Figma Introduces Specs and Code Layers at First India Config Event

Figma Specs is a Markdown editor that lets users define their design language in a simple way. The document can serve as a reference for teams and agents while designing in Figma, the company said. Specs can exist as a standalone file in Figma or co-exist within the canvas. Beyond acting as a text editor, users can reference other Figma elements, such as elements on the canvas, and embed FigJam diagrams, code layers and designs.

Teams can also bring more context about design into the system, including design libraries, code libraries and guidelines to manage context for the design system. Agents can refer to this centralized system to adhere to rules, according to the company.

In the past week, Figma made its agent on canvas available to a wider user base. Given the non-deterministic nature of AI, the company is providing tools to steer it toward more predictable outcomes. Figma also made its code layers feature, which adds coding to designs on canvas for more interactive prototypes, available in public beta at the India event. The company announced the feature in private beta in June. Users can ask the agent to turn a design into code or change part of the code to iterate on a prototype.

“We see Figma as the place where software teams come to decide what they build and ship. And so for that, I think one of the key things to keep in mind about what AI has changed and what it made available is the ability to build,” Figma's chief design officer Loredana Crisan told TechCrunch. “There are 17-times more lines of code being produced today than in the past. But when you're looking at releases, only 1.3-times more releases. A lot of that code actually is not necessarily built to ship, but really built to discover what the product is. It's built to design.”

Figma said it is also supporting over 20 new tools with its MCP, including Open Code, Dia, Grok Bot and Indian AI startup Sarvam.

Last year, Figma acquired the open-source headless CMS Payload. The company is now integrating Payload with its Figma Make product for generating dynamic websites and directly managing content. Figma said Payload's downloads have increased sixfold in the last 12 months.

Figma opened its first office in India late last year with sales, partnership, go-to-market and product support functions. The company said India is its biggest market in terms of users outside the United States. It noted that the platform works with 40% of India's top 100 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.