mobile-android-design
Install this skill
npx skills add wshobson/agentsWorks across Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Copilot & Antigravity
Mobile-android-design focuses on architecting modern user interfaces specifically for the Android platform using Jetpack Compose and Material Design 3 guidelines. This skill facilitates the creation of responsive, high-performance layouts that scale across various device form factors, including foldables and tablets. By implementing the M3 component library—such as navigation rails, dynamic color schemes, and adaptive grids—this skill ensures that applications adhere to current Google UI standards. It manages complex state-driven transitions and navigation graphs using Compose Navigation. Developers can build accessible, visually cohesive apps that respond to user system preferences while maintaining a clean, declarative codebase. This skill streamlines the translation of design tokens into actionable UI code, ensuring consistent spacing, typography, and interactive elements across all screens.
When to Use This Skill
- •Refactoring legacy XML views into modern declarative Compose screens
- •Building responsive dashboards that shift from single-pane to multi-pane layouts on tablets
- •Integrating system-wide dynamic themes into an existing application
- •Managing complex navigation states within a multi-module project
How to Invoke This Skill
Example prompts that trigger this skill in Claude Code, Cursor, or Antigravity:
- “implement a Material 3 bottom navigation bar
- “convert this screen to a Jetpack Compose lazy grid
- “create a responsive scaffold layout for foldable devices
- “apply dynamic color theming to my Compose app
- “setup navigation between screens in Jetpack Compose
Pro Tips
- 💡Always prioritize semantic composables (e.g., `Button`, `Card`, `Scaffold`) over raw `Box`/`Column`/`Row` for better accessibility and maintainability.
- 💡Embrace Modifier chaining to create concise and readable UI definitions, enhancing performance by reducing unnecessary recompositions.
- 💡Leverage the Android Studio Compose Preview extensively for rapid UI iteration and testing across different configurations (dark mode, locales, screen sizes) before deploying to a device.
What this skill does
- •Building declarative UI hierarchies using Jetpack Compose layouts
- •Implementing adaptive navigation patterns like rails and bottom bars
- •Applying Material Design 3 theming with dynamic color systems
- •Developing performance-optimized lists via LazyColumn and LazyVerticalGrid
- •Configuring state-aware navigation graphs with deep-link support
When not to use it
- ✕Developing cross-platform mobile apps using non-native frameworks like React Native or Flutter
- ✕Creating low-level graphic engines where OpenGL or Vulkan is strictly required
Example workflow
- Define the navigation graph with routes for all primary screens
- Establish the central theme using M3 color schemes and typography
- Draft the scaffold to house the top-level navigation components
- Compose individual screens using layout primitives like Column and Row
- Inject state-management logic to update UI based on user input
Prerequisites
- –Basic proficiency in Kotlin
- –Android Studio environment setup
- –Familiarity with Compose state principles
Pitfalls & limitations
- !Over-nesting layouts leading to performance degradation in deep view hierarchies
- !Improper state handling causing unnecessary recompositions during navigation transitions
- !Ignoring accessibility labels, breaking screen reader functionality
FAQ
How it compares
Unlike manual UI construction which requires managing separate XML layout files and ViewBinding, this skill leverages declarative Compose code that unifies design logic and view structure in a single source of truth.
📄 Full skill instructions — original source: wshobson/agents
Master Material Design 3 (Material You) and Jetpack Compose to build modern, adaptive Android applications that integrate seamlessly with the Android ecosystem.
## When to Use This Skill
- Designing Android app interfaces following Material Design 3
- Building Jetpack Compose UI and layouts
- Implementing Android navigation patterns (Navigation Compose)
- Creating adaptive layouts for phones, tablets, and foldables
- Using Material 3 theming with dynamic colors
- Building accessible Android interfaces
- Implementing Android-specific gestures and interactions
- Designing for different screen configurations
## Core Concepts
### 1. Material Design 3 Principles
**Personalization**: Dynamic color adapts UI to user's wallpaper
**Accessibility**: Tonal palettes ensure sufficient color contrast
**Large Screens**: Responsive layouts for tablets and foldables
**Material Components:**
- Cards, Buttons, FABs, Chips
- Navigation (rail, drawer, bottom nav)
- Text fields, Dialogs, Sheets
- Lists, Menus, Progress indicators
### 2. Jetpack Compose Layout System
**Column and Row:**
// Vertical arrangement with alignment
Column(
modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp),
verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
horizontalAlignment = Alignment.Start
) {
Text(
text = "Title",
style = MaterialTheme.typography.headlineSmall
)
Text(
text = "Subtitle",
style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant
)
}
// Horizontal arrangement with weight
Row(
modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceBetween,
verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
) {
Icon(Icons.Default.Star, contentDescription = null)
Text("Featured")
Spacer(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
TextButton(onClick = {}) {
Text("View All")
}
}**Lazy Lists and Grids:**
// Lazy column with sticky headers
LazyColumn {
items.groupBy { it.category }.forEach { (category, categoryItems) ->
stickyHeader {
Text(
text = category,
modifier = Modifier
.fillMaxWidth()
.background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.surface)
.padding(16.dp),
style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium
)
}
items(categoryItems) { item ->
ItemRow(item = item)
}
}
}
// Adaptive grid
LazyVerticalGrid(
columns = GridCells.Adaptive(minSize = 150.dp),
contentPadding = PaddingValues(16.dp),
horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp)
) {
items(items) { item ->
ItemCard(item = item)
}
}### 3. Navigation Patterns
**Bottom Navigation:**
@Composable
fun MainScreen() {
val navController = rememberNavController()
Scaffold(
bottomBar = {
NavigationBar {
val navBackStackEntry by navController.currentBackStackEntryAsState()
val currentDestination = navBackStackEntry?.destination
NavigationDestination.entries.forEach { destination ->
NavigationBarItem(
icon = { Icon(destination.icon, contentDescription = null) },
label = { Text(destination.label) },
selected = currentDestination?.hierarchy?.any {
it.route == destination.route
} == true,
onClick = {
navController.navigate(destination.route) {
popUpTo(navController.graph.findStartDestination().id) {
saveState = true
}
launchSingleTop = true
restoreState = true
}
}
)
}
}
}
) { innerPadding ->
NavHost(
navController = navController,
startDestination = NavigationDestination.Home.route,
modifier = Modifier.padding(innerPadding)
) {
composable(NavigationDestination.Home.route) { HomeScreen() }
composable(NavigationDestination.Search.route) { SearchScreen() }
composable(NavigationDestination.Profile.route) { ProfileScreen() }
}
}
}**Navigation Drawer:**
@Composable
fun DrawerNavigation() {
val drawerState = rememberDrawerState(DrawerValue.Closed)
val scope = rememberCoroutineScope()
ModalNavigationDrawer(
drawerState = drawerState,
drawerContent = {
ModalDrawerSheet {
Spacer(Modifier.height(12.dp))
Text(
"App Name",
modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp),
style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleLarge
)
HorizontalDivider()
NavigationDrawerItem(
icon = { Icon(Icons.Default.Home, null) },
label = { Text("Home") },
selected = true,
onClick = { scope.launch { drawerState.close() } }
)
NavigationDrawerItem(
icon = { Icon(Icons.Default.Settings, null) },
label = { Text("Settings") },
selected = false,
onClick = { }
)
}
}
) {
Scaffold(
topBar = {
TopAppBar(
title = { Text("Home") },
navigationIcon = {
IconButton(onClick = { scope.launch { drawerState.open() } }) {
Icon(Icons.Default.Menu, contentDescription = "Menu")
}
}
)
}
) { innerPadding ->
Content(modifier = Modifier.padding(innerPadding))
}
}
}### 4. Material 3 Theming
**Color Scheme:**
// Dynamic color (Android 12+)
val dynamicColorScheme = if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.S) {
val context = LocalContext.current
if (darkTheme) dynamicDarkColorScheme(context)
else dynamicLightColorScheme(context)
} else {
if (darkTheme) DarkColorScheme else LightColorScheme
}
// Custom color scheme
private val LightColorScheme = lightColorScheme(
primary = Color(0xFF6750A4),
onPrimary = Color.White,
primaryContainer = Color(0xFFEADDFF),
onPrimaryContainer = Color(0xFF21005D),
secondary = Color(0xFF625B71),
onSecondary = Color.White,
tertiary = Color(0xFF7D5260),
onTertiary = Color.White,
surface = Color(0xFFFFFBFE),
onSurface = Color(0xFF1C1B1F),
)**Typography:**
val AppTypography = Typography(
displayLarge = TextStyle(
fontFamily = FontFamily.Default,
fontWeight = FontWeight.Normal,
fontSize = 57.sp,
lineHeight = 64.sp
),
headlineMedium = TextStyle(
fontFamily = FontFamily.Default,
fontWeight = FontWeight.Normal,
fontSize = 28.sp,
lineHeight = 36.sp
),
titleLarge = TextStyle(
fontFamily = FontFamily.Default,
fontWeight = FontWeight.Normal,
fontSize = 22.sp,
lineHeight = 28.sp
),
bodyLarge = TextStyle(
fontFamily = FontFamily.Default,
fontWeight = FontWeight.Normal,
fontSize = 16.sp,
lineHeight = 24.sp
),
labelMedium = TextStyle(
fontFamily = FontFamily.Default,
fontWeight = FontWeight.Medium,
fontSize = 12.sp,
lineHeight = 16.sp
)
)### 5. Component Examples
**Cards:**
@Composable
fun FeatureCard(
title: String,
description: String,
imageUrl: String,
onClick: () -> Unit
) {
Card(
onClick = onClick,
modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
shape = RoundedCornerShape(16.dp),
colors = CardDefaults.cardColors(
containerColor = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.surfaceVariant
)
) {
Column {
AsyncImage(
model = imageUrl,
contentDescription = null,
modifier = Modifier
.fillMaxWidth()
.height(180.dp),
contentScale = ContentScale.Crop
)
Column(modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp)) {
Text(
text = title,
style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium
)
Spacer(modifier = Modifier.height(8.dp))
Text(
text = description,
style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant
)
}
}
}
}**Buttons:**
// Filled button (primary action)
Button(onClick = { }) {
Text("Continue")
}
// Filled tonal button (secondary action)
FilledTonalButton(onClick = { }) {
Icon(Icons.Default.Add, null)
Spacer(Modifier.width(8.dp))
Text("Add Item")
}
// Outlined button
OutlinedButton(onClick = { }) {
Text("Cancel")
}
// Text button
TextButton(onClick = { }) {
Text("Learn More")
}
// FAB
FloatingActionButton(
onClick = { },
containerColor = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primaryContainer,
contentColor = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onPrimaryContainer
) {
Icon(Icons.Default.Add, contentDescription = "Add")
}## Quick Start Component
@Composable
fun ItemListCard(
item: Item,
onItemClick: () -> Unit,
modifier: Modifier = Modifier
) {
Card(
onClick = onItemClick,
modifier = modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
shape = RoundedCornerShape(12.dp)
) {
Row(
modifier = Modifier
.padding(16.dp)
.fillMaxWidth(),
verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
) {
Box(
modifier = Modifier
.size(48.dp)
.clip(CircleShape)
.background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primaryContainer),
contentAlignment = Alignment.Center
) {
Icon(
imageVector = Icons.Default.Star,
contentDescription = null,
tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onPrimaryContainer
)
}
Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(16.dp))
Column(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f)) {
Text(
text = item.title,
style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium
)
Text(
text = item.subtitle,
style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant
)
}
Icon(
imageVector = Icons.Default.ChevronRight,
contentDescription = null,
tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant
)
}
}
}## Best Practices
1. **Use Material Theme**: Access colors via
MaterialTheme.colorScheme for automatic dark mode support2. **Support Dynamic Color**: Enable dynamic color on Android 12+ for personalization
3. **Adaptive Layouts**: Use
WindowSizeClass for responsive designs4. **Content Descriptions**: Add
contentDescription to all interactive elements5. **Touch Targets**: Minimum 48dp touch targets for accessibility
6. **State Hoisting**: Hoist state to make components reusable and testable
7. **Remember Properly**: Use
remember and rememberSaveable appropriately8. **Preview Annotations**: Add
@Preview with different configurations## Common Issues
- **Recomposition Issues**: Avoid passing unstable lambdas; use
remember- **State Loss**: Use
rememberSaveable for configuration changes- **Performance**: Use
LazyColumn instead of Column for long lists- **Theme Leaks**: Ensure
MaterialTheme wraps all composables- **Navigation Crashes**: Handle back press and deep links properly
- **Memory Leaks**: Cancel coroutines in
DisposableEffect## Resources
- [Material Design 3](https://m3.material.io/)
- [Jetpack Compose Documentation](https://developer.android.com/jetpack/compose)
- [Compose Samples](https://github.com/android/compose-samples)
- [Material 3 Compose](https://developer.android.com/jetpack/compose/designsystems/material3)
How to Use This Skill Unit
Option A: Project-Specific (Recommended)
- Click "Download" above
- In your project, create the directory:
.agent/skills/mobile-android-design/ - Save the file as
SKILL.md - The agent will automatically discover the skill based on its description.
Option B: Global Installation (All Agents)
Save the file to these locations to make it available across all projects:
- Claude Code:
~/.claude/skills/wshobson/agents/mobile-android-design/SKILL.md - Cursor:
~/.cursor/skills/wshobson/agents/mobile-android-design/SKILL.md - Antigravity:
~/.gemini/antigravity/skills/wshobson/agents/mobile-android-design/SKILL.md
🚀 Install with CLI:npx skills add wshobson/agents
