Visible file

A Kardex visible-index tray: each record shows only its edge, and coloured signal clips slide along it to mark where it stands, so a whole tray reads at a glance. For pipelines, renewals and task stages.

Agent tasks by stage

Signals slide along each card as its task moves through the stages.

Fix login redirectCoderStage: Test.
Billing refactorCoderStage: Build.
API referenceWriterStage: Plan.
Flaky checkout testTesterBlocked at: Test.
Bump dependenciesCoderStage: Queued.

Installation

Add with the CLI

Once per project, add the Bevel registry to components.json.

components.json

{
  "registries": {
    "@bevel": "https://bevel-ui.vercel.app/r/{name}.json"
  }
}

Add Visible file. This brings in the Bevel foundation, installs cn, and merges the styles into your global CSS.
Terminal
```
npx shadcn@latest add @bevel/visible-file
```

Install manually

Install the dependencies.
Terminal
```
pnpm add cn
```

Add the Bevel foundation, if you haven't already. Light, depth, materials, motion and shape tokens, plus the utilities components use to apply them.

styles/bevel.css

/*
 * Bevel foundation. Every component builds on these tokens and utilities;
 * component stylesheets only add their own palettes and shapes.
 *
 * Layers:
 *   1. Light     one source, above and slightly in front of the screen.
 *   2. Depth     named elevations built from the light: recessed, flush,
 *                raised, pressed, object.
 *   3. Material  a surface recipe (leather, plastic, metal) that reads
 *                --bevel-material and --bevel-material-edge.
 *   4. Motion    two curves, a spring, and durations named by purpose.
 *   5. Shape     radii, stitching, and the type scale for amounts.
 */

:root {
  /* 1. Light */
  --bevel-highlight: oklch(1 0 0 / 0.22);
  --bevel-highlight-strong: oklch(1 0 0 / 0.35);
  --bevel-shade: oklch(0 0 0 / 0.32);
  --bevel-shade-strong: oklch(0 0 0 / 0.5);
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0.25 0.03 50 / 0.22);
  /* Stamped into a surface: shaded on the upper inner edge, lit below. */
  --bevel-deboss: 0 -1px 0 oklch(0 0 0 / 0.45), 0 1px 0 oklch(1 0 0 / 0.12);

  /* 3. Material defaults; components and variants override these. */
  --bevel-material: oklch(0.47 0.085 52);
  --bevel-material-edge: oklch(0.3 0.06 44);
  --bevel-material-recess: oklch(0.2 0.008 260); /* neutral dark; materials set their own */
  --bevel-grain: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='180' height='180'%3E%3Cfilter id='g'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='.7' numOctaves='3' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .7 0 0 0 0'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23g)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
  --bevel-grain-size: 180px;

  /* 2. Depth */
  --bevel-depth-recessed:
    inset 0 1px 2px var(--bevel-shade-strong),
    0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight);
  --bevel-depth-flush:
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight),
    inset 0 -1px 0 var(--bevel-shade);
  --bevel-depth-raised:
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight),
    0 1px 0 var(--bevel-material-edge),
    0 2px 0 var(--bevel-material-edge),
    0 3px 5px var(--bevel-shade);
  --bevel-depth-pressed:
    inset 0 1px 2px var(--bevel-shade),
    0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight);
  /* A whole object resting on the page. */
  --bevel-depth-object:
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight),
    inset 0 -1px 0 var(--bevel-shade),
    0 0 0 1px var(--bevel-material-edge),
    0 1px 1px var(--bevel-cast),
    0 6px 12px -2px var(--bevel-cast),
    0 18px 32px -8px var(--bevel-cast);
  /* The shadow under a loose object, for filter: drop-shadow(). */
  --bevel-depth-cast-sm: 0 4px 6px var(--bevel-cast);
  /* A thin object (a card) lying on another surface. */
  --bevel-depth-sheet:
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight-strong),
    inset 0 0 0 1px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.12),
    0 -1px 2px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.18);

  /* 4. Motion */
  --bevel-ease-out: cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1);
  --bevel-ease-in-out: cubic-bezier(0.77, 0, 0.175, 1);
  /* Underdamped spring, ~8% overshoot. Pure CSS; pair with --bevel-duration-move or longer. */
  --bevel-ease-spring: linear(0, 0.06, 0.202, 0.38, 0.561, 0.723, 0.856, 0.955, 1.023, 1.062, 1.081, 1.083, 1.075, 1.062, 1.047, 1.032, 1.019, 1.009, 1.002, 0.997, 0.994, 0.993, 0.993, 0.994, 1);
  --bevel-duration-press: 100ms; /* a control giving under a finger */
  --bevel-duration-small: 200ms; /* hover lifts, tabs, small state changes */
  --bevel-duration-move: 300ms; /* objects moving: cards, drawers */
  --bevel-duration-ambient: 520ms; /* whole-scene changes: lighting */
  --bevel-stagger: 30ms;
  --bevel-lift: 3px; /* how far an object rises on hover */
  --bevel-perspective: 30rem; /* viewing distance for parts that turn in 3D (covers, flaps) */
  /* Unchosen items in a group sit back in shadow. */
  --bevel-dim: 0.82;

  /* 5. Shape */
  --bevel-radius-xs: 0.25rem;
  --bevel-radius-sm: 0.5rem;
  --bevel-radius-md: 0.625rem;
  --bevel-radius-lg: 1rem;
  --bevel-radius-xl: 1.5rem;
  --bevel-stitch-width: 1.5px;
  --bevel-stitch-inset: 0.375rem;
  /* Amounts: the figure, its secondary parts (currency, cents), labels, fine print. */
  --bevel-amount: 2.25rem;
  --bevel-amount-minor: 1.25rem;
  --bevel-label: 0.75rem;
  --bevel-fine: 0.6875rem;
  --bevel-tracking-label: 0.08em; /* stamped labels */
  --bevel-tracking-print: 0.06em; /* printed marks on cards */

  /* Paper and ink */
  --bevel-paper: oklch(0.975 0.008 85);
  --bevel-paper-foreground: oklch(0.28 0.02 260);
  --bevel-paper-muted: oklch(0.48 0.015 260);
  --bevel-paper-rule: oklch(0.78 0.04 240 / 0.45);
  --bevel-paper-margin: oklch(0.68 0.14 25 / 0.45);
  --bevel-fibre: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='240' height='240'%3E%3Cfilter id='f'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='.9 .35' numOctaves='2' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .18 0 0 0 0'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23f)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
  /* Ink soaks unevenly: mostly solid with pale specks. Used as a mask. */
  --bevel-ink-texture: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='160' height='160'%3E%3Cfilter id='i'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='.85' numOctaves='2' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2.4 0 0 0 2.1'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23i)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
  --bevel-ink-red: oklch(0.52 0.19 27);
  --bevel-ink-blue: oklch(0.44 0.14 262);
  --bevel-ink-green: oklch(0.5 0.12 155);
  --bevel-ink-black: oklch(0.3 0.01 260);
  --bevel-ink-amber: oklch(0.55 0.13 65);

  /* Brass and ivory: instrument hardware and dial faces */
  --bevel-brass: oklch(0.76 0.11 82);
  --bevel-brass-edge: oklch(0.52 0.08 70);
  --bevel-ivory: oklch(0.95 0.025 90);
  --bevel-ivory-foreground: oklch(0.25 0.015 60);
  --bevel-needle: oklch(0.55 0.2 27);

  /* Desk stationery: legal pads, pens, pencils, exhibit stickers */
  --bevel-pad: oklch(0.95 0.075 98); /* yellow legal pad */
  --bevel-pad-foreground: oklch(0.27 0.03 255);
  --bevel-pad-rule: oklch(0.72 0.06 235 / 0.45);
  --bevel-pad-margin: oklch(0.62 0.16 25 / 0.55);
  --bevel-pen-red: oklch(0.52 0.2 27); /* correcting pen */
  --bevel-pen-blue: oklch(0.42 0.15 262); /* writing pen */
  --bevel-pencil: oklch(0.55 0.01 260); /* not written in ink yet */
  --bevel-sticker: oklch(0.9 0.12 95); /* exhibit sticker */
  --bevel-sticker-foreground: oklch(0.26 0.03 70);
  /* Handwriting. Bring a marker font (e.g. Permanent Marker) for the full effect; these are fallbacks. */
  --bevel-font-marker: "Permanent Marker", "Marker Felt", "Chalkboard SE", ui-rounded, "Arial Rounded MT Bold", system-ui, sans-serif;
}

.dark {
  --bevel-highlight: oklch(1 0 0 / 0.14);
  /* Paper under dim light, not inverted: it's still paper. */
  --bevel-paper: oklch(0.88 0.008 85);
  --bevel-ivory: oklch(0.86 0.022 90);
  --bevel-pad: oklch(0.86 0.07 98);
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0 0 0 / 0.55);
}

/* Depth */
@utility bevel-recessed {
  background-color: var(--bevel-material-recess);
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-recessed);
}
@utility bevel-flush {
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-flush);
}
@utility bevel-raised {
  background-color: color-mix(in oklch, var(--bevel-material), white 7%);
  background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--bevel-highlight), transparent 60%);
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-raised);
}
@utility bevel-pressed {
  background-color: color-mix(in oklch, var(--bevel-material), black 4%);
  background-image: none;
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-pressed);
}
@utility bevel-object {
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-object);
}

/* Materials */
@utility bevel-leather {
  background-color: var(--bevel-material);
  background-image:
    var(--bevel-grain),
    linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--bevel-highlight), transparent 28%, transparent 72%, var(--bevel-shade));
  background-size: var(--bevel-grain-size) var(--bevel-grain-size), 100% 100%;
  background-blend-mode: soft-light, normal;
}
@utility bevel-plastic {
  background-color: var(--bevel-material);
  background-image:
    linear-gradient(115deg, var(--bevel-highlight-strong), transparent 40%),
    linear-gradient(to bottom, transparent 25%, oklch(0 0 0 / 0.45));
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-sheet);
}
@utility bevel-metal {
  background-color: var(--bevel-material);
  background-image:
    linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--bevel-highlight-strong), transparent 45%, var(--bevel-shade) 100%),
    repeating-linear-gradient(90deg, oklch(1 0 0 / 0.06) 0 1px, transparent 1px 3px);
  box-shadow:
    inset 0 0 0 1px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.25),
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight-strong);
}

/* Details */
@utility bevel-deboss {
  text-shadow: var(--bevel-deboss);
}
@utility bevel-stitch {
  border-color: var(--bevel-stitch, oklch(0.88 0.05 82 / 0.8));
  border-style: dashed;
  border-width: var(--bevel-stitch-width);
  filter: drop-shadow(0 1px 0 var(--bevel-shade));
}
/* A lit fill sitting in a recess (meters, progress). Colour from --bevel-fill. */
@utility bevel-fill {
  background-color: var(--bevel-fill);
  background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, oklch(1 0 0 / 0.55), transparent 55%, oklch(0 0 0 / 0.18));
  box-shadow: 0 0 6px -1px var(--bevel-fill);
}
/* A small indicator light. Colour from --bevel-led. */
@utility bevel-led {
  background-color: var(--bevel-led);
  background-image: radial-gradient(circle at 35% 30%, oklch(1 0 0 / 0.85), transparent 45%);
  box-shadow:
    0 0 6px var(--bevel-led),
    inset 0 -1px 1px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.35),
    0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight);
}

/* Paper: a sheet resting on the surface, with fibre in it. */
@utility bevel-paper {
  background-color: var(--bevel-paper);
  background-image: var(--bevel-fibre);
  background-size: 240px 240px;
  color: var(--bevel-paper-foreground);
  box-shadow:
    0 1px 1px var(--bevel-cast),
    0 6px 14px -4px var(--bevel-cast);
}
/* Ink on paper: multiplies into the surface and soaks unevenly. Colour from --bevel-ink. */
@utility bevel-ink {
  color: var(--bevel-ink, var(--bevel-ink-red));
  border-color: currentColor;
  mix-blend-mode: multiply;
  mask-image: var(--bevel-ink-texture);
  mask-size: 160px 160px;
}
/* Glass over an instrument window: one reflection from the light above. Put on an overlay element. */
@utility bevel-glass {
  pointer-events: none;
  background-image: linear-gradient(165deg, var(--bevel-highlight-strong) 0%, transparent 38%, transparent 70%, var(--bevel-shade) 100%);
}

/* Material families: one per screen. Set on the screen's container. */
[data-bevel-family="leather"] {
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0.25 0.03 50 / 0.22);
}
[data-bevel-family="paper"] {
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0.3 0.01 250 / 0.16);
}
.dark :is([data-bevel-family="leather"], [data-bevel-family="paper"]) {
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0 0 0 / 0.55);
}

/*
 * Ruled paper: rules every --bevel-rule-height and a margin line at
 * --bevel-rule-margin. Set --bevel-sheet for the paper colour. The ruling
 * scrolls with the content.
 */
@utility bevel-ruled {
  background-color: var(--bevel-sheet, var(--bevel-paper));
  background-image:
    linear-gradient(
      to right,
      transparent calc(var(--bevel-rule-margin) - 1px),
      var(--bevel-sheet-margin, var(--bevel-paper-margin)) calc(var(--bevel-rule-margin) - 1px) calc(var(--bevel-rule-margin) + 1px),
      transparent calc(var(--bevel-rule-margin) + 1px)
    ),
    repeating-linear-gradient(
      to bottom,
      transparent 0 calc(var(--bevel-rule-height) - 1px),
      var(--bevel-sheet-rule, var(--bevel-paper-rule)) calc(var(--bevel-rule-height) - 1px) var(--bevel-rule-height)
    ),
    var(--bevel-fibre);
  background-size: 100% 100%, 100% 100%, 240px 240px;
  background-attachment: local;
  color: var(--bevel-paper-foreground);
  box-shadow:
    0 1px 1px var(--bevel-cast),
    0 6px 14px -4px var(--bevel-cast);
}

Copy visible-file.tsx into components/ui.

components/visible-file.tsx

"use client"

import * as React from "react"
import { cn } from "cn"

type VisibleFileContextValue = { scale: string[] }

const VisibleFileContext = React.createContext<VisibleFileContextValue | null>(null)

function useVisibleFile() {
  const context = React.useContext(VisibleFileContext)
  if (!context) throw new Error("VisibleFile parts must be inside <VisibleFile>")
  return context
}

type VisibleFileProps = React.ComponentProps<"div"> & {
  /** The positions a signal can sit at, printed across the top: months, stages, grades. */
  scale: string[]
}

/**
 * A visible-index file. Each record shows only its edge, and coloured
 * signals slide along it to mark where it stands, so a whole tray reads
 * at a glance. Give it an aria-label.
 */
function VisibleFile({ className, scale, children, ...props }: VisibleFileProps) {
  return (
    <VisibleFileContext value={{ scale }}>
      <div
        role="group"
        data-slot="visible-file"
        className={cn(
          "bevel-metal bevel-object grid w-full grid-cols-[minmax(5rem,10rem)_minmax(0,1fr)] rounded-(--bevel-radius-md) p-3 pt-2",
          className
        )}
        {...props}
      >
        <span aria-hidden />
        <span aria-hidden className="flex min-w-0 pb-1.5 text-(--bevel-ivory)">
          {scale.map((s) => (
            <span key={s} className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-center text-(length:--bevel-fine) font-bold tracking-(--bevel-tracking-label) uppercase">
              {s}
            </span>
          ))}
        </span>
        <ul className="col-span-2 grid grid-cols-subgrid">{children}</ul>
      </div>
    </VisibleFileContext>
  )
}

type VisibleFileRowProps = React.ComponentProps<"li"> & {
  /** The record's name, typed on the card edge. */
  title: string
  /** A second line, like an amount or an owner. */
  detail?: string
}

/** One record's card edge, in its clear pocket. */
function VisibleFileRow({ className, title, detail, children, ...props }: VisibleFileRowProps) {
  return (
    <li
      data-slot="visible-file-row"
      className={cn(
        // Shingled: each card edge overlaps the one above, casting a little shadow up onto it.
        "relative col-span-2 -mt-px grid grid-cols-subgrid bg-(--visible-file-card) text-(--visible-file-card-foreground) shadow-(--bevel-depth-sheet) first:rounded-t-(--bevel-radius-xs) last:rounded-b-(--bevel-radius-xs)",
        className
      )}
      {...props}
    >
      <span className="flex min-w-0 flex-col justify-center border-r border-(--visible-file-rule) px-2 py-1.5">
        <span className="truncate text-sm font-semibold">{title}</span>
        {detail && <span className="truncate text-xs opacity-70">{detail}</span>}
      </span>
      <span className="relative min-h-10 overflow-hidden">{children}</span>
      <span aria-hidden className="bevel-glass pointer-events-none absolute inset-0" />
    </li>
  )
}

type VisibleFileSignalProps = Omit<React.ComponentProps<"span">, "children"> & {
  /** Where it sits: an index into the file's scale. */
  value: number
  /** What it marks, for screen readers: “Renewal”, “Stage”. */
  label: string
  tone?: "red" | "amber" | "green" | "blue"
}

/** A signal clip on the card edge. Slides when its value changes. */
function VisibleFileSignal({ className, value, label, tone = "blue", ...props }: VisibleFileSignalProps) {
  const { scale } = useVisibleFile()
  const at = Math.min(Math.max(Math.round(value), 0), scale.length - 1)
  return (
    <span
      data-slot="visible-file-signal"
      data-tone={tone}
      className={cn(
        "absolute inset-y-0 left-0 flex w-full items-center",
        "transition-[translate] duration-(--bevel-duration-move) ease-(--bevel-ease-spring) motion-reduce:transition-none",
        className
      )}
      // A full-width rail, moved along by whole cells; the clip sits in the first cell.
      style={{ translate: `${(at / scale.length) * 100}% 0` }}
      {...props}
    >
      <span className="flex justify-center" style={{ width: `${100 / scale.length}%` }}>
        <span aria-hidden className="bevel-plastic h-5 w-3 rounded-(--bevel-radius-xs)" />
      </span>
      <span className="sr-only">
        {label}: {scale[at]}.
      </span>
    </span>
  )
}

export { VisibleFile, VisibleFileRow, VisibleFileSignal }
export type { VisibleFileProps, VisibleFileRowProps, VisibleFileSignalProps }

Copy visible-file.css into your styles.

styles/visible-file.css

/*
 * Visible file (Kardex): a tray of shingled cards, each showing only its
 * bottom edge in a clear pocket. Coloured signal clips slide along that
 * edge to mark where each record stands. Builds on bevel.css (metal,
 * paper, plastic, glass, motion).
 */

:root {
  --visible-file-tray: oklch(0.55 0.03 150); /* green steel */
  --visible-file-tray-edge: oklch(0.38 0.03 150);
  --visible-file-card: oklch(0.96 0.01 90);
  --visible-file-card-foreground: oklch(0.25 0.02 260);
  --visible-file-rule: oklch(0.85 0.02 90);
  --visible-file-red: oklch(0.6 0.2 27);
  --visible-file-amber: oklch(0.8 0.16 75);
  --visible-file-green: oklch(0.65 0.16 150);
  --visible-file-blue: oklch(0.6 0.15 250);
}

[data-slot="visible-file"] {
  --bevel-material: var(--visible-file-tray);
  --bevel-material-edge: var(--visible-file-tray-edge);
}
[data-slot="visible-file-signal"] {
  --bevel-material: var(--visible-file-blue);
}
[data-slot="visible-file-signal"][data-tone="red"] {
  --bevel-material: var(--visible-file-red);
}
[data-slot="visible-file-signal"][data-tone="amber"] {
  --bevel-material: var(--visible-file-amber);
}
[data-slot="visible-file-signal"][data-tone="green"] {
  --bevel-material: var(--visible-file-green);
}

Import the stylesheets after Tailwind in your global CSS, foundation first.
globals.css
```
@import "./bevel.css";
@import "./visible-file.css";
```

Anatomy

Each part is its own component. Leave out the ones you don't need.

Anatomy

<VisibleFile aria-label="Agent tasks" scale={["Queued", "Plan", "Build", "Done"]}>
  <VisibleFileRow title="Fix login redirect" detail="Coder">
    <VisibleFileSignal value={2} label="Stage" />
  </VisibleFileRow>
</VisibleFile>

Parts

Part	Renders	What it does
VisibleFile	div (group) + ul	scale: the positions printed across the top. Give it an aria-label.
VisibleFileRow	li	title and detail, typed on the card edge in its clear pocket.
VisibleFileSignal	span	value (an index into the scale), label, tone. Slides when it changes; reads as “Stage: Build.”