# Macos Design Guidelines

Apple Human Interface Guidelines for Mac.

- Repository: https://github.com/ehmo/platform-design-skills (637 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-03-19
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill macos-design-guidelines -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill macos-design-guidelines -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill macos-design-guidelines -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill macos-design-guidelines -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Apple Human Interface Guidelines for Mac. Use when building macOS apps with SwiftUI or AppKit, implementing menu bars, toolbars, window management, or keyboard shortcuts. Triggers on tasks involving Mac UI, desktop apps, or Mac Catalyst.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# macOS Human Interface Guidelines

Mac apps serve power users who expect deep keyboard control, persistent menu bars, resizable multi-window layouts, and tight system integration. These guidelines codify Apple's HIG into actionable rules with SwiftUI and AppKit examples.

---

## 1. Menu Bar (CRITICAL)

Every Mac app must have a menu bar. It is the primary discovery mechanism for commands. Users who cannot find a feature will look in the menu bar before anywhere else.

### Rule 1.1, Provide Standard Menus

Every app must include at minimum: **App**, **File**, **Edit**, **View**, **Window**, **Help**. Omit File only if the app is not document-based. Add app-specific menus between Edit and View or between View and Window.

```swift
// SwiftUI, Standard menu structure
@main
struct MyApp: App {
    var body: some Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()
        }
        .commands {
            // Adds to existing standard menus
            CommandGroup(after: .newItem) {
                Button("New from Template...") { newFromTemplate() }
                    .keyboardShortcut("T", modifiers: [.command, .shift])
            }
            CommandMenu("Canvas") {
                Button("Zoom to Fit") { zoomToFit() }
                    .keyboardShortcut("0", modifiers: .command)
                Divider()
                Button("Add Artboard") { addArtboard() }
                    .keyboardShortcut("A", modifiers: [.command, .shift])
            }
        }
    }
}
```

```swift
// AppKit, Building menus programmatically
let editMenu = NSMenu(title: "Edit")
let undoItem = NSMenuItem(title: "Undo", action: #selector(UndoManager.undo), keyEquivalent: "z")
let redoItem = NSMenuItem(title: "Redo", action: #selector(UndoManager.redo), keyEquivalent: "Z")
editMenu.addItem(undoItem)
editMenu.addItem(redoItem)
editMenu.addItem(.separator())
```

### Rule 1.2, Keyboard Shortcuts for All Menu Items

The rest: https://github.com/ehmo/platform-design-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/macos/SKILL.md