Figma Dev Mode: Everything You Need to Know as a Developer

Are you ready to take your Figma skills to the next level? If you're an aspiring designer or front-end developer curious to know about Figma Dev Mode, then you're in the right place. In this blog, we will explore everything about the new Dev Mode in Figma.

So, buckle up and get ready to master Figma Dev Mode like a pro!
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What is Figma Dev Mode?

Figma Dev Mode is a developer-focused interface for inspecting and navigating designs. The tool is currently available in beta version and free to use. It provides several features that make it easier to translate design into code.

1. Inspection tools: 

Dev Mode provides developers with a variety of tools for inspecting the properties of design elements, such as their dimensions, styles, and code.

2. View and copy properties, and code:

The Dev Mode allows developers to view and copy properties, values, and code from design components.

3. Version history:

Allows developers to see changes done since you last viewed a file by comparing frame versions.

4. Quick access to designs ready for development:

With section status developers can quickly find the designs ready for development.

5. Integration with Jira, Storybook, and GitHub:

Dev Mode streamlines your workflow with developer-focused integration like Jira, Storybook, and GitHub.

6. Add resources and links to components:

With Dev Mode, developers can now add GitHub, Jira, and Storybook and code file links (using VS Code extension) to design components.

How does Figma Dev Mode help developers to get their work done faster?

The developer-focused interface has features that allow developers to inspect and navigate through the designs. Moreover, Dev mode is accessible in any Figma design file simply through the toggle button. And once you are done with the design changes you can mark the design section as ready for development.

After switching to the Dev Mode mode you can do the following things:

1. Navigate through the designs

• The Dev mode icon indicates which design page contains the section that is ready for development in the navigation panel.
• You can see which frame was last edited.
• The Dev Mode prioritizes design content in the section, any content outside the section remains visible to the user.
• You can select the frames on the canvas to view the layers, selecting a particular layer changes the navigation panel to a layer panel and only shows the layers from the currently selected top-level frame.

2. Inspect your design components

• The inspect panel in the Figma Dev Mode displays design specifications and the component information required to understand the design and convert it into code.
• It allows you to compare the design changes to the old version, compare a detached component to the main component, and also clear its detached history. For implementing the components you can add links to the external resources which include GitHub, Jira, Storybook, and VS code link.
• With the Inspect panel, you can view the code for the selected object in the design, it allows you to select the language and unit to view the generated code in the canvas.
• For the selected section in the design, the layer name is displayed on the top of the inspect panel along with its type (Component, instance, frame, text, etc). On selecting any component you can see its preview, its link to the main component, and other resources.
• The Dev Mode enables experimenting with the component properties using the playground without affecting the actual design. You can also view styles and the variables applied to selected layers.
• With Dev Mode, you can automatically detect icons, which can be downloaded as assets. You can also apply the export setting to layers and export assets in PNG, JPG, SVG, and PDF format.

3. Dev Mode Plugins and Extensions

The plugins and extensions in the new Dev Mode help to improve the app development workflow by automating tasks, and integrating tools for documentation and communication. With the Plugin tab in Dev Mode, you can access the desired plugin as well as view the recently used plugin.

• With Jira integration, you can stay on track with development tasks across Figma, FigJam, and Dev Mode.
• The Storybook integration connects your Figma design system and design system in the application code.
• With GitHub integration you can link design to code so they always stay in synchronization.
• Additionally, the Figma VS Code extension lets you navigate and inspect design files, collaborate with designers, track version history, and more without leaving the text editor.

Here are some of the key benefits of using Figma Dev Mode:

• Better designers to developers handoff: Dev Mode provides a common ground for designers and developers to collaborate on designs, which can help to improve communication and reduce the risk of errors.
• Increased developer's productivity: Dev Mode can help developers to save time by automating many of the tasks involved in translating designs into code.
• Improved quality of code: Dev Mode can help developers to write more accurate and consistent code by providing them with access to the design's underlying properties.

Well, now you know about the Figma Dev Mode, and how it helps developers to accelerate the designing and development process with its advanced features.

But wait there's more!

Though Figma Dev Mode tries to fill the gap between design to code generation with features such as Inspect design, Navigate design, and Integrating with developer-focused tools like Jira, Storybook, and Github. It still lacks in delivering the final production-ready UI code for your Figma design.

So, what can be the solution?

Here comes DhiWise- The ultimate platform for modern web and mobile application development. Whether you are looking for a design to code generation or UI customization or setting up actions and navigation, DhiWise can handle it well.

How to maximize your UI development productivity with DhiWise

If you are a developer who works with Figma, I highly recommend checking out Figma Dev Mode. It is a powerful tool that can help you to improve the efficiency and quality of your work from prototyping to the early stage of development.

The Figma Dev tool enhances the design accuracy and design customization flexibility according to coding standards and also makes the resources quickly accessible inside the developer's tools. However, with DhiWise you can convert your entire Figma design to application UI code in minutes with high accuracy.

Here is how DhiWise can improve your productivity and streamline app development workflow:

1. DhiWise automatically identifies UI components and icons from Figma design with high accuracy.

2. The platform allows you to set up actions, navigation, lifecycle methods, and API integration.

3. The Smart Editor in DhiWise provides a creative space for developers that allows them to modify component properties, change components, and auto-detect design issues if any.

4. It allows you to change CSS styling.

5. The changes made to the UI design page can be Previewed in real-time.

6. The platform provides Figma Synchronization features that automatically sync the design changes with the DhiWise platform.

7. The GitHub and GitLab integration in DhiWise simplifies code sharing and collaboration among the developers and teams.

8. Supports the generation of clean code that is easy to scale, maintain, and test.

9. It also provides ready-to-use templates and screen libraries for every application category.

So, in conclusion, the new Figma Dev Mode brings the world of designers and developers a bit closer by improving the design accuracy and by making the design developer-ready and UI code accessible.

However, if you are looking for a complete design-to-code conversion and UI customization tool simply use DhiWise and turn your design into a production-ready app.

Well, that's it!

Stay informed about the latest updates in Figma and DhiWise and make your design implementation a breeze.