formcn is a free, open-source visual form builder for constructing shadcn/ui forms without writing code manually.
You can add form elements, reorder them with drag-and-drop, edit their attributes in a modal window, and paste the generated code directly to your shadcn/ui projects.
Features
🏗️ Visual form builder with drag-and-drop interface for quick form assembly.
📋 Single and multi-step form creation with built-in navigation controls.
👁️ Real-time form preview to see changes as you build.
💻 Automatic code generation for both client-side and server-side implementations.
🔄 Drag-to-reorder functionality for flexible form structure management.
⚙️ Modal-based editing system for individual form element configuration.
🧩 15+ pre-built form elements including advanced components like date pickers and multi-select.
🌓 Light and dark mode support for different development environments.
📊 JSON export functionality for form schema persistence.
🔍 Form submission preview to test data collection before implementation.
Use Cases
- Rapidly prototype complex forms for client approval without writing initial code.
- Generate boilerplate form code for React applications using modern best practices.
- Create multi-step onboarding flows with consistent styling and validation patterns.
- Build data collection forms for surveys, registrations, or feedback systems.
- Develop admin panel forms with standardized component libraries and validation schemas.
How to Use It
1. Access the form builder where you’ll find a sidebar containing available form elements. Click any form field type such as Input, Checkbox, Date Picker, or Select to add it to your form canvas. The form elements appear in the center editing area where you can arrange them according to your requirements.
2. Configure each form element by clicking the Edit icon that appears when you hover over the element. This opens a modal dialog where you can set properties like field labels, placeholder text, validation rules, and default values. Each element type has specific configuration options relevant to its functionality.
3. Generate your form code by clicking the ‘Code’ tab in the interface. FormCN produces complete React components using React Hook Form for state management, Zod for validation schemas, and TypeScript for type safety. The generated code includes both client-side form handling and server-side validation patterns.
4. Export your form structure as JSON by selecting the ‘JSON’ tab. This feature allows you to save form configurations for later use or integration with content management systems.
5. Test your form functionality using the ‘Submit’ tab, which provides a preview of how form data will be collected and structured when users complete the form.
Related Resources
- shadcn/ui Documentation – Official component library documentation with installation guides and component examples.
- React Hook Form Guide – Complete documentation for the form state management library used in generated code.
- Zod Schema Validation – TypeScript-first schema validation library documentation and API reference.
- Tailwind CSS Framework – Utility-first CSS framework documentation for styling the generated components.
FAQs
Q: Can I customize the generated code after export?
A: Yes, the generated code is standard React with TypeScript that you can modify freely.
Q: Does FormCN support custom validation rules?
A: FormCN generates Zod validation schemas that you can extend with custom validation logic. The base validation covers common patterns like required fields, email formats, and length constraints.
Q: Can I use FormCN with existing React projects?
A: Absolutely. The generated components integrate with any React application that uses the supported tech stack. You may need to install the required dependencies if they’re not already in your project.
Q: Is the form data handling secure for production use?
A: FormCN generates client-side code for form handling. You’ll need to implement server-side validation and data processing according to your security requirements and compliance standards.
Q: Can I save and reload form configurations?
A: Yes, FormCN exports form configurations as JSON, which you can save and import later. This feature helps with version control and sharing form designs across team members.
