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EXP [design] v2.0 — Handoff that keeps its meaning

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@tracyapps tracyapps released this 22 Jul 21:01
· 128 commits to main since this release
v2.0
4db0eaa

EXP [design] v2.0

Handoff that keeps its meaning

EXP [design] 2.0 turns a design document into an inspectable Handoff Package:
a self-contained .exph folder with a manifest, structured design data, W3C
design tokens, a human-readable README, and browser-ready semantic HTML/CSS for
each artboard. Packages are deterministic, use stable IDs, require no build
step or CDN, and preserve design notes instead of flattening them into pixels.

Semantic by design

  • Components carry states, relationships, notes, and ARIA roles into handoff.
  • Text can be marked as Plain text, Paragraph, or Heading 1–6 independently of
    its visual Type Style.
  • Native HTML is used when it honestly represents the design; ARIA is added
    only where it is needed. EXP does not fabricate interactions or JavaScript.
  • Semantic requirements and visual fallbacks are reported explicitly so the
    next person can see what needs implementation rather than infer it.

A shared design language

  • Colors, gradients, and typography export as CSS custom properties and W3C
    Design Tokens Community Group data.
  • Auto Layout maps to readable flexbox where the design supports it.
  • Typography is now visible and editable in Design Language Settings.
  • SVG stylesheet classes and color references import more reliably.

Learning built into the workflow

The ARIA Roles Designer Guide is available from EXP's Help menu and on the web
at expdesign.app/aria-roles. It offers
plain-language role descriptions, examples, categories, comparisons, search,
and bookmarks without interrupting the design workflow.

Accessibility and verification

The v2 handoff path was exercised with keyboard navigation, VoiceOver reading
order, semantic validation, light and dark appearances, increased contrast,
Firefox and WebKit rendering, deterministic package hashing, and signed
universal macOS builds.

Agent-ready foundation

This release also includes the local, read-only foundation for future agent
handoff. It is off by default, listens only through a protected local Unix
socket when explicitly enabled, requires no vendor API key, and exposes no
network listener. The user-facing Handoff panel and guided agent setup remain
part of the next release cycle.

EXP [design] 2.0 is build 10 and requires macOS 26.2 or later.

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