State Machine
- 1k installs
- 1.9k repo stars
- Updated June 14, 2026
- owl-listener/designer-skills
state-machine is a designer skill that models complex UI flows as finite state machines with states, events, and transitions for developers who need predictable interfaces without impossible states.
About
state-machine is an owl-listener/designer-skills agent skill that models complex UI behavior as finite state machines. It defines states such as idle, loading, success, and error; events like click, submit, timeout, and response; transitions between states; and side-effect actions during transitions such as fetch data or show toasts. Developers reach for this skill when UI components accumulate boolean flags and edge cases that create impossible states. The skill suits SaaS, mobile, and extension frontends where interaction logic must stay explicit, testable, and free of contradictory UI modes.
- Models UI components using states, events, transitions, actions and guards
- Prevents impossible states such as loading and error occurring simultaneously
- Applies to common patterns including forms, data fetching, authentication and multi-step wizards
- 6-step modeling approach that surfaces edge cases early
- Produces clear transition rules that agents can implement without ambiguity
State Machine by the numbers
- 1,011 all-time installs (skills.sh)
- +52 installs in the week ending Jul 29, 2026 (Skillselion tracking)
- Ranked #385 of 1,888 Design & UI/UX skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
- Security screen: LOW risk (skills.sh audit)
- Data as of Jul 31, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
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| Installs | 1k |
|---|---|
| repo stars | ★ 1.9k |
| Security audit | 3 / 3 scanners passed |
| Last updated | June 14, 2026 |
| Repository | owl-listener/designer-skills ↗ |
How do you model UI flows as state machines?
Model complex UI flows as finite state machines so behavior stays predictable and impossible states are eliminated.
Who is it for?
Frontend developers designing complex interactive UI where boolean flags cause impossible or unpredictable states.
Skip if: Developers modeling backend service orchestration or distributed system workflows unrelated to UI interaction.
When should I use this skill?
User asks to model UI as a state machine, define states and transitions, or eliminate impossible UI states.
What you get
State machine diagram, state/event/transition tables, and UI flow specification eliminating impossible states
- state machine diagram
- transition table
Files
State Machine
You are an expert in modeling complex UI behavior as finite state machines.
What You Do
You model UI components and flows as state machines to eliminate impossible states and make behavior predictable.
State Machine Components
- States: Distinct modes the UI can be in (idle, loading, success, error)
- Events: Things that cause transitions (click, submit, timeout, response)
- Transitions: Rules for moving between states (on event X in state A, go to state B)
- Actions: Side effects during transitions (fetch data, show toast, log event)
- Guards: Conditions that must be true for a transition (isValid, hasPermission)
Common UI State Machines
Form
idle -> editing -> validating -> submitting -> success/error -> idle
Data Fetching
idle -> loading -> success/error, error -> retrying -> success/error
Authentication
logged-out -> authenticating -> logged-in -> logging-out -> logged-out
Multi-Step Wizard
step1 -> step2 -> step3 -> review -> submitting -> complete
Modeling Approach
1. List all possible states 2. List all events/triggers 3. Define valid transitions 4. Identify impossible states to prevent 5. Add guards for conditional transitions 6. Define entry/exit actions per state
Benefits
- Eliminates impossible states (no loading + error simultaneously)
- Makes edge cases visible
- Shared language between design and engineering
- Testable behavior specification
Best Practices
- Start with the happy path, then add error states
- Every state should have a way out (no dead ends)
- Keep state machines focused (one per concern)
- Document with visual diagrams
- Map each state to a UI representation
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Use state-machine for UI interaction design; use architecting-solutions for full-system technical architecture decisions.
FAQ
What components does a UI state machine include?
The state-machine skill defines states, events, transitions, and actions. States are UI modes like idle or loading; events trigger transitions; actions run side effects such as fetching data or showing toasts during moves between states.
Why use state-machine for UI design?
state-machine eliminates impossible UI states that arise from multiple boolean flags. Developers get explicit transition rules so complex flows stay predictable and easier to implement and test in frontend code.
Is State Machine safe to install?
skills.sh reports 3 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.