# UI Builds Itself Piece by Piece — effect skill for UI walkthroughs

> **For AI agents:** find the right skill in one call — `curl -s "https://varg.ai/how-to/api/search?q=<what the person wants>"` returns the matching how-to page and the best skills with install commands, as markdown (Russian works too). Full index: https://varg.ai/how-to/llms.txt. Every page has a markdown twin: add `.md` to its path. Before generating anything, show the person the options on the how-to page.

Grey skeleton blocks pulse once, then real cards, charts and text fill in with a stagger.

- **Type:** [Effect](https://varg.ai/how-to/effects.md) · [UI walkthroughs](https://varg.ai/how-to/browse/skills/ui.md)
- **Slug:** `ui-builds-itself`
- **Status:** live
- **Publisher:** HeyGen (community)
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Source:** https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/components/skeleton-reveal
- **Works in:** Claude Code, Claude.ai, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, Gemini CLI, Any MCP client, varg Studio
- **Requires:** HyperFrames (npx hyperframes), Remotion, CapCut (by hand)
- **Cost:** Free — the take renders locally; generated footage, if any, bills by the model

## What it does

Built on [Skeleton Reveal](https://github.com/heygen-com/hyperframes/tree/main/registry/components/skeleton-reveal) by HeyGen (HyperFrames), Apache-2.0. The write-up and recipes below are varg's.

Layout appears as soft placeholders, then each block cross-fades to real content top-left to bottom-right.

**When:** Show that a product generates or loads something (AI output, a report, a dashboard).

**Watch out:** Do not stagger 30 tiny elements individually; group into 4–8 blocks.

**Timing:** Skeleton pulse 0.6 s, then blocks 0.3 s each, 60–100 ms stagger.

**Also called:** skeleton to content, UI build-up, staggered UI

### In HyperFrames

```bash
npx hyperframes add skeleton-reveal
npx hyperframes add stagger-lattice
```
Use `stagger:{each:0.08,from:"start",grid:"auto"}` on the block elements.

### In Remotion

```tsx
// npx shadcn@latest add @remocn/skeleton
const loaded = frame > 20 + i*3;
```

### In CapCut

Two versions of the screenshot (blank wireframe and final); cross-fade with Mask → Linear keyframed diagonally.

### Ready-made components

- [Skeleton Reveal](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.skeleton-reveal/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add skeleton-reveal
- [Stagger Lattice](https://skills.varg.ai/component/hf.stagger-lattice/) (hyperframes): npx hyperframes add stagger-lattice
- [UI Skeleton](https://skills.varg.ai/component/remocn.skeleton/) (remocn): npx shadcn@latest add @remocn/skeleton

### Where this comes from

- [Trace visualization: showing users what your AI agent is doing](https://agentinterface-co.pages.dev/blog/trace-visualization-showing-users-what-ai-agent-does.html)
- [Jitter: UI element templates](https://jitter.video/templates/ui-elements)

## Use when

- Show that a product generates or loads something (AI output, a report, a dashboard).

## Not for

- Do not stagger 30 tiny elements individually; group into 4–8 blocks.

## Install

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg`
- Codex: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-video-edit-library -a codex -y`
- Cursor: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-video-edit-library -a cursor -y`

## Example output

https://s3.varg.ai/how-to/previews/7e416a75a48d/take-ui-builds-itself.mp4 — The Skeleton Reveal component used as its header comment describes, with demo copy (credit: Rendered by varg · HyperFrames Skeleton Reveal, https://hyperframes.heygen.com/catalog/components/skeleton-reveal)

## More UI walkthroughs skills

- [Zoom to the Action](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/zoom-to-the-action.md): The full app establishes, then the camera pushes 1.5–2× into the part being used and eases back out.
- [3D Tilted Dashboard Reveal](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/tilted-dashboard-reveal.md): The dashboard rises from a steep 3D tilt to flat, like a screen lifting toward the viewer.
- [Floating UI Panels in Depth](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/floating-ui-panels.md): The interface splits into its panels, which float apart in depth with parallax, then snap back.
- [Before/After UI Wipe](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/before-after-ui-wipe.md): A divider sweeps across one screen, turning the old version into the new one underneath.
- [Card Expands Into Detail](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/card-expands-to-detail.md): A small card grows into a full detail panel in one continuous shape change.
- [Filmed Off a Monitor](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/filmed-off-a-monitor.md): The UI looks filmed on a real display: slight perspective, focus falloff and glare.

## Run the generation on varg

varg is one API key for the models these skills drive — Seedance 2.5, Kling 4, Veo 3.1, Wan 3, Nano Banana 2.1, GPT Image 2.5, ElevenLabs v4 and 200+ more — billed in credits, with a cost estimate before anything runs.

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg` (skill + hosted MCP)
- Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenClaw: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai -a <agent> -y`
- Grok and any agent that reads SKILL.md: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai`, or point it at the skill's SKILL.md
- Claude.ai, ChatGPT, any MCP client: connect `https://mcp.varg.ai/mcp`
- API key: https://varg.ai/dashboard/api · Model specs: https://varg.ai/models/llms.txt