GSAP Setup

Flow: gsap-setup → gsap-animate → gsap-optimise → gsap-test Detect the framework from project files (nuxt.config, next.config, package.json) and use the matching section below.

Companion: For GSAP core API and defaults, invoke gsap-core. For framework lifecycle/cleanup, invoke gsap-frameworks. This skill covers setup recipes only. Requires: greensock/gsap-skills

1. Installation

Install GSAP per the official gsap-core skill. Then set up the framework plugin below.

2. Framework Setup

<!-- TODO: Remove after greensock/gsap-skills PR merged — Nuxt setup will be in gsap-frameworks skill + examples -->

Nuxt 3

// plugins/gsap.js
import { gsap } from 'gsap'
import ScrollTrigger from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'

export default defineNuxtPlugin(() => {
  gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)
  return { provide: { gsap, ScrollTrigger } }
})

Access: const { $gsap: gsap, $ScrollTrigger: ScrollTrigger } = useNuxtApp()

<!-- TODO: Remove after greensock/gsap-skills PR merged — Vue setup will be in gsap-frameworks skill + examples -->

Vue 3 (Vite)

// src/main.js
import { gsap } from 'gsap'
import ScrollTrigger from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)
app.provide('gsap', gsap)

Access: const gsap = inject('gsap') or import directly (tree-shakes fine with Vite).

<!-- TODO: Remove after greensock/gsap-skills PR merged — React setup already in gsap-react skill -->

React (Vite / CRA)

import { gsap } from 'gsap'
import ScrollTrigger from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'
import { useGSAP } from '@gsap/react'
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)

function Component() {
  const containerRef = useRef(null)
  useGSAP(() => {
    gsap.to('.box', { x: 200, duration: 1 })
  }, { scope: containerRef })
  return <div ref={containerRef}><div className="box">Animated</div></div>
}

<!-- TODO: Remove after greensock/gsap-skills PR merged — Next.js setup will be in gsap-frameworks skill + examples -->

Next.js (App Router)

// lib/gsap.js
'use client'
import { gsap } from 'gsap'
import ScrollTrigger from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'
import { useGSAP } from '@gsap/react'
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)
export { gsap, ScrollTrigger, useGSAP }

3. Global Defaults

gsap.defaults({ overwrite: 'auto' })
gsap.ticker.lagSmoothing(500, 33)

• overwrite: 'auto' — kills only conflicting properties on the same target.
• lagSmoothing(500, 33) — caps lag compensation so big frame drops don't cause a jarring jump.

4. registerEffect — Reusable Animations

gsap.registerEffect({
  name: 'reveal',
  effect: (targets, config) =>
    gsap.fromTo(targets, { y: 20, autoAlpha: 0 }, { y: 0, autoAlpha: 1, ...config }),
  defaults: { duration: 0.8, ease: 'power2.out', stagger: 0 },
  extendTimeline: true,
})

Usage: gsap.effects.reveal('.cards') or on timelines: tl.reveal('.cards', {}, '-=0.2')

5. CSS Pre-hide

Elements animated by GSAP should be pre-hidden in CSS to prevent CLS. autoAlpha sets visibility: visible when it runs.

.reveal, .text-reveal { visibility: hidden; }

6. Accessibility

Vue / Nuxt composable

export const useReducedMotion = () => {
  const prefersReduced = ref(false)
  onMounted(() => {
    const mql = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)')
    prefersReduced.value = mql.matches
    mql.addEventListener('change', (e) => { prefersReduced.value = e.matches })
  })
  return { prefersReduced }
}

React hook

export function useReducedMotion() {
  const [prefersReduced, setPrefersReduced] = useState(false)
  useEffect(() => {
    const mql = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)')
    setPrefersReduced(mql.matches)
    const handler = (e) => setPrefersReduced(e.matches)
    mql.addEventListener('change', handler)
    return () => mql.removeEventListener('change', handler)
  }, [])
  return prefersReduced
}

Prefer `gsap.matchMedia()` when animations should auto-revert on preference change — see gsap-animate skill.

References

• references/full-plugin-example.md — Complete Nuxt plugin with lazy loaders, registered effects, and ScrollTrigger sort