shipkit-ux-audit

Purpose: Ensures UI patterns stay consistent and user-friendly across the application by providing UX guidance based on general best practices, existing patterns in the project, and optional user-specified personas (e.g., ADHD-friendly, elderly users).

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When to Invoke

User triggers:

• "What's the best UX pattern for this?"
• "How should this UI work?"
• "UX guidance for [component]"
• "Make this accessible"
• "Check UX consistency"

Before:

• Building new UI components
• Implementing forms, modals, toggles, lists, buttons
• Creating user interactions

During:

• Reviewing implemented UI
• Refining user experience
• Fixing UX inconsistencies

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Prerequisites

Optional but helpful:

• Existing patterns documented: .shipkit/codebase-index.json
• Architecture decisions: .shipkit/architecture.json
• Stack info: .shipkit/stack.json

No prerequisites required - Can provide general guidance even for new projects.

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Process

Completion Tracking (MANDATORY)

After confirming what the user is building (Step 1), create tasks:

1. TaskCreate: "Read existing context (codebase-index, ux-decisions, stack)"
2. TaskCreate: "Explore actual UI components (2 parallel agents)"
3. TaskCreate: "Generate UX guidance (terminal output)"
4. TaskCreate: "Log decision to ux-decisions.json + update summary counts"
5. TaskCreate: "Identify and log gaps + update totalGaps count"
6. TaskCreate: "Suggest next steps"

Rules:

• Terminal output (Step 4) is NOT the finish line — JSON persistence (Steps 5-6) must follow
• TaskUpdate the JSON logging task to completed only after verifying ux-decisions.json was written with updated summary counts
• If auditing existing UI, the gaps task is required, not optional
• Do NOT present "done" until both the terminal guidance AND the JSON file writes are confirmed

Step 1: Confirm What User is Building

Before providing guidance, ask 2-3 questions:

1. What UI element are you building?

   • If not clear from user's message, ask specifically
   • Examples: "Form? Modal? Toggle? List? Button?"

2. Any specific UX concerns or user needs?

   • "Do you have specific accessibility requirements?"
   • "Any target user personas?" (e.g., ADHD-friendly, elderly users, mobile-first)
   • "Known constraints?" (e.g., must work offline, low bandwidth)

3. Is this a new pattern or matching existing?

   • "Have you built similar UI before in this project?"
   • Will check codebase-index.json and ux-decisions.json to verify

Why ask: Tailor guidance to actual needs, not generic advice.

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Step 2: Read Existing Context

Check for established patterns:

# Codebase structure and component index (if file exists)
.shipkit/codebase-index.json

# Architecture decisions about UX (if file exists)
.shipkit/architecture.json

# Tech stack (to know UI framework constraints)
.shipkit/stack.json

# Previous UX decisions (if file exists)
.shipkit/ux-decisions.json

Verification before claiming patterns:

| Claim | Required Verification | |-------|----------------------| | "Similar pattern exists" | Check codebase-index.json components/directories for matching entries | | "No existing pattern" | codebase-index.json has no matching components AND Grep confirms | | "Established UX decision" | Check ux-decisions.json decisions array for similar component |

Never claim "no similar component" without checking codebase-index.json and ux-decisions.json.

Auto-detect:

• Similar components in codebase-index.json
• Previous UX decisions in ux-decisions.json
• UI framework from stack.json (React, Vue, Svelte, etc.)

Token budget: Keep context reading under 1500 tokens.

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Step 3: Explore Actual UI Components

Before generating guidance, examine the real code — not just JSON metadata.

UX decisions based on .shipkit/ context files alone miss actual component patterns, inconsistencies between components, and accessibility gaps that only show up in source code.

Index-Accelerated Exploration — Read .shipkit/codebase-index.json first:

1. Read: .shipkit/codebase-index.json
2. If index exists:
   • Use directories to find component directories (e.g., src/components, src/app)
   • Use concepts for UI-related concept mappings
   • Use framework to know which UI patterns to look for (React, Vue, Svelte, etc.)
   • Pass component directories and framework to Explore agents for targeted scanning
3. If index doesn't exist → agents scan entire codebase for UI patterns

Launch explore agents — Use the Agent tool with subagent_type: Explore:

Agent 1 - Component patterns: "Find UI components related to [component type]
in the codebase.
[If index exists, include: 'Framework: [framework]. Component directories: [directories]. Start from these locations — skip broad file discovery.']
Look for: existing component implementations, state management
patterns (loading/error/empty states), form handling patterns, modal patterns,
and shared UI utilities. Report: what patterns are established, which components
handle states well vs poorly, what UI library/primitives are in use."

Agent 2 - Consistency and gaps: "Scan all UI components for consistency in
UX patterns.
[If index exists, include: 'Core files: [coreFiles]. Recently active: [recentlyActive]. Prioritize these for consistency checking.']
Look for: components missing loading states, inconsistent error
handling, missing accessibility attributes (aria-*, role, tabIndex), hardcoded
strings that should be accessible, missing keyboard handlers, touch target sizes.
Report: which components follow good patterns, which have gaps, and what the
most common UX debt is."

Launch both agents in parallel — they are independent scans.

Design system context — If .shipkit/design-system/PRINCIPLES.md exists, check alignment with design principles. If .shipkit/design-system/MATURITY.md exists, reference it for expected component abstractions and reuse opportunities. If neither exists, audit against general UX best practices only.

Synthesize findings — Before generating UX guidance, note:

• Established patterns to reference (e.g., "your existing modals use X pattern — follow that")
• Inconsistencies to flag (e.g., "3 forms validate inline, 2 don't — which is the standard?")
• Accessibility gaps in existing code that should be fixed alongside the new work
• UI library capabilities that inform what patterns are practical

If exploration reveals inconsistencies: Surface to user. Example: "Your existing components handle loading states inconsistently — ListPage uses skeletons but DetailPage shows nothing. Should we standardize?"

Token budget: Each explore agent should return a focused summary (~500 tokens).

When to skip: If providing guidance for a brand new project with no existing UI code.

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Step 4: Generate UX Guidance

Provide terminal output AND log to .shipkit/ux-decisions.json.

Terminal output template:

UX Guidance: [Component Name]

**Recommended Pattern**: [Pattern name and type]

**Why**: [1-2 sentence rationale based on principles below]

**Implementation Checklist**:
- [Specific implementation detail 1]
- [Specific implementation detail 2]
- [Specific implementation detail 3]
- [Accessibility requirement 1]
- [Accessibility requirement 2]

**Accessibility Notes**:
- [WCAG requirement 1]
- [WCAG requirement 2]
- [Keyboard interaction]
- [Screen reader consideration]

**[IF pattern exists in codebase-index.json or ux-decisions.json]**
**Existing Pattern Match**: [ComponentName]
- Reuse: [specific pattern to follow]
- Location: [file path or decision ID]

**[IF new pattern being established]**
**New Pattern**: This establishes a new pattern for your project

**Next Steps**:
- [Specific action 1]
- Run `/shipkit-engineering-definition` to capture this pattern (if new)
- Run `implement (no skill needed)` when ready to build

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Step 5: Log UX Decision to JSON

After providing terminal guidance, update .shipkit/ux-decisions.json:

If file doesn't exist, create with initial structure:

{
  "$schema": "shipkit-artifact",
  "type": "ux-decisions",
  "version": "1.0",
  "lastUpdated": "{current date}",
  "source": "shipkit-ux-audit",
  "summary": {
    "totalDecisions": 0,
    "totalGaps": 0,
    "byCategory": {
      "form": 0, "modal": 0, "toggle": 0, "list": 0,
      "button": 0, "navigation": 0, "feedback": 0, "other": 0
    },
    "byPersona": {
      "general": 0, "adhd-friendly": 0, "elderly": 0,
      "mobile-first": 0, "low-bandwidth": 0, "accessibility-first": 0
    }
  },
  "decisions": [],
  "gaps": []
}

Add decision to array:

{
  "id": "UX-{next sequential number}",
  "component": "{Component name}",
  "category": "{form|modal|toggle|list|button|navigation|feedback|other}",
  "pattern": "{Specific pattern applied}",
  "decision": "{What was decided}",
  "rationale": "{Why this pattern - 1-2 sentences}",
  "accessibility": ["{WCAG requirements}"],
  "existingMatch": "{Reference or null}",
  "persona": "{general|adhd-friendly|elderly|mobile-first|low-bandwidth|accessibility-first}",
  "checklist": ["{Implementation requirements}"],
  "date": "{YYYY-MM-DD}"
}

Update summary counts after adding decision.

Why log as JSON?

• Enables programmatic queries (e.g., "all form decisions")
• Consistency checks across components
• Dashboard/reporting integration
• Other skills can reference patterns by ID

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Step 6: Identify and Log Gaps

When auditing existing UI, if patterns are missing:

Add to gaps array:

{
  "id": "GAP-{next sequential number}",
  "component": "{Component or area}",
  "missingPatterns": ["{patterns needed}"],
  "priority": "{high|medium|low}",
  "notes": "{additional context or null}",
  "identifiedDate": "{YYYY-MM-DD}"
}

Update summary.totalGaps count.

Priority guidelines:

• high: Accessibility violations, security concerns, major usability issues
• medium: Missing feedback states, inconsistent patterns
• low: Polish items, nice-to-haves

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Step 7: Apply Progressive Disclosure

Only share relevant principles - Don't dump entire UX knowledge base.

Quick reference by component type:

For Forms:

• Inline validation, clear errors, submit button states, field focus, progressive disclosure

For Modals:

• Escape to close, focus trap, backdrop click, return focus, ARIA labels

For Toggles/Switches:

• Immediate feedback, loading state, undo option, confirmation for destructive

For Lists:

• Empty states, loading skeletons, virtualization, optimistic updates

For Buttons:

• Loading states, disabled states, success feedback, 44px touch target

Apply relevant UX principles:

1. Cognitive Load Reduction - Minimize choices, clear hierarchy, progressive disclosure
2. Immediate Feedback - Respond to every action within 100ms
3. Reversibility - Allow undo for destructive actions
4. Consistency - Match existing patterns in the project
5. Accessibility - WCAG 2.1 AA minimum (always required)
6. Error Prevention - Validate early, confirm destructive actions
7. Mobile-First - Touch targets 44px+, thumb zones, responsive design

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Step 8: Suggest Next Steps

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Completion Checklist

Copy and track:

• [ ] Explored actual UI components (patterns + consistency gaps)
• [ ] Reviewed implemented components against findings
• [ ] Checked against UX pattern checklist
• [ ] Documented decisions in ux-decisions.json
• [ ] Logged gaps with priorities

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When This Skill Integrates with Others

Before This Skill

• /shipkit-spec - Creates feature requirements

  • When: Spec defines UI components needed
  • Why: UX guidance shapes how specified features should work
  • Trigger: Spec mentions forms, modals, toggles, or other UI elements

• /shipkit-plan - Plans implementation approach

  • When: Plan describes UI component structure
  • Why: UX patterns inform component architecture choices
  • Trigger: Plan needs UX pattern decisions before implementation

• /shipkit-project-context - Generates stack information

  • When: Stack includes UI framework (React, Vue, Svelte)
  • Why: UX guidance references stack.json to understand UI framework capabilities
  • Trigger: Need to know what UI primitives are available

After This Skill

• /shipkit-engineering-definition - Engineering blueprint and architecture

  • When: UX pattern becomes project-wide standard
  • Why: Document established UX patterns for future consistency
  • Trigger: New pattern created that should be reused across components

• implement (no skill needed) - Implements components

  • When: UX guidance complete, ready to build
  • Why: Implementation follows UX patterns and accessibility requirements
  • Trigger: User confirms "ready to implement"

• /shipkit-codebase-index - Updates codebase index

  • When: Component built and needs indexing
  • Why: Keeps component registry current for future UX audits
  • Trigger: Component complete, re-index to capture new patterns

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Context Files This Skill Reads

Optionally reads:

• .shipkit/codebase-index.json - Existing UI components/patterns
• .shipkit/architecture.json - Past architectural decisions
• .shipkit/stack.json - UI framework info
• .shipkit/ux-decisions.json - Previous UX decisions
• .shipkit/product-discovery.json - Personas, pain points
• .shipkit/product-definition.json - UX patterns, features
• .shipkit/design-system/PRINCIPLES.md - Design system principles for audit context (skip if absent)
• .shipkit/design-system/MATURITY.md - Component maturity for expected abstractions (skip if absent)

Never reads:

• Specs, plans, tasks (not relevant for UX guidance)

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Context Files This Skill Writes

Writes to:

• .shipkit/ux-decisions.json - Logs each UX decision with pattern, rationale, and accessibility requirements

Write Strategy: READ-MODIFY-WRITE

• Read existing file (or create if missing)
• Append new decision to decisions array
• Append new gaps to gaps array (if auditing)
• Update summary counts
• Update lastUpdated timestamp
• Write complete file back

Why JSON?

• Enables queries like "show all modal decisions"
• Supports gap tracking and resolution
• Dashboard integration for UX coverage
• Other skills can reference decisions by ID

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Lazy Loading Behavior

This skill loads context on demand:

1. User invokes /shipkit-ux-audit
2. Claude asks what component user is building
3. Claude reads ux-decisions.json (if exists) for existing decisions
4. Claude optionally reads codebase-index.json for similar patterns
5. Claude provides terminal guidance
6. Claude updates .shipkit/ux-decisions.json
7. Total context: ~500-1500 tokens (focused)

Not loaded:

• Specs, plans, tasks, progress logs (not needed)

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<!-- SECTION:after-completion -->

After Completion

Guardrails Check: Before moving to next task, verify:

1. Persistence - Has important context been saved to .shipkit/?
2. Prerequisites - Does the next action need a spec or plan first?
3. Session length - Long session? Consider /shipkit-work-memory for continuity.

Natural capabilities (no skill needed): Implementation, debugging, testing, refactoring, code documentation.

Suggest skill when: User needs to make decisions, create persistence, or check project status.

<!-- /SECTION:after-completion --> <!-- SECTION:success-criteria -->

Success Criteria

Guidance is complete when:

• [ ] User's component type identified
• [ ] Actual UI components explored for existing patterns and gaps
• [ ] Relevant UX principles shared (not all principles)
• [ ] Specific implementation checklist provided
• [ ] Accessibility requirements included
• [ ] Existing patterns referenced (if applicable)
• [ ] UX decision logged to .shipkit/ux-decisions.json
• [ ] Summary counts updated
• [ ] Gaps identified and logged (if auditing existing UI)
• [ ] Next steps suggested (implement or log architectural decision)

<!-- /SECTION:success-criteria -->

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Common Scenarios

• Reusing existing patterns - Check ux-decisions.json and codebase-index.json first, reference by ID
• Creating new patterns - Provide guidance, log decision with new ID
• Accessibility-focused requests - Apply persona adaptations (see below)
• Reviewing existing UI - Audit against pattern checklists, log gaps

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Tips for Effective UX Guidance

Be specific:

• "Use Switch component with aria-checked" (not "make it accessible")
• "44px touch target" (not "mobile-friendly")
• "Toast with undo for 5 seconds" (not "allow reversal")

Reference existing patterns:

• Check ux-decisions.json for decisions by component type
• Reuse patterns when applicable
• Only create new patterns when necessary

Progressive disclosure:

• Share only relevant principles (not all 7)
• Focus on component-specific guidance
• Don't overwhelm with theory

Accessibility is not optional:

• Always include basic WCAG checklist
• Keyboard navigation always required
• Screen reader support always required

When to defer to full /ux-coherence:

• Complex design systems
• Multi-platform consistency (web + mobile apps)
• Comprehensive accessibility audits
• User research and testing
• Advanced interaction patterns

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User Persona Adaptations

When user specifies a persona, adapt guidance accordingly.

Persona adaptations:

• ADHD-Friendly - Minimize options, auto-save, no timers, clear success feedback
• Elderly Users - Large text/targets, high contrast, confirmations, easy undo
• Mobile-First - Touch targets 44px+, thumb zones, swipe gestures, no hover-only
• Low-Bandwidth - Minimize media, loading skeletons, offline support, optimistic updates
• Accessibility-First - Beyond WCAG AA: keyboard efficiency, excellent screen reader support

Adapt principles to persona, but maintain accessibility baseline.

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Remember: Good UX is invisible. Users shouldn't think about the interface - it should just work. When in doubt, choose the pattern that requires the least cognitive load and follows existing conventions.

Schema reference: See references/output-schema.md for complete JSON schema. Example: See references/example.json for a sample output.