# hig-components-menus

Guides button and menu architecture across Apple platforms based on official Human Interface Guidelines. Helps choose proper controls and organize toolbars.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 643 installs · ★ 148
- Author: raintree-technology
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/tree/HEAD/skills/hig-components-menus/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/hig-components-menus

## What it does

The skill applies Apple HIG rules to interface buttons and menus. It covers macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. Context menus remain strictly secondary. The assistant prevents common design flaws, like hiding a command solely behind a right-click menu. Frequent actions stay in toolbars, while rarely used commands go into menus.

Guidance relies on reference documents for buttons, dock menus, and disclosure controls. Each response follows a structured format: component choice, visual hierarchy, platform-specific behavior, and macOS shortcuts. Pop-up buttons handle mutually exclusive choices. Pull-down buttons present command lists without active selections.

Before asking questions, the skill checks `.claude/apple-design-context.md`. If context is missing, the assistant asks about platforms and whether an action is primary or secondary. This keeps discussions focused.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-components-menus -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/hig-components-menus/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/hig-components-menus/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-components-menus -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/hig-components-menus/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-components-menus -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/hig-components-menus/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install raintree-technology/hig-doctor hig-components-menus
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/hig-components-menus/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-components-menus -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor --path skills/hig-components-menus
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/hig-components-menus/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add raintree-technology/hig-doctor --skill hig-components-menus -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/tree/HEAD/skills/hig-components-menus/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- choose between pop-up and pull-down button types
- structure menu bars and toolbars on macOS
- configure secondary actions for context menus
- assign keyboard shortcuts to menu commands

## Example prompts
- Should I use a pop-up button or a pull-down button for selecting document export formats?
- What commands belong in the macOS menu bar versus the primary window toolbar?
- How should context menus behave on iOS when a user long-presses a list item?

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 94fe6c9dd3b8a40f.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 94fe6c9dd3b8a40f
```text
---
name: hig-components-menus
version: 1.0.0
description: >-
  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 controls, and standard buttons. Use this skill
  when the user says "how should my buttons look," "what goes in the menu bar,"
  "should I use a context menu or action sheet," "how do I design a toolbar," or
  asks about button design, menu design, context menu, toolbar, menu bar, action
  button, pop-up button, pull-down button, disclosure control, dock menu, edit
  menu, or any menu/button component layout and behavior. Cross-references:
  hig-components-search, hig-components-controls, hig-components-dialogs.
---

# Apple HIG: Menus and Buttons

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

## Key Principles

1. **Menus should be contextual and predictable.** Standard items in standard locations. Follow platform conventions for ordering and grouping.

2. **Use standard button styles.** System-defined styles communicate affordance and maintain visual consistency. Prefer them over custom designs.

3. **Toolbars for frequent actions.** Most commonly used commands in the toolbar. Rarely used actions belong in menus.

4. **Menu bar is the primary command interface on macOS.** Every command reachable from the menu bar. Toolbars and context menus supplement, not replace.

5. **Context menus for secondary actions.** Right-click or long-press, relevant to the item under the pointer. Never put a command only in a context menu.

6. **Pop-up buttons for mutually exclusive choices.** Select exactly one option from a set.

7. **Pull-down buttons for action lists.** No current selection; they offer a set of commands.

8. **Action buttons consolidate related actions** behind a single icon in toolbars or title bars.

9. **Disclosure controls for progressive disclosure.** Show or hide additional content.

10. **Dock menus: short and focused** on the most useful actions when the app is running.

## Reference Index

| Reference | Topic | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| [menus.md](references/menus.md) | General menu design | Item ordering, grouping, shortcuts |
| [context-menus.md](references/context-menus.md) | Context menus | Right-click, long press, secondary actions |
| [dock-menus.md](references/dock-menus.md) | Dock menus | macOS app-level actions, running state |
| [edit-menus.md](references/edit-menus.md) | Edit menus | Undo, copy, paste, standard items |
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 94fe6c9dd3b8a40f

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 94fe6c9dd3b8a40f tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 2638 of 4369 bytes. © raintree-technology · MIT · https://github.com/raintree-technology/hig-doctor/tree/HEAD/skills/hig-components-menus/SKILL.md

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