SKILL.md
Desktop UI Design
Purpose
Design intuitive desktop application interfaces using native UI frameworks (Tkinter, Qt, WPF, etc.) following platform conventions and usability best practices.
When to Use
- Creating desktop application interfaces
- Designing forms and dialogs
- Planning menu structures and navigation
- Organizing application windows
Key Capabilities
- Layout Design - Organize controls logically with proper spacing
- Platform Conventions - Follow OS-specific design guidelines
- Usability Patterns - Apply desktop UI best practices
Approach
- Understand user workflows and tasks
- Group related controls together
- Follow platform conventions (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Use familiar patterns (menus, toolbars, status bars)
- Ensure keyboard accessibility
- Provide visual feedback for actions
Example
Context: Task management application main window ``` Menu Bar: File | Edit | View | Tools | Help Toolbar: [New] [Open] [Save] [Refresh] ───────────────────────────────────── Main Content Area: ┌─ Task List ─────────────────────┐ │ ☐ Task 1 High Pending │ │ ☑ Task 2 Normal Complete │ │ ☐ Task 3 Low Pending │ └─────────────────────────────────┘ Status Bar: 3 tasks | 1 active | Last refresh: 2:30 PM ```
Design Principles:
- Most important actions in toolbar
- Full functionality in menus
- Context menus for quick access
- Status bar for non-critical info
- Keyboard shortcuts for common actions
Best Practices
- ✅ Use native widgets for platform consistency
- ✅ Provide keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+N, F5, etc.)
- ✅ Show visual feedback (disabled states, progress indicators)
- ✅ Use standard dialog patterns (OK/Cancel, Yes/No)
- ❌ Avoid: Custom widgets that don't match platform look
- ❌ Avoid: Hiding important actions deep in menus