Introduction (Registry)

Core Idea

The shadcn CLI can run and consume custom code registries — a distribution system for code (components, hooks, pages, config, rules, and non-React files) that works with any framework, not just React.

Key Concepts

• Registry: A server (static JSON or dynamic endpoint) publishing items that conform to the registry schema, installable via npx shadcn add.
• Framework-agnostic: Registries aren't limited to React; any project type that can serve JSON over HTTP qualifies.

Key Takeaways

1. This page is a hub; concrete setup is in Getting Started, GitHub registries, Namespaces, Authentication, Examples, and the registry.json/registry-item.json schema docs.
2. "Run your own registry" is a first-class shadcn CLI capability, not a bolt-on — it's the mechanism behind private component libraries, internal design systems, and namespaced third-party sources.

Connects To

• registry-getting-started (ch099): step-by-step setup for a first registry.
• registry-json (ch107) / registry-item-json (ch108): the two schemas every registry must conform to.
• registry-namespace (ch104): how consumers reference and configure custom registries.