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mobile-design

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Mobile-first design thinking and decision-making for iOS and Android apps. Touch interaction, performance patterns, platform conventions. Teaches principles, not fixed values. Use when building React Native, Flutter, or native mobile apps.

Designscripts

What this skill does


# Mobile Design System

> **Philosophy:** Touch-first. Battery-conscious. Platform-respectful. Offline-capable.
> **Core Principle:** Mobile is NOT a small desktop. THINK mobile constraints, ASK platform choice.

---

## πŸ”§ Runtime Scripts

**Execute these for validation (don't read, just run):**

| Script | Purpose | Usage |
|--------|---------|-------|
| `scripts/mobile_audit.py` | Mobile UX & Touch Audit | `python scripts/mobile_audit.py <project_path>` |

---

## πŸ”΄ MANDATORY: Read Reference Files Before Working!

**β›” DO NOT start development until you read the relevant files:**

### Universal (Always Read)

| File | Content | Status |
|------|---------|--------|
| **[mobile-design-thinking.md](mobile-design-thinking.md)** | **⚠️ ANTI-MEMORIZATION: Forces thinking, prevents AI defaults** | **⬜ CRITICAL FIRST** |
| **[touch-psychology.md](touch-psychology.md)** | **Fitts' Law, gestures, haptics, thumb zone** | **⬜ CRITICAL** |
| **[mobile-performance.md](mobile-performance.md)** | **RN/Flutter performance, 60fps, memory** | **⬜ CRITICAL** |
| **[mobile-backend.md](mobile-backend.md)** | **Push notifications, offline sync, mobile API** | **⬜ CRITICAL** |
| **[mobile-testing.md](mobile-testing.md)** | **Testing pyramid, E2E, platform-specific** | **⬜ CRITICAL** |
| **[mobile-debugging.md](mobile-debugging.md)** | **Native vs JS debugging, Flipper, Logcat** | **⬜ CRITICAL** |
| [mobile-navigation.md](mobile-navigation.md) | Tab/Stack/Drawer, deep linking | ⬜ Read |
| [mobile-typography.md](mobile-typography.md) | System fonts, Dynamic Type, a11y | ⬜ Read |
| [mobile-color-system.md](mobile-color-system.md) | OLED, dark mode, battery-aware | ⬜ Read |
| [decision-trees.md](decision-trees.md) | Framework/state/storage selection | ⬜ Read |

> 🧠 **mobile-design-thinking.md is PRIORITY!** This file ensures AI thinks instead of using memorized patterns.

### Platform-Specific (Read Based on Target)

| Platform | File | Content | When to Read |
|----------|------|---------|--------------|
| **iOS** | [platform-ios.md](platform-ios.md) | Human Interface Guidelines, SF Pro, SwiftUI patterns | Building for iPhone/iPad |
| **Android** | [platform-android.md](platform-android.md) | Material Design 3, Roboto, Compose patterns | Building for Android |
| **Cross-Platform** | Both above | Platform divergence points | React Native / Flutter |

> πŸ”΄ **If building for iOS β†’ Read platform-ios.md FIRST!**
> πŸ”΄ **If building for Android β†’ Read platform-android.md FIRST!**
> πŸ”΄ **If cross-platform β†’ Read BOTH and apply conditional platform logic!**

---

## ⚠️ CRITICAL: ASK BEFORE ASSUMING (MANDATORY)

> **STOP! If the user's request is open-ended, DO NOT default to your favorites.**

### You MUST Ask If Not Specified:

| Aspect | Ask | Why |
|--------|-----|-----|
| **Platform** | "iOS, Android, or both?" | Affects EVERY design decision |
| **Framework** | "React Native, Flutter, or native?" | Determines patterns and tools |
| **Navigation** | "Tab bar, drawer, or stack-based?" | Core UX decision |
| **State** | "What state management? (Zustand/Redux/Riverpod/BLoC?)" | Architecture foundation |
| **Offline** | "Does this need to work offline?" | Affects data strategy |
| **Target devices** | "Phone only, or tablet support?" | Layout complexity |

### β›” AI MOBILE ANTI-PATTERNS (YASAK LΔ°STESΔ°)

> 🚫 **These are AI default tendencies that MUST be avoided!**

#### Performance Sins

| ❌ NEVER DO | Why It's Wrong | βœ… ALWAYS DO |
|-------------|----------------|--------------|
| **ScrollView for long lists** | Renders ALL items, memory explodes | Use `FlatList` / `FlashList` / `ListView.builder` |
| **Inline renderItem function** | New function every render, all items re-render | `useCallback` + `React.memo` |
| **Missing keyExtractor** | Index-based keys cause bugs on reorder | Unique, stable ID from data |
| **Skip getItemLayout** | Async layout = janky scroll | Provide when items have fixed height |
| **setState() everywhere** | Unnecessary widget rebuilds | Targeted state, `const` constructors |
| **Native driver: false** | Animations blocked by JS thread | `useNativeDriver: true` always |
| **console.log in production** | Blocks JS thread severely | Remove before release build |
| **Skip React.memo/const** | Every item re-renders on any change | Memoize list items ALWAYS |

#### Touch/UX Sins

| ❌ NEVER DO | Why It's Wrong | βœ… ALWAYS DO |
|-------------|----------------|--------------|
| **Touch target < 44px** | Impossible to tap accurately, frustrating | Minimum 44pt (iOS) / 48dp (Android) |
| **Spacing < 8px between targets** | Accidental taps on neighbors | Minimum 8-12px gap |
| **Gesture-only interactions** | Motor impaired users excluded | Always provide button alternative |
| **No loading state** | User thinks app crashed | ALWAYS show loading feedback |
| **No error state** | User stuck, no recovery path | Show error with retry option |
| **No offline handling** | Crash/block when network lost | Graceful degradation, cached data |
| **Ignore platform conventions** | Users confused, muscle memory broken | iOS feels iOS, Android feels Android |

#### Security Sins

| ❌ NEVER DO | Why It's Wrong | βœ… ALWAYS DO |
|-------------|----------------|--------------|
| **Token in AsyncStorage** | Easily accessible, stolen on rooted device | `SecureStore` / `Keychain` / `EncryptedSharedPreferences` |
| **Hardcode API keys** | Reverse engineered from APK/IPA | Environment variables, secure storage |
| **Skip SSL pinning** | MITM attacks possible | Pin certificates in production |
| **Log sensitive data** | Logs can be extracted | Never log tokens, passwords, PII |

#### Architecture Sins

| ❌ NEVER DO | Why It's Wrong | βœ… ALWAYS DO |
|-------------|----------------|--------------|
| **Business logic in UI** | Untestable, unmaintainable | Service layer separation |
| **Global state for everything** | Unnecessary re-renders, complexity | Local state default, lift when needed |
| **Deep linking as afterthought** | Notifications, shares broken | Plan deep links from day one |
| **Skip dispose/cleanup** | Memory leaks, zombie listeners | Clean up subscriptions, timers |

---

## πŸ“± Platform Decision Matrix

### When to Unify vs Diverge

```
                    UNIFY (same on both)          DIVERGE (platform-specific)
                    ───────────────────           ──────────────────────────
Business Logic      βœ… Always                     -
Data Layer          βœ… Always                     -
Core Features       βœ… Always                     -
                    
Navigation          -                             βœ… iOS: edge swipe, Android: back button
Gestures            -                             βœ… Platform-native feel
Icons               -                             βœ… SF Symbols vs Material Icons
Date Pickers        -                             βœ… Native pickers feel right
Modals/Sheets       -                             βœ… iOS: bottom sheet vs Android: dialog
Typography          -                             βœ… SF Pro vs Roboto (or custom)
Error Dialogs       -                             βœ… Platform conventions for alerts
```

### Quick Reference: Platform Defaults

| Element | iOS | Android |
|---------|-----|---------|
| **Primary Font** | SF Pro / SF Compact | Roboto |
| **Min Touch Target** | 44pt Γ— 44pt | 48dp Γ— 48dp |
| **Back Navigation** | Edge swipe left | System back button/gesture |
| **Bottom Tab Icons** | SF Symbols | Material Symbols |
| **Action Sheet** | UIActionSheet from bottom | Bottom Sheet / Dialog |
| **Progress** | Spinner | Linear progress (Material) |
| **Pull to Refresh** | Native UIRefreshControl | SwipeRefreshLayout |

---

## 🧠 Mobile UX Psychology (Quick Reference)

### Fitts' Law for Touch

```
Desktop: Cursor is precise (1px)
Mobile:  Finger is imprecise (~7mm contact area)

β†’ Touch targets MUST be 44-48px minimum
β†’ Important actions in THUMB ZONE (bottom of screen)
β†’ Destructive actions AWAY from easy reach
```

### Thumb Zone (One-Handed Us

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