Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns.

MITAuto-check passedMobile

Install Hig Patterns

skills CLI
$ npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-patterns -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install raintree-technology/hig-doctor hig-patterns --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/hig-patterns .claude/skills/hig-patterns && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
hig-patterns
GitHub stars
143
Used in
5 other repos
Token cost
~2k tokens
SKILL.md length
683 words
Files
26 (incl. references)
Skills in repo
15
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns.

  • Works in 8 steps: Minimize modality. Use modality only… → Provide clear feedback. Every action… → Support undo over confirmation dialogs.… → …
  • The user asks about onboarding flow
  • SKILL.md covers Key Principles, Reference Index, Pattern Selection Guide and Output Format, plus 2 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Hig Patterns is an agent skill from raintree-technology/hig-doctor. Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns. Use this skill when the user asks about "onboarding flow", "user onboarding", "app launch", "loading state", "drag and drop", "search pattern", "settings design", "notifications", "modality", "multitasking", "feedback pattern", "haptics", "undo redo", "file management", data entry, sharing, collaboration, full screen, audio, video, haptic feedback, ratings, printing, help, or account management in Apple apps. Also use when the user says "how should…

Its SKILL.md is about 2k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 26 other files, including reference files (for example `references/charting-data.md`, `references/collaboration-and-sharing.md` and `references/drag-and-drop.md`).

It sits in Mobile, covering iOS development, Customer success and File organization. The repository describes itself as: Apple HIG reference and cross-framework UI audit tooling for agents. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • The user asks about onboarding flow
  • User onboarding
  • Settings design
  • Feedback pattern

Example prompts

  • “onboarding flow”
  • “user onboarding”
  • “app launch”
  • “/hig-patterns”

Workflow steps

8 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

  1. Minimize modality. Use modality only when it is critical to get attention, a task must be completed or abandoned, or saving changes is…
  2. Provide clear feedback. Every action should produce visible, audible, or haptic response. Activity indicators for indeterminate waits…
  3. Support undo over confirmation dialogs. Destructive actions should be reversible when possible. Undo is almost always better than "Are you…
  4. Launch quickly. Display a launch screen that transitions seamlessly into the first screen. No splash screens with logos. Restore previous…
  5. Defer sign-in. Let users explore before requiring account creation. Support Sign in with Apple and passkeys.
  6. Keep onboarding brief. Three screens max. Let users skip. Teach through progressive disclosure and contextual hints.
  7. Use progressive disclosure. Show essentials first, let users drill into details. Don't overwhelm with every option on one screen.
  8. Respect user attention. Consolidate notifications, minimize interruptions, give users control over alerts. Never use notifications for…

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 3ec08f5. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md.

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    Links to these hosts (documentation or services it may open):

    • raintree.technology

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Hig Patterns loads about 2k tokens when it runs, and up to ~15k if it reads all its reference files. Until then it costs about 230 tokens; SKILL.md has 683 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~230
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~2k
With references · SKILL.md plus every file in references/, read only if the agent opens them
~15k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from raintree-technology/hig-doctor at commit 3ec08f5, republished under its MIT licence (© raintree-technology). 683 words, ~1,960 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/hig-patterns/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 25 other files; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
hig-patterns
description
Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns. Use this skill when the user asks about "onboarding flow", "user onboarding", "app launch", "loading state", "drag and drop", "search pattern", "settings design", "notifications", "modality", "multitasking", "feedback pattern", "haptics", "undo redo", "file management", data entry, sharing, collaboration, full screen, audio, video, haptic feedback, ratings, printing, help, or account management in Apple apps. Also use when the user says "how should onboarding work", "my app takes too long to load", "should I use a modal here", "how do I handle errors", "when should I ask for permissions", "how to show progress", or "what's the right way to confirm a delete". Cross-references: hig-foundations for underlying principles, hig-platforms for platform specifics, hig-components-layout for navigation, hig-components-content for data display.
version
1.0.0

Apple HIG: Interaction Patterns

Check for .claude/apple-design-context.md before asking questions. Use existing context and only ask for information not already covered.

Key Principles

  1. Minimize modality. Use modality only when it is critical to get attention, a task must be completed or abandoned, or saving changes is essential. Prefer non-modal alternatives.

  2. Provide clear feedback. Every action should produce visible, audible, or haptic response. Activity indicators for indeterminate waits, progress bars for determinate, haptics for physical confirmation.

  3. Support undo over confirmation dialogs. Destructive actions should be reversible when possible. Undo is almost always better than "Are you sure?"

  4. Launch quickly. Display a launch screen that transitions seamlessly into the first screen. No splash screens with logos. Restore previous state.

  5. Defer sign-in. Let users explore before requiring account creation. Support Sign in with Apple and passkeys.

  6. Keep onboarding brief. Three screens max. Let users skip. Teach through progressive disclosure and contextual hints.

  7. Use progressive disclosure. Show essentials first, let users drill into details. Don't overwhelm with every option on one screen.

  8. Respect user attention. Consolidate notifications, minimize interruptions, give users control over alerts. Never use notifications for marketing.

Reference Index

ReferenceTopicKey content
charting-data.mdCharting DataData visualization patterns, accessible charts, interactive elements
collaboration-and-sharing.mdCollaboration & SharingShare sheets, activity views, collaborative editing, SharePlay
drag-and-drop.mdDrag and DropDrag sources, drop targets, spring loading, multi-item drag, visual feedback
entering-data.mdEntering DataText fields, pickers, steppers, input validation, keyboard types, autofill
feedback.mdFeedbackAlerts, action sheets, haptic patterns, sound feedback, visual indicators
file-management.mdFile ManagementDocument browser, file providers, iCloud integration, document lifecycle
going-full-screen.mdGoing Full ScreenFull-screen transitions, immersive content, exiting full screen
launching.mdLaunchingLaunch screens, state restoration, cold vs warm launch
live-viewing-apps.mdLive Viewing AppsLive content display, real-time updates, Live Activities, Dynamic Island
loading.mdLoadingActivity indicators, progress views, skeleton screens, lazy loading, placeholders
managing-accounts.mdManaging AccountsSign in with Apple, passkeys, account creation, credential autofill, account deletion
managing-notifications.mdManaging NotificationsPermission requests, grouping, actionable notifications, provisional delivery
modality.mdModalitySheets, alerts, popovers, full-screen modals, when to use each
multitasking.mdMultitaskingiPad Split View, Slide Over, Stage Manager, responsive layout, size class transitions
offering-help.mdOffering HelpContextual tips, onboarding hints, help menus, support links
onboarding.mdOnboardingWelcome screens, feature highlights, progressive onboarding, skip options
playing-audio.mdPlaying AudioAudio sessions, background audio, Now Playing, audio routing, interruptions
playing-haptics.mdPlaying HapticsCore Haptics, UIFeedbackGenerator, haptic patterns, custom haptics
playing-video.mdPlaying VideoVideo player controls, picture-in-picture, AirPlay, full-screen video
printing.mdPrintingPrint dialogs, page setup, AirPrint integration
ratings-and-reviews.mdRatings & ReviewsSKStoreReviewController, timing, frequency limits, in-app feedback
searching.mdSearchingSearch bars, suggestions, scoped search, results display, recents
settings.mdSettingsIn-app vs Settings app, preference organization, toggles, defaults
undo-and-redo.mdUndo and RedoShake to undo, undo/redo stack, multi-level undo
workouts.mdWorkoutsWorkout sessions, live metrics, Always On display, summaries, HealthKit
Show full SKILL.md (210 more words)Show less

Pattern Selection Guide

User GoalRecommended PatternAvoid
First app experienceBrief onboarding (max 3 screens) + progressive disclosureLong tutorials, mandatory sign-up
Waiting for contentSkeleton screens or progress indicatorsBlocking spinners with no context
Confirming destructive actionUndo supportExcessive "Are you sure?" dialogs
Collecting user inputInline validation, smart defaults, autofillModal forms for simple inputs
Requesting permissionsContextual, just-in-time with explanationRequesting all permissions at launch
Providing feedbackHaptics + visual indicatorSilent actions with no confirmation
Organizing preferencesIn-app settings for frequent itemsBurying all settings in system Settings app

Output Format

  1. Recommended pattern with rationale, citing the relevant reference file.
  2. Step-by-step implementation covering each screen or state.
  3. Platform variations for targeted platforms.
  4. Common pitfalls that violate HIG for this pattern.

Questions to Ask

  1. Where in the app does this pattern appear? What comes before and after?
  2. Which platforms?
  3. Designing from scratch or improving an existing flow?
  4. Does this involve sensitive actions? (Destructive operations, payments, permissions)
  • hig-foundations -- Accessibility, color, typography, and privacy principles underlying every pattern
  • hig-platforms -- Platform-specific pattern implementations
  • hig-components-layout -- Structural components (tab bars, sidebars, split views) for navigation patterns
  • hig-components-content -- Content display within patterns (charts, collections, search results)

Built by Raintree Technology · More developer tools

© raintree-technology, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 25 other files (references) in skills/hig-patterns of raintree-technology/hig-doctor.

  • SKILL.md
  • references/charting-data.md
  • references/collaboration-and-sharing.md
  • references/drag-and-drop.md
  • references/entering-data.md
  • references/feedback.md
  • references/file-management.md
  • references/going-full-screen.md
  • references/launching.md
  • references/live-viewing-apps.md
  • references/loading.md
  • references/managing-accounts.md
  • references/managing-notifications.md
  • references/modality.md
  • references/multitasking.md
  • references/offering-help.md
  • references/onboarding.md
  • references/playing-audio.md
  • references/playing-haptics.md
  • references/playing-video.md
  • … and 6 more

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 3ec08f5

Used in 5 other repositories

We found 18 copies of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 5 other GitHub owners. This page covers the copy in raintree-technology/hig-doctor, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.

Compare with similar skills

Hig Patterns next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Hig Patterns compared with similar skills
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Swiftui Protwostraws/SwiftUI-Agent-Skill5.1k2 repos~1.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Swiftui UI PatternsAFK-surf/OpenBridge4304 repos~887Automated safety check: PassMIT
Swiftui Performance Auditharperreed/dotfiles3348 repos~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassNone
Swift Testing ExpertAvdLee/Swift-Testing-Agent-Skill4691 repos~1.2kAutomated safety check: PassMIT

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More from raintree-technology/hig-doctor

All 15 skills in this repo
  • Hig Project Context

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    Create or update a shared Apple design context document that other HIG skills use to tailor guidance.

    143 GitHub starsUsed in 5 repos~1.2k tokens
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  • Hig Components Content

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    Apple Human Interface Guidelines for content display components.

    143 GitHub starsUsed in 5 repos~1.3k tokens
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  • Hig Components Controls

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    Apple HIG guidance for selection and input controls including pickers, toggles, sliders, steppers, segmented controls, combo boxes, text fields, text views, labels, token fields, virtual keyboards…

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  • Hig Components Dialogs

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    Apple HIG guidance for presentation components including alerts, action sheets, popovers, sheets, and digit entry views.

    143 GitHub starsUsed in 5 repos~1.1k tokens
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  • Hig Components Layout

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    Apple Human Interface Guidelines for layout and navigation components.

    143 GitHub starsUsed in 5 repos~1.6k tokens
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  • Hig Components Menus

    raintree-technology/hig-doctor

    Apple HIG guidance for menu and button components including menus, context menus, dock menus, edit menus, the menu bar, toolbars, action buttons, pop-up buttons, pull-down buttons, disclosure…

    143 GitHub starsUsed in 5 repos~1.1k tokens
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Categories

Questions about Hig Patterns

What does Hig Patterns do?

Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns. Hig Patterns is an agent skill from raintree-technology/hig-doctor. Apple Human Interface Guidelines interaction and UX patterns.

When should I use Hig Patterns?

Hig Patterns fits situations like: the user asks about onboarding flow; user onboarding; settings design; feedback pattern.

How do I install Hig Patterns in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-patterns -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/hig-patterns in raintree-technology/hig-doctor) into .claude/skills/hig-patterns in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Hig Patterns in Codex?

Run `npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-patterns -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/hig-patterns in raintree-technology/hig-doctor) into .agents/skills/hig-patterns in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Hig Patterns in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-patterns -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/hig-patterns, .gemini/skills/hig-patterns, .github/skills/hig-patterns and .opencode/skills/hig-patterns in your project.

What does Hig Patterns need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Hig Patterns is instructions for the agent only.

Does Hig Patterns access the network?

SKILL.md names 1 domain. As links in the text: raintree.technology. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Hig Patterns safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Hig Patterns use?

Hig Patterns is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Hig Patterns use?

About 2k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 7.8k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full. Its references folder adds about 13k tokens, read only when the agent opens those files.

What are the alternatives to Hig Patterns?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Hig Patterns: Domain Architect (pproenca/dot-skills, 215 stars), Swiftui Pro (twostraws/SwiftUI-Agent-Skill, 5.1k stars), Swiftui UI Patterns (AFK-surf/OpenBridge, 430 stars) and Swiftui Performance Audit (harperreed/dotfiles, 334 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Hig Patterns?

raintree-technology (a GitHub organization) maintains it in raintree-technology/hig-doctor, which has 143 GitHub stars. The repository holds 15 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on September 11, 2026.

Source: raintree-technology/hig-doctor on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.