macos-design-guidelines
by ehmomacos-design-guidelines is a practical guide for reviewing and implementing Mac apps against Apple Human Interface Guidelines. It covers menu bars, keyboard shortcuts, window behavior, toolbars, accessibility, and system integration for SwiftUI, AppKit, and Mac Catalyst teams.
This skill scores 84/100, which means it is a solid directory listing for agents working on macOS UI decisions. It has clear trigger language, substantial rule coverage, and actionable SwiftUI/AppKit examples, so users can decide to install it with confidence; the main caveat is that it lacks an explicit install command and some quick-reference structure for faster first use.
- Strong triggerability: the frontmatter says to use it for macOS apps, SwiftUI/AppKit, menu bars, toolbars, window management, keyboard shortcuts, and Mac Catalyst tasks.
- High operational depth: the skill body is large, organized into many headings, and includes code fences plus rule categories with CRITICAL/HIGH guidance.
- Good install-decision value: metadata says it covers 60+ rules across 11 categories with SwiftUI/AppKit examples, and AGENTS.md explains when and how to apply it.
- No install command is provided in SKILL.md, so adoption may require more manual setup or interpretation.
- The preview shows truncated sections and no scripts/references/resources in the skill folder, so some workflow details may only be discoverable after opening the full files.
Overview of macos-design-guidelines skill
macos-design-guidelines is a practical guide for designing and reviewing Mac apps against Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, with an emphasis on decisions that affect real shipping quality: menu bars, keyboard control, window behavior, toolbars, accessibility, and system integration. It is best for teams building with SwiftUI, AppKit, Mac Catalyst, or porting an iPad experience to the Mac.
What this macos-design-guidelines skill is for
Use this macos-design-guidelines skill when you need more than generic UI advice and want Mac-specific rules that change implementation choices. It helps you catch issues like missing standard menus, weak shortcut coverage, poor window persistence, or controls that ignore desktop conventions.
Who should install it
Install it if you are a developer, designer, or reviewer working on a macOS product where keyboard-first workflows, multi-window behavior, and menu-driven command discovery matter. It is also useful for agents that need to evaluate whether a Mac feature is “done” in a way that matches user expectations.
What makes it different
The macos-design-guidelines skill is organized around actionable rules rather than broad principles, so it is easier to apply during implementation and code review. The strongest value is in the critical sections: menu bar, windows, keyboard, and accessibility. Those are the areas most likely to block adoption if they are wrong.
How to Use macos-design-guidelines skill
Install and locate the source files
Run the macos-design-guidelines install command for this repo, then start with SKILL.md and AGENTS.md. For faster orientation, also read metadata.json and rules/_sections.md before diving into the full rule text.
Turn a rough request into a useful prompt
A weak prompt like “make this app more Mac-like” is too vague. A better macos-design-guidelines usage prompt says what you are building, which framework you use, and which surfaces matter:
- “Review this SwiftUI document app for macOS. Check menu bar coverage, window persistence, and keyboard shortcuts.”
- “Apply macos-design-guidelines for Design Implementation to this AppKit sidebar workflow. Identify missing Mac conventions.”
- “Evaluate whether this Mac Catalyst screen should use a toolbar, context menu, or menu bar command.”
Read the repository in the right order
For most tasks, the best reading path is SKILL.md first, then rules/_sections.md for the category map, then the relevant rule sections in SKILL.md. Use AGENTS.md when you want the decision priorities in one place. This order helps you avoid over-reading and keeps attention on the rules most likely to affect implementation.
Workflow tips that improve output quality
Use the macos-design-guidelines guide as a checklist, not as prose to imitate. State the app type, target users, and interaction model up front. Include any constraints that matter, such as “single-window utility,” “document-based app,” or “Catalyst port,” because those change which rules are most important and prevent generic recommendations.
macos-design-guidelines skill FAQ
Is macos-design-guidelines only for SwiftUI apps?
No. The macos-design-guidelines skill covers SwiftUI and AppKit, and it is also relevant to Mac Catalyst and Designed for iPad work when the product is expected to behave like a real Mac app.
When should I not use it?
Do not rely on it for iOS-only UI decisions, visual branding work with no desktop interaction, or feature ideas that do not affect macOS behavior. If your app is not meant to follow Mac conventions, this skill may add unnecessary constraints.
How is this different from a normal prompt?
A normal prompt can suggest Mac-like behavior, but macos-design-guidelines gives you a structured rule set with priority levels and implementation-specific expectations. That makes it better for review, QA, and design decisions where missing one desktop convention can create a poor user experience.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes, if you can describe the app clearly. The skill is especially helpful for beginners because it surfaces the Mac defaults users expect, such as menu bars, shortcuts, and window handling, instead of leaving those choices implicit.
How to Improve macos-design-guidelines skill
Provide the app context the skill cannot infer
The biggest improvement comes from specifying whether the app is document-based, utility-based, or content-focused, and whether it is SwiftUI, AppKit, or Catalyst. Those details affect command structure, window behavior, and how much system chrome the app should expose.
Ask for rule-based review, not just ideas
For better macos-design-guidelines usage, ask for an audit against specific areas: menu bar, windows, keyboard, accessibility, or toolbar behavior. For example: “Review this feature against macos-design-guidelines and list only the violations that would matter to a Mac user.”
Give concrete input so the first pass is useful
Include the current UI, existing commands, and any shortcuts or window behavior already implemented. If you want Design Implementation help, paste the relevant screen description or code excerpt so the skill can identify missing Mac conventions instead of guessing.
Iterate against the highest-risk gaps first
After the first output, fix the critical failures before polishing details. In practice, that usually means standard menus, shortcut coverage, window state, and accessibility. Re-run the skill with the updated design or code so it can check whether the macos-design-guidelines guide was applied consistently rather than only at the surface level.