# Pencil.dev

9 Hacker News commenters recommended Pencil.dev and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Free design tool pitched as a local Figma alternative that connects to Claude Code and Cursor. Critics say the Vim plugin version is unnecessary bloat, since a small vimrc does the job.

## Why people recommend it

- Positioned as a Figma alternative (3 comments): "I'm impressed. It's like a local Figma that connects to Claude code or cursor" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46903486)) "they just introduced animations and I was like they just kicked Figma" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47807980)) "Another “Figma killer”. Free (for now)." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47833769))
- Connects to Claude Code and Cursor (2 comments): "I'm impressed. It's like a local Figma that connects to Claude code or cursor" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46903486)) "Claude Code X Figma is exactly what I need" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46712384))

## What people warn about

- Vim plugin seen as unnecessary (3 comments): "ended up finding that a pretty tiny vimrc file was all I needed" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47056828)) "Vim needs no plugins for writing prose." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47036933)) "Seems like bloat to me, too" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47038710))
- Solves no real problem (2 comments): "solves no actual problem I have and not worth the security risk and extra complexity of a plugin by a random remote stranger" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47038295)) "it might've been more useful of a plugin if it was targeted at specific problem" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47034348))

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Pencil.dev", https://hackerapproved.com/p/vim-pencil/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).