---
name: slidev
description: Create and present web-based slidedecks for developers using Slidev with Markdown, Vue components, code highlighting, animations, and interactive features. Use when building technical presentations, conference talks, code walkthroughs, teaching materials, or developer decks.
metadata:
  short-description: "Build developer slide decks with Slidev"
  author: Anthony Fu
  source: https://github.com/antfu/skills/tree/main/skills/slidev
---

# Slidev - Presentation Slides for Developers

Web-based slides maker built on Vite, Vue, and Markdown.

## When to Use

- Technical presentations or slidedecks with live code examples
- Syntax-highlighted code snippets with animations
- Interactive demos (Monaco editor, runnable code)
- Mathematical equations (LaTeX) or diagrams (Mermaid, PlantUML)
- Record presentations with presenter notes
- Export to PDF, PPTX, or host as SPA
- Code walkthroughs for developer talks or workshops

## Quick Start

```bash
pnpm create slidev    # Create project
pnpm run dev          # Start dev server (opens http://localhost:3030)
pnpm run build        # Build static SPA
pnpm run export       # Export to PDF (requires playwright-chromium)
```

**Verify**: After `pnpm run dev`, confirm slides load at `http://localhost:3030`. After `pnpm run export`, check the output PDF exists in the project root.

## Basic Syntax

```md
---
theme: default
title: My Presentation
---

# First Slide

Content here

---

# Second Slide

More content

<!--
Presenter notes go here
-->
```

- `---` separates slides
- First frontmatter = headmatter (deck config)
- HTML comments = presenter notes

## Core References

| Topic | Description | Reference |
|-------|-------------|-----------|
| Markdown Syntax | Slide separators, frontmatter, notes, code blocks | [core-syntax](references/core-syntax.md) |
| Animations | v-click, v-clicks, motion, transitions | [core-animations](references/core-animations.md) |
| Headmatter | Deck-wide configuration options | [core-headmatter](references/core-headmatter.md) |
| Frontmatter | Per-slide configuration options | [core-frontmatter](references/core-frontmatter.md) |
| CLI Commands | Dev, build, export, theme commands | [core-cli](references/core-cli.md) |
| Components | Built-in Vue components | [core-components](references/core-components.md) |
| Layouts | Built-in slide layouts | [core-layouts](references/core-layouts.md) |
| Exporting | PDF, PPTX, PNG export options | [core-exporting](references/core-exporting.md) |
| Hosting | Build and deploy to various platforms | [core-hosting](references/core-hosting.md) |
| Global Context | $nav, $slidev, composables API | [core-global-context](references/core-global-context.md) |

## Feature Reference

### Code & Editor

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Line highlighting | `` ```ts {2,3} `` | [code-line-highlighting](references/code-line-highlighting.md) |
| Click-based highlighting | `` ```ts {1\|2-3\|all} `` | [code-line-highlighting](references/code-line-highlighting.md) |
| Line numbers | `lineNumbers: true` or `{lines:true}` | [code-line-numbers](references/code-line-numbers.md) |
| Scrollable code | `{maxHeight:'100px'}` | [code-max-height](references/code-max-height.md) |
| Code tabs | `::code-group` (requires `comark: true`) | [code-groups](references/code-groups.md) |
| Monaco editor | `` ```ts {monaco} `` | [editor-monaco](references/editor-monaco.md) |
| Run code | `` ```ts {monaco-run} `` | [editor-monaco-run](references/editor-monaco-run.md) |
| Edit files | `<<< ./file.ts {monaco-write}` | [editor-monaco-write](references/editor-monaco-write.md) |
| Code animations | `` ````md magic-move `` | [code-magic-move](references/code-magic-move.md) |
| TypeScript types | `` ```ts twoslash `` | [code-twoslash](references/code-twoslash.md) |
| Import code | `<<< @/snippets/file.js` | [code-import-snippet](references/code-import-snippet.md) |

### Diagrams & Math

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Mermaid diagrams | `` ```mermaid `` | [diagram-mermaid](references/diagram-mermaid.md) |
| PlantUML diagrams | `` ```plantuml `` | [diagram-plantuml](references/diagram-plantuml.md) |
| LaTeX math | `$inline$` or `$$block$$` | [diagram-latex](references/diagram-latex.md) |

### Layout & Styling

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Canvas size | `canvasWidth`, `aspectRatio` | [layout-canvas-size](references/layout-canvas-size.md) |
| Zoom slide | `zoom: 0.8` | [layout-zoom](references/layout-zoom.md) |
| Scale elements | `<Transform :scale="0.5">` | [layout-transform](references/layout-transform.md) |
| Layout slots | `::right::`, `::default::` | [layout-slots](references/layout-slots.md) |
| Scoped CSS | `<style>` in slide | [style-scoped](references/style-scoped.md) |
| Global layers | `global-top.vue`, `global-bottom.vue` | [layout-global-layers](references/layout-global-layers.md) |
| Draggable elements | `v-drag`, `<v-drag>` | [layout-draggable](references/layout-draggable.md) |
| Icons | `<mdi-icon-name />` | [style-icons](references/style-icons.md) |

### Animation & Interaction

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Click animations | `v-click`, `<v-clicks>` | [core-animations](references/core-animations.md) |
| Rough markers | `v-mark.underline`, `v-mark.circle` | [animation-rough-marker](references/animation-rough-marker.md) |
| Drawing mode | Press `C` or config `drawings:` | [animation-drawing](references/animation-drawing.md) |
| Direction styles | `forward:delay-300` | [style-direction](references/style-direction.md) |
| Note highlighting | `[click]` in notes | [animation-click-marker](references/animation-click-marker.md) |

### Syntax Extensions

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Comark syntax | `comark: true` + `{style="color:red"}` | [syntax-comark](references/syntax-comark.md) |
| Block frontmatter | `` ```yaml `` instead of `---` | [syntax-block-frontmatter](references/syntax-block-frontmatter.md) |
| Import slides | `src: ./other.md` | [syntax-importing-slides](references/syntax-importing-slides.md) |
| Merge frontmatter | Main entry wins | [syntax-frontmatter-merging](references/syntax-frontmatter-merging.md) |

### Presenter & Recording

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Recording | Press `G` for camera | [presenter-recording](references/presenter-recording.md) |
| Timer | `duration: 30min`, `timer: countdown` | [presenter-timer](references/presenter-timer.md) |
| Remote control | `slidev --remote` | [presenter-remote](references/presenter-remote.md) |
| Ruby text | `notesAutoRuby:` | [presenter-notes-ruby](references/presenter-notes-ruby.md) |

### Export & Build

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Export options | `slidev export` | [core-exporting](references/core-exporting.md) |
| Build & deploy | `slidev build` | [core-hosting](references/core-hosting.md) |
| Build with PDF | `download: true` | [build-pdf](references/build-pdf.md) |
| Cache images | Automatic for remote URLs | [build-remote-assets](references/build-remote-assets.md) |
| OG image | `seoMeta.ogImage` or `og-image.png` | [build-og-image](references/build-og-image.md) |
| SEO tags | `seoMeta:` | [build-seo-meta](references/build-seo-meta.md) |

**Export prerequisite**: `pnpm add -D playwright-chromium` is required for PDF/PPTX/PNG export. If export fails with a browser error, install this dependency first.

### Editor & Tools

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Side editor | Click edit icon | [editor-side](references/editor-side.md) |
| VS Code extension | Install `antfu.slidev` | [editor-vscode](references/editor-vscode.md) |
| Prettier | `prettier-plugin-slidev` | [editor-prettier](references/editor-prettier.md) |
| Eject theme | `slidev theme eject` | [tool-eject-theme](references/tool-eject-theme.md) |

### Lifecycle & API

| Feature | Usage | Reference |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Slide hooks | `onSlideEnter()`, `onSlideLeave()` | [api-slide-hooks](references/api-slide-hooks.md) |
| Navigation API | `$nav`, `useNav()` | [core-global-context](references/core-global-context.md) |

## Common Layouts

| Layout | Purpose |
|--------|---------|
| `cover` | Title/cover slide |
| `center` | Centered content |
| `default` | Standard slide |
| `two-cols` | Two columns (use `::right::`) |
| `two-cols-header` | Header + two columns |
| `image` / `image-left` / `image-right` | Image layouts |
| `iframe` / `iframe-left` / `iframe-right` | Embed URLs |
| `quote` | Quotation |
| `section` | Section divider |
| `fact` / `statement` | Data/statement display |
| `intro` / `end` | Intro/end slides |

## Resources

- Documentation: https://sli.dev
- Theme Gallery: https://sli.dev/resources/theme-gallery
- Showcases: https://sli.dev/resources/showcases