Add Tambo to Existing Project
Detect tech stack and integrate Tambo while preserving existing patterns.
Workflow
-
Detect tech stack - Analyze package.json and project structure
-
Confirm with user - Present findings, ask about preferences
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Install dependencies - Add @tambo-ai/react and peer deps
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Create provider setup - Adapt to existing patterns
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Register first component - Demonstrate with existing component
Step 1: Detect Tech Stack
Check these files to understand the project:
Key files to read
package.json # Dependencies and scripts tsconfig.json # TypeScript config next.config.* # Next.js vite.config.* # Vite tailwind.config.* # Tailwind CSS postcss.config.* # PostCSS src/index.* or app/ # Entry points
Detection Checklist
Technology Detection
Next.js next in dependencies, next.config.* exists
Vite vite in devDependencies, vite.config.* exists
Create React App react-scripts in dependencies
TypeScript typescript in deps, tsconfig.json exists
Tailwind tailwindcss in deps, config file exists
Plain CSS No Tailwind, CSS files in src/
Zod zod in dependencies
Other validation yup , joi , superstruct in deps
Step 2: Confirm with User
Present findings and ask:
I detected your project uses:
- Framework: Next.js 14 (App Router)
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- Validation: No Zod (will need to add)
- TypeScript: Yes
Should I:
- Install Tambo with these settings?
- Use plain CSS instead of Tailwind for Tambo components?
- Something else?
Step 3: Install Dependencies
Core (always required)
npm install @tambo-ai/react
If no Zod installed
npm install zod
Step 4: Create Provider Setup
Next.js App Router
// app/providers.tsx "use client"; import { TamboProvider } from "@tambo-ai/react"; import { components } from "@/lib/tambo";
export function Providers({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) { return ( <TamboProvider apiKey={process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_TAMBO_API_KEY} components={components} > {children} </TamboProvider> ); }
// app/layout.tsx import { Providers } from "./providers";
export default function RootLayout({ children }) { return ( <html> <body> <Providers>{children}</Providers> </body> </html> ); }
Next.js Pages Router
// pages/_app.tsx import { TamboProvider } from "@tambo-ai/react"; import { components } from "@/lib/tambo";
export default function App({ Component, pageProps }) { return ( <TamboProvider apiKey={process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_TAMBO_API_KEY} components={components} > <Component {...pageProps} /> </TamboProvider> ); }
Vite / CRA
// src/main.tsx import { TamboProvider } from "@tambo-ai/react"; import { components } from "./lib/tambo"; import App from "./App";
ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById("root")!).render( <TamboProvider apiKey={import.meta.env.VITE_TAMBO_API_KEY} components={components}
<App />
</TamboProvider>, );
Step 5: Create Component Registry
// lib/tambo.ts (or src/lib/tambo.ts) import { TamboComponent } from "@tambo-ai/react";
export const components: TamboComponent[] = [ // Components will be registered here ];
Adapting to Existing Patterns
No Tailwind? Use Plain CSS
If project uses plain CSS or CSS modules, Tambo components can be styled differently:
// Skip --yes flag to customize styling during add npx tambo add message-thread-full
Select "CSS Modules" or "Plain CSS" when prompted
Existing Validation Library?
If using Yup/Joi instead of Zod, user can either:
-
Add Zod just for Tambo schemas (recommended - small addition)
-
Convert schemas (more work, not recommended)
Monorepo?
Run commands from the package that will use Tambo:
cd packages/web npx tambo init --api-key=sk_...
Environment Variables
npx tambo init --api-key=sk_... automatically creates .env.local with the correct env var for your framework.
If manual setup is needed (monorepo, read-only filesystem), add the appropriate variable:
Framework Variable
Next.js NEXT_PUBLIC_TAMBO_API_KEY
Vite VITE_TAMBO_API_KEY
CRA REACT_APP_TAMBO_API_KEY
Verification
After setup, verify by creating a simple test:
import { useTambo } from "@tambo-ai/react";
function TestComponent() { const { thread, isIdle } = useTambo(); console.log("Tambo connected:", isIdle); return <div>Tambo is set up!</div>; }