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Handoff

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What Handoff is

Handoff is an open-source tool for design system documentation and automation, built for teams and AI agents. It serves a workspace through a browser UI, REST API, and MCP server, all reading from the same underlying data. Workspaces can fetch design tokens from Figma, currently the only source wired up, then publish tokens, components, documentation, and assets to a registry. Its token pipeline converts Figma tokens into CSS, SCSS, Tailwind, and DTCG outputs. Teams can create documentation pages for React and other component libraries with live previews, properties, and tokens. The MCP server gives compatible tools such as Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf access to design system data; agents can draft component pages and usage guidelines for team approval. The docs describe 56 MCP tools across 12 categories, including tokens, components, assets, documentation, previews, and build and sync. A promptable design space supports exploring ideas with approved components, tokens, and brand patterns. Workspaces can use local filesystem-backed storage or a registry backed by Postgres, deployable with Docker or Vercel. Each registry serves one workspace, and the handoff-app package requires Node 20.9 or later.

Who it suits

Handoff suits designers, engineers, project managers, and content editors who need shared design system documentation and automation. It also serves teams whose compatible agents need access to tokens, components, assets, and documentation.

What it does well

Browser UI, REST API, and MCP server share the same data.
Figma tokens can be published in CSS, SCSS, Tailwind, and DTCG formats.
Component documentation can include live previews, properties, and tokens.
Compatible agents can access design system data through MCP.
Open source and supports local or Postgres-backed workspace modes.

What to know first

Figma is the only source currently wired up.
Each registry currently serves one workspace.
The handoff-app package requires Node 20.9 or later.

Limits

Each registry currently serves one workspace. Figma is the only source wired up; additional sources, npm packages, and CMS destinations are future direction rather than available connectors.

Getting started

Install the handoff-app package with Node 20.9 or later.
Choose a local filesystem-backed workspace or a registry-backed workspace.
Connect the workspace to Figma to fetch design tokens.
Publish tokens, components, documentation, and assets to the registry.
Deploy a registry with Docker or Vercel if using registry mode.

Verdict

Choose Handoff if your team wants design system documentation and automation shared across a UI, API, and MCP server. Look elsewhere if you need a shipped connector beyond Figma or a registry serving multiple workspaces.

Questions

Is Handoff free?

Handoff is listed as free and open source.

Which platforms does Handoff support?

Its listed platforms are API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows.

Does Handoff integrate with Figma?

Yes. A workspace can fetch design tokens from Figma and publish tokens, components, documentation, and assets to a registry.

Can agents use Handoff?

Yes. Its MCP server is described as compatible with Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and other MCP-speaking tools.

What are the deployment options?

Workspaces can use local filesystem-backed mode or a Postgres-backed registry. Registry deployment is described for Docker or Vercel.

What does the handoff-app package require?

It requires Node 20.9 or later.

Facts from Handoff's own pages

Agent access: Handoff’s MCP server lets compatible agents including Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf access design system data. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Agent contributions: Agents can create component pages and usage guidelines, with team approval. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
API: Each registry publishes an OpenAPI 3.1 specification for its REST API. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Code documentation: Handoff can create documentation pages for React or other component libraries, including live previews, properties, and tokens. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Deployment: Handoff has a local filesystem-backed workspace mode and a registry mode backed by Postgres; the registry can be deployed with Docker or Vercel. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Documentation: Handoff serves design system data through a browser UI, a REST API, and an MCP server that read from the same underlying data. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Figma source: The docs say Figma is the only source currently wired up, and workspaces can fetch design tokens from Figma. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Figma workflow: A workspace can pull design tokens from Figma and push tokens, components, docs, and assets to a registry. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Hosting: The docs describe deploying a registry with Docker or Vercel. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Install requirement: The handoff-app package requires Node 20.9 or later. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Integration availability: The docs say Figma is the only source wired up today; additional sources, npm packages, and CMS destinations are described as future direction rather than shipped connectors. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Intended users: Handoff describes itself as built for designers, engineers, project managers, and their agents. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Local requirements: The workspace install requires Node 20.9 or later. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
MCP support: The MCP server is described as compatible with Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and other MCP-speaking tools. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
MCP tools: The documentation lists 56 MCP tools across 12 categories, including tools for tokens, components, assets, documentation, and build and sync workflows. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Product: Handoff is design system documentation and automation with a UI, REST API, and MCP server reading from the same underlying data. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Prototype: The product offers a promptable design space for exploring ideas with approved components, tokens, and brand patterns. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Prototyping: The site describes a promptable design space for exploring ideas with approved components, tokens, and brand patterns. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Handoff provides automated design system documentation for teams and AI agents. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
Registry limit: The docs state that one registry currently serves one workspace, with multiple workspaces sharing a database deferred. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Registry storage: A registry stores workspace data in Postgres and serves it through the UI, REST API, and MCP. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026
REST API: Each registry publishes an OpenAPI 3.1 specification for its REST API. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Security: The registry docs describe browser UI session authentication and bearer-token authentication for CLI and MCP clients. · handoff.com, 3 Oct 2026
Support: The contact page says messages are read by a human and directs bugs, feature requests, and pull requests to the open source repository. · handoff.com, 4 Oct 2026