apple-dev-mcp
MCP Server for Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) & Developer Documentation
Documentation
✨ Features
- 🎨 Complete Coverage: HIG design guidelines + Apple API documentation for iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS
- ⚡ Smart Caching: Fast responses via intelligent caching with graceful degradation
- 🔍 Smart Search: Unified search across design and technical content
- 🤖 Enhanced Search: Advanced search combining design principles with technical implementation
- 📚 Pre-built Content: 113+ pre-processed Apple HIG sections for instant access
🚀 Quick Start
Option 1: Claude Desktop Extension (Recommended)
1. Download `apple-dev-mcp.dxt` from releases
2. Double-click to install in Claude Desktop
3. Restart Claude Desktop
4. Start using Apple development guidance!
Option 2: Traditional Installation
npm install -g apple-dev-mcp🔧 Configuration
Claude Desktop
Add to `claude_desktop_config.json`:
{
"mcpServers": {
"Apple Dev": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/usr/local/lib/node_modules/apple-dev-mcp/dist/server.js"]
}
}
}Claude Code
claude mcp add "Apple-Dev" node /usr/local/lib/node_modules/apple-dev-mcp/dist/server.jsCursor / Windsurf / VS Code
Create `.cursor/mcp.json`, windsurf config, or `.vscode/mcp.json`:
{
"mcpServers": {
"Apple Dev": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/usr/local/lib/node_modules/apple-dev-mcp/dist/server.js"]
}
}
}Find your path: `npm list -g apple-dev-mcp`
Windows users: Replace with `C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules\apple-dev-mcp\dist\server.js`
📖 Usage
Available Tools (3 core tools)
Design Guidelines Search
- `search_human_interface_guidelines` - Search Apple HIG with platform filters
- Returns full content (not snippets) for AI-friendly responses
- Covers all Apple platforms: iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS
Technical Documentation Search
- `search_technical_documentation` - Search Apple API documentation
- Framework-specific searches (SwiftUI, UIKit, AppKit, etc.)
- Symbol and method lookups with code examples
Unified Search
- `search_unified` - Combined design + technical documentation search
- Cross-references design guidelines with implementation details
- Perfect for end-to-end development guidance
Examples
Search Design Guidelines:
{
"name": "search_human_interface_guidelines",
"arguments": {
"query": "Tab Bars",
"platform": "iOS"
}
}Search Technical Documentation:
{
"name": "search_technical_documentation",
"arguments": {
"query": "Button",
"framework": "SwiftUI"
}
}Unified Search:
{
"name": "search_unified",
"arguments": {
"query": "navigation",
"platform": "iOS"
}
}🧪 Testing
npm test # Run test suite
npm test # Test functionality
# Interactive testing
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector apple-dev-mcp🤝 Contributing
We welcome contributions! The most needed help:
1. Scraper fixes when Apple changes their website
2. New features and bug fixes
3. Documentation improvements
See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
⚖️ Legal & Attribution
This project operates under fair use principles for educational purposes. All content includes proper Apple attribution and respects their intellectual property.
> Content sourced from Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.
> © Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Provided for educational purposes.
🙏 Acknowledgments
- MightyDillah for inspiration
- Apple Inc. for comprehensive design guidelines
- Model Context Protocol team
- Open source community for contributions
Built with ❤️ for the developer community
*Bringing Apple's design excellence directly to your AI-assisted development workflow.*
Frequently asked questions
What is apple-dev-mcp?
apple-dev-mcp is MCP Server for Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) & Developer Documentation
How do I install apple-dev-mcp?
Open the GitHub repository and follow its README. Most MCP servers are added to your client's MCP config, then called by your agent.
Is apple-dev-mcp open source?
Yes — it is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/tmaasen/apple-dev-mcp and has 21 stars.
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