Getting Started
CognitiveLint is a static analysis CLI that detects cognitive friction in React applications. It finds "human bugs" — places where the UI compiles and runs correctly, but leaves users confused, anxious, or stuck.
"SonarQube for Cognitive UX"
Why CognitiveLint?
Teams already have tooling for every quality dimension:
| Tool | Dimension |
|---|---|
| ESLint | Code correctness |
| SonarQube | Code quality |
| Lighthouse | Performance |
| axe | Accessibility |
| Snyk | Security |
| CognitiveLint | Cognitive UX |
The north star question: "Did this change make the interface easier or harder for a human to understand?"
Quick start
npm install -g @cognitivelint/cli
cognitivelint scan ./src
That's it. CognitiveLint will scan your JSX/TSX files and output a scored report with letter grades (A–F) and actionable findings.
What it checks
17 rules across 6 categories, grounded in Nielsen's Heuristics, Miller's Law (7±2), and cognitive load theory:
- Cognitive Load (30%) — excessive actions, long forms, filter overload, dense tables
- Trust & Confidence (20%) — unexplained disabled states, ownership ambiguity
- Feedback (15%) — missing loading states, empty states, success confirmation
- Discoverability (15%) — hidden primary actions, missing search, empty navigation
- Consistency (10%) — inconsistent button labels
- Error Prevention (10%) — destructive actions without confirmation, modal nesting