Introduction: Bridging the Gap Between Design and Code
Developer handoff has always been a pain point in the design process. Misaligned specs, unclear assets, and endless back-and-forth can lead to delays and frustration.
Figma’s Dev Mode changes the game. It gives developers a dedicated view tailored for inspection, code generation, and seamless collaboration—without disrupting the design.
In this guide, we’ll cover how Figma Dev Mode works, what developers can do with it, and why it improves the workflow between design and engineering.
What Is Dev Mode in Figma?
Dev Mode is a specialized view inside Figma that shows designs through a developer-friendly lens. It separates designing from building, letting devs:
- Inspect elements clearly
- Access code snippets
- View specs, tokens, and variables
- Download assets
- Leave targeted feedback
Activated with a single toggle, Dev Mode ensures engineers see only what they need—no distractions, no extra layers.
How to Access Dev Mode
- Open any Figma file
- In the top center toolbar, click the “Dev Mode” toggle
- You’ll enter a focused inspection mode with:
- A collapsed UI
- Code and values shown in the right panel
- Visual distinctions between components, frames, and tokens
Key Features of Dev Mode
🧭 1. Visual Specs
- Hover over any object to see:
- Size (W × H)
- Padding and margin
- Positioning and spacing relative to nearby elements
💬 2. Design Tokens & Variables
- If the file uses Figma Variables, Dev Mode shows the token name (e.g.,
Color / Primary / Base) alongside the actual value - Helpful for building theme-based UIs in code
📎 3. Code Snippets
- Automatically shows CSS, iOS (Swift), or Android (XML) snippets
- Copy and paste styling directly into your project
🖼 4. Asset Export
- Export icons, logos, and illustrations in multiple formats (SVG, PNG, PDF)
- Download directly from the Dev Mode sidebar
🔍 5. Component Awareness
- View the component name, variant properties, and nesting
- Understand structure without needing to explore every frame
🧱 6. Dev Comments & Threads
- Leave developer-specific comments that don’t clutter the design discussion
- Use
@mentionto loop in designers or other engineers
Why Dev Mode Matters
| Benefit | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Clarity | No visual clutter—just specs |
| Speed | Fewer Slack messages asking “What’s the padding here?” |
| Accuracy | Tokens and code match design source |
| Focus | Devs aren’t distracted by design layers or text styles |
| Scalability | Easier to manage complex design systems in large teams |
Best Practices for Using Dev Mode
For Designers:
- Name frames and components clearly
- Use styles and variables consistently
- Publish design libraries with proper tokens
- Create final, locked “Dev-ready” pages in files
For Developers:
- Use the Outline panel to navigate file structure
- Always check component source before overriding
- Rely on tokens, not hardcoded values
- Provide feedback via Dev-only comments
How Dev Mode Integrates with Other Tools
Dev Mode is designed to integrate smoothly into existing developer workflows:
- GitHub Plugin: Links designs to pull requests
- Storybook Add-On: Compare live code components to Figma designs
- Zeplin or JIRA plugins: For advanced design-to-dev pipelines
It also connects with design systems tools like Tokens Studio for seamless design-token handoff.
Limitations to Be Aware Of
- Dev Mode is not a live code editor
- Interactions and animations are not deeply inspectable (yet)
- Some features are limited to Figma Enterprise or Org plans
- Developers still need access permissions
Conclusion: Dev Mode = Less Guesswork, More Building
Figma’s Dev Mode is a giant leap toward better design-to-development collaboration. It eliminates ambiguity, empowers developers, and respects everyone’s time.
By learning how to navigate and use Dev Mode effectively, developers can build UIs faster, with greater accuracy—and without chasing down specs in Slack.
Next up: “How to Build and Document a Scalable Component Library” — where we connect design systems and Dev Mode for long-term team success.
Designilo 