "Substack"
  category: "Consumer & Media"
  primary: "#FF6719"
  secondary: "#F5F5F5"
  accent: "#1A1A1A"
typography:
  heading: "Spectral, Georgia, serif"
  headingWeight: 700
  headingTracking: "-0.02em"
  body: "Spectral, Georgia, serif"
  bodySize: "16px"
  lineHeight: 1.6
spacing:
  base: 4
  scale: [4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 96]
shape:
  radiusSm: "4px"
  radiusMd: "6px"
  radiusLg: "16px"
  radiusXl: "24px"
---

# Substack Design System
> AI Agent Context — read this entire file before generating any UI for Substack
> Source: StyleExtract Vault · styleextract.com/vault/substack

## Brand Overview
Bold orange — independent publishing with newsletter-native warmth.

## Color System

| Role      | Hex       | Usage                          |
|-----------|-----------|-------------------------------|
| Primary   | `#FF6719` | CTAs, links, key accents  |
| Secondary | `#F5F5F5` | Backgrounds, headings    |
| Accent    | `#1A1A1A` | Highlights, badges, icons |
| Surface   | `#FFFFFF` | Card backgrounds |
| Border    | `#E5E5E7` | Dividers, outlines |

ALWAYS use `#FF6719` for primary interactive elements and CTAs.
NEVER invent colors outside the palette above.

## Typography

- **Heading font**: Spectral, Georgia, serif
- **Heading weight**: 700 / letter-spacing −0.02em
- **Body font**: Spectral, Georgia, serif
- **Body size**: 16px / line-height 1.6

## Spacing System

Base unit is **4px**. Allowed values: 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 96px.
Never use arbitrary values.

## Component Patterns

### Buttons
```
Primary:   bg #FF6719  · text #FFFFFF  · rounded-[6px]  · px-6 py-3  · font-semibold
Secondary: transparent    · border-[#FF6719]       · text-[#FF6719]      · px-6 py-3
```

### Cards
```
bg white (dark: #1C1C1E) · border #E5E5E7 (dark: #2C2C2E) · rounded-2xl · p-6 · shadow-sm
```

### Navigation
```
bg #F5F5F5 · text #1D1D1F · h-[60px] · px-6 · logo-left · links-right
```

## Accessibility
- All text WCAG AA (4.5:1 minimum)
- Interactive targets: 44×44px minimum
- Never convey state via color alone

## Brand Voice
Bold orange — independent publishing with newsletter-native warmth.