{
  "id": 16759828,
  "title": "Design tokens are a contract, not a color list",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/design-tokens-are-a-contract-not-a-color-list",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-27T15:22:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/quinnhacks/design-tokens-are-a-contract-not-a-color-list-2og4"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "We had a color palette that everyone partially followed. The problem wasn't the palette — it was that nobody knew which token was safe to use. What we did: Renamed tokens by intent ( surface-raised , text-muted ) instead of hue ( gray-200 ). Deleted every token with zero usages. Added a CI check that fails on raw hex in components. The design system feels smaller now, and easier to extend.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}