feat(cli): remove local create-ui surface and add minor release changeset

Author: tannerlinsley

.agents/index.md

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ cli/
 │   │   └── src/frameworks/
 │   │       ├── react/     # React framework + add-ons
 │   │       └── solid/     # Solid framework + add-ons
-│   └── create-ui/     # @tanstack/create-ui - Web UI
 └── cli-aliases/       # Deprecated wrappers (create-tsrouter-app, etc.)
 ```
 
@@ -72,7 +71,6 @@ node ../cli/packages/cli/dist/index.js create my-app
 | `--no-install`       | Skip npm install                                        |
 | `-y`                 | Accept defaults                                         |
 | `-f, --force`        | Overwrite existing                                      |
-| `--ui`               | Launch visual builder                                   |
 
 ## EJS Template Variables
 

.changeset/tall-pears-tickle.md

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+'@tanstack/cli': minor
+'@tanstack/create': minor
+---
+
+This release pulls together a large batch of improvements across the CLI and scaffolding engine since the last versioning pass.
+
+- Modernizes and refreshes the generated React/Solid template experience, including updated starter content and stronger defaults.
+- Improves create flows with better option normalization, stronger guardrails around target directories, and clearer compatibility behavior in router-only mode.
+- Expands scaffolding ergonomics with examples toggles, improved add-on/config handling, and reliability fixes across package-manager and cross-platform paths.
+- Strengthens test and release confidence via e2e/release workflow hardening and broader smoke coverage.
+- Streamlines product surface area by removing the local `create-ui` package and `--ui` command paths from the CLI; visual setup now lives at `https://tanstack.com/builder`.
+- Cleans up docs and custom CLI examples to match the current terminal-first workflow and Builder guidance.

ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 |---------|---------|
 | `@tanstack/cli` | Main CLI with commands: `create`, `add`, `add-on`, `starter`, `mcp` |
 | `@tanstack/create` | Core engine, frameworks, and add-ons |
-| `@tanstack/create-ui` | Visual project builder web interface |
 
 ## Framework Structure
 

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -61,23 +61,6 @@ rm -rf test-app && node packages/cli/dist/index.js dev \
 
 The legacy `create --dev-watch <path>` flow still works for direct watch path control.
 
-## Developing Create UI
-
-The UI requires running three things:
-
-```bash
-# Terminal 1: Watch mode for packages
-pnpm dev
-
-# Terminal 2: API server (from empty directory)
-CTA_DISABLE_UI=true node ../cli/packages/cli/dist/index.js create --ui
-
-# Terminal 3: React dev server
-cd packages/create-ui && pnpm dev:ui
-```
-
-Navigate to `http://localhost:3000` to see the UI connected to the API at `http://localhost:8080`.
-
 ## Submitting Changes
 
 1. Run tests: `pnpm test`
@@ -90,7 +73,6 @@ Navigate to `http://localhost:3000` to see the UI connected to the API at `http:
 packages/
 ├── cli/           # @tanstack/cli - CLI commands
 ├── create/        # @tanstack/create - Engine + frameworks
-└── create-ui/     # @tanstack/create-ui - Visual builder
 ```
 
 ## Useful Scripts

docs/cli-reference.md

@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ tanstack create [project-name] [options]
 | `--list-add-ons` | List all available add-ons |
 | `--addon-details <id>` | Show details for specific add-on |
 | `--add-on-config <json>` | JSON string with add-on options |
-| `--ui` | Launch visual project builder |
 
 ```bash
 # Examples
@@ -55,15 +54,15 @@ tanstack add [add-on...] [options]
 | Option | Description |
 |--------|-------------|
 | `--forced` | Force add-on installation even if conflicts exist |
-| `--ui` | Launch visual add-on picker |
 
 ```bash
 # Examples
 tanstack add clerk drizzle
 tanstack add tanstack-query,tanstack-form
-tanstack add --ui
 ```
 
+Visual setup is available at `https://tanstack.com/builder`.
+
 ---
 
 ## tanstack add-on

docs/examples.md

@@ -14,11 +14,10 @@ tanstack create my-app --router-only -y
 
 # Interactive mode to pick add-ons
 tanstack create my-app --interactive
-
-# Visual builder
-tanstack create --ui
 ```
 
+For visual setup, use `https://tanstack.com/builder`.
+
 ## Using Add-ons
 
 ```bash