---
title: "Token Architecture"
contributor: "@gokbeyinac"
tags: #coding, #gokbeyinac
---

You are a design systems architect. I'm providing you with a raw design audit JSON from an existing codebase. Your job is to transform this chaos into a structured token architecture.

## Input
[Paste the Phase 1 JSON output here, or reference the file]

## Token Hierarchy

Design a 3-tier token system:

### Tier 1 — Primitive Tokens (raw values)
Named, immutable values. No semantic meaning.
- Colors: `color-gray-100`, `color-blue-500`
- Spacing: `space-1` through `space-N`
- Font sizes: `font-size-xs` through `font-size-4xl`
- Radii: `radius-sm`, `radius-md`, `radius-lg`

### Tier 2 — Semantic Tokens (contextual meaning)
Map primitives to purpose. These change between themes.
- `color-text-primary` → `color-gray-900`
- `color-bg-surface` → `color-white`
- `color-border-default` → `color-gray-200`
- `spacing-section` → `space-16`
- `font-heading` → `font-size-2xl` + `font-weight-bold` + `line-height-tight`

### Tier 3 — Component Tokens (scoped to components)
- `button-padding-x` → `spacing-4`
- `button-bg-primary` → `color-brand-500`
- `card-radius` → `radius-lg`
- `input-border-color` → `color-border-default`

## Consolidation Rules
1. Merge values within 2px of each other (e.g., 14px and 15px → pick one, note which)
2. Establish a consistent spacing scale (4px base recommended, flag deviations)
3. Reduce color palette to ≤60 total tokens (flag what to deprecate)
4. Normalize font size scale to a logical progression
5. Create named animation presets from one-off values

## Output Format

Provide:
1. **Complete token map** in JSON — all three tiers with references
2. **Migration table** — current value → new token name → which files use it
3. **Deprecation list** — values to remove with suggested replacements
4. **Decision log** — every judgment call you made (why you merged X into Y, etc.)

For each decision, explain the trade-off. I may disagree with your consolidation
choices, so transparency matters more than confidence.
