Anima Common Errors

Overview

Use this guide to diagnose design-to-code failures without widening design-file access or leaking tokens. Start from a reproducible file/node/settings tuple and use a least-privilege development credential for all verification.

Prerequisites

• A sanitized error record with the design file identifier, node identifier, selected generation settings, timestamp, and request ID where available.
• Scoped Anima and Figma credentials held in a secret store; never paste a personal access token into a ticket, source file, or shared diagnostic log.
• A staging or disposable design fixture so fixes can be reproduced without mutating a production design file.

Instructions

1. Classify the failure as authentication, file/node resolution, generator configuration, timeout/rate limit, or rendered-output quality.
2. Reproduce it with the smallest approved frame/component and the diagnostic commands, capturing only sanitized results.
3. Correct the matching design input, entitlement, or generation configuration and rerun only that fixture.
4. Validate the generated file location, lint/build result, and visual review before updating a broader component set.

Error Reference

Authentication Errors

Error	Root Cause	Fix
Invalid Anima token	Token not provisioned or expired	Request new token from Anima team
Invalid Figma token	PAT expired or revoked	Generate new PAT: Figma > Settings > Access Tokens
Unauthorized	Token lacks file access	Ensure Figma PAT has file read permission

File & Node Errors

Error	Root Cause	Fix
File not found	Wrong file key	Extract from Figma URL: figma.com/file/{KEY}/...
Node not found	Invalid node ID	Copy node link from Figma: right-click > Copy link
No renderable content	Selected a page or group	Select a frame, component, or component set
Empty files record	Node is empty or hidden	Unhide layers; ensure node has visible content

Code Generation Errors

// Classify without printing provider messages, which can contain source details.
async function safeGenerate(anima: Anima, params: Parameters<Anima['generateCode']>[0]) {
  try {
    return await anima.generateCode(params);
  } catch (error: unknown) {
    const status = typeof error === 'object' && error !== null && 'status' in error
      ? Number(error.status)
      : undefined;
    const failureClass = status === 401 || status === 403
      ? 'authentication-or-permission'
      : status === 429
        ? 'rate-limited'
        : status !== undefined && status >= 500
          ? 'provider-transient'
          : 'generation-failed';
    console.error({ failureClass, status });
    return null;
  }
}

Output Quality Issues

Symptom	Cause	Fix
Messy layout	No auto-layout in Figma	Convert frames to auto-layout
Wrong colors	Hardcoded hex instead of Figma variables	Use Figma color variables/styles
Missing text	Text is inside masked groups	Flatten masks before generating
Extra wrappers	Deeply nested groups	Flatten group hierarchy
Wrong component names	Unnamed Figma layers	Name layers descriptively

Valid Settings Combinations

Framework	Language	Styling	UI Library
react	typescript, javascript	plain_css, tailwind, inline_styles	omit, mui, antd, radix, shadcn, clean_react, custom_design_system
html	typescript, javascript	plain_css, tailwind, inline_styles	omit

Diagnostic Script

# Verify Figma token
curl -s "https://api.figma.com/v1/me" \
  -H "X-Figma-Token: ${FIGMA_TOKEN}" | jq '.handle // .err'

# Verify file access
curl -s "https://api.figma.com/v1/files/${FIGMA_FILE_KEY}" \
  -H "X-Figma-Token: ${FIGMA_TOKEN}" | jq '.name // .err'

Tool Discipline

Use Read and Grep to inspect the existing integration and generated diff before changing anything. Use Write or Edit only inside the approved generated-code, test, or configuration paths. Use the declared Bash commands only for the explicit install, validation, or diagnostic steps in this workflow; never print tokens, source designs, generated source, or private website captures.

Output

• Error classified and root cause identified
• Valid settings matrix for reference
• Diagnostic commands for token and file verification

Examples

When a staging generation returns Node not found, compare the copied node ID with the approved Figma link, then run the file-access diagnostic using a scoped development token. Regenerate only that small frame after correcting the ID and confirm files are emitted to the expected generated-code directory. If access is denied, the node remains hidden, or output is empty, stop the run and ask the file owner to correct permissions or visibility; do not expand the token’s scope or substitute a personal token to get past the error.

Error Handling

Failure	Response
Token is invalid, expired, or over-scoped	Stop the diagnostic, replace it through managed secret rotation, and avoid logging the value.
File or node cannot be resolved	Verify the approved link and visibility with the design owner before retrying.
Generator times out or rate-limits	Use bounded backoff or simplify the fixture; do not fan out uncontrolled retries.
Generated output is unsafe or wrong	Keep it out of the main branch, correct source design/settings, and rerun targeted validation.

Resources

• Anima API Docs
• Figma API Reference