Figma expands plugin API with native compute for generative art and heavy transforms

Tech · 4 min read

The expanded API gives plugin authors access to native compute threads inside the Figma desktop app, enabling more performant operations for tasks that previously required round trips to cloud services. Examples include vectorization of complex bitmaps, large-batch symbol generation and advanced image-processing chains.

While the API supports local compute, Figma also provides clear opt-in telemetry and security guidelines for plugins that use the capability. Developers can declare required compute levels and request user consent before running resource-intensive jobs.

For enterprise customers, Figma introduced administrative controls to limit which plugins can use native compute and to audit their usage. The update aims to balance richer plugin capabilities with predictable performance and governance.