HIG Doctor — Claude Code MCP server: setup and UI audits
Search Apple Human Interface Guidelines and audit project code against them. Useful when you need a reference for an interface decision or want to inspect audit findings.
claude mcp add --env HIG_SKILLS_DIR=<HIG_SKILLS_DIR> --transport stdio mcp -- npx -y hig-mcpWhat HIG Doctor does
The server gives an agent access to Apple Human Interface Guidelines. It can search reference topics or retrieve a section by skill and topic. Audit a project directory or a single file; findings include severity, line information, and guidance for fixes. The file audit suits a quick check after an edit.
Six tools cover browsing available skills, searching references, running audits, and explaining a finding with a cited HIG excerpt. The reference content is a snapshot dated 2025-02-02, so consult Apple's current guidelines when you need the latest wording. An audit is static evidence, not proof of HIG conformance, accessibility, or design quality.
For Claude Code, add the server with claude mcp add hig-doctor -- npx -y hig-mcp. Built deployments require Node 20 or later; Bun can run the source directly. HTTP mode has no authentication or TLS, so keep it behind a trusted transport boundary.
What it helps with
- find HIG guidance for an interface topic
- audit a project directory for HIG findings
- check an edited file against the guidelines
- inspect the rule behind an audit finding
Example prompts for the agent
- Find Apple's guidance on choosing interface colors.
- Audit this project directory against HIG and group the findings by category.
- Explain the audit finding and show the cited rule.
How to install HIG Doctor
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env HIG_SKILLS_DIR=<HIG_SKILLS_DIR> --transport stdio mcp -- npx -y hig-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
codex mcp add mcp --env HIG_SKILLS_DIR=<HIG_SKILLS_DIR> -- npx -y hig-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"hig-mcp"
],
"env": {
"HIG_SKILLS_DIR": "<HIG_SKILLS_DIR>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"mcp": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"hig-mcp"
],
"env": {
"HIG_SKILLS_DIR": "<HIG_SKILLS_DIR>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e HIG_SKILLS_DIR=<HIG_SKILLS_DIR> mcp npx -y hig-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about HIG Doctor
How do I install HIG Doctor in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add hig-doctor -- npx -y hig-mcp. This registers the MCP server and launches it through npx.
What does HIG Doctor do?
It searches Apple Human Interface Guidelines and runs static audits on a project directory or an individual file. It can also explain findings with the related rule and reference excerpt.
Does an audit prove that an interface complies with HIG?
No. Audit results provide evidence for a static review, but they do not establish HIG conformance, accessibility, or design quality.
