Design tokens vs hard-coded values is one of the most common decision points we see. Here is the honest breakdown.
The short version#
Named decisions vs scattered literals.
Point by point#
| Aspect | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Consistency | Tokens force the scale; literals drift |
| Theming | Tokens retheme by redefining variables |
| Tooling | Tokens power LSP color previews and search |
| Migration | Tokens survive redesigns; literals require archaeology |
Bottom line#
Pick based on your constraint, not ideology — and remember the comparison pages link to hands-on recipes so you can verify the claim in your own project within minutes.
Related comparisons#
comparisons/index|All comparisons