Nocrux

Inspiration

Accessibility reports often stop at a vague score. Nocrux was built to turn browser evidence into an understandable fix path—and to offer a bounded assistive preview without pretending that an overlay replaces permanent source-code repairs.

What it does

Nocrux scans a URL and produces a ranked accessibility report with annotated screenshots, keyboard-path evidence, likely WCAG references, impact explanations, axe-core audit evidence, and an Original vs Accessible Mode comparison. It can follow a bounded set of same-origin links, discover sitemap URLs, group recurring site-wide barriers, and export a self-contained accessible-site HTML file.

Its Accessible Mode can improve focus outlines, contrast, text spacing, target sizing, inferred labels, safe custom-control keyboard activation, and reviewable draft image descriptions. A live readable drawer and action navigator help users move through mapped page controls. Nocrux also includes an optional local Chrome extension wrapper.

How it was built

Python powers the scanning and assistive-layer engine. FastAPI exposes the API; Playwright controls Chromium and samples DOM and keyboard behavior; axe-core supplies standards-oriented audit evidence; Pillow annotates screenshots. The frontend uses React, TypeScript, and Vite. Pytest and browser smoke tests cover scanner rules, exports, overlays, responsive layouts, and the controlled demo sites.

Challenges

The hardest part was balancing useful immediate assistance with honest limits. Nocrux labels generated image descriptions for review and explicitly states that a heuristic scan or overlay is not WCAG certification or a substitute for source fixes.

What I learned

I learned how labels, focus order, contrast, DOM structure, and target sizing affect real use; how browser automation can test more than screenshots; and how to present technical evidence so developers can act on it.

What's next

Next steps are broader assistive-technology testing, consented user feedback, and stronger source-level fix integrations. Nocrux will keep temporary assistance, developer guidance, and certification claims clearly separated.

Built With

• axe-core
• fastapi
• pillow
• playwright
• pytest
• python
• react
• typescript
• vite