Accessibility and keyboard-first audit
Contributor checklist for keyboard operability, focus management, screen-reader behavior, and contrast coverage across Minnow apps. Product reference: ../context.md (Accessibility section). User-facing shortcut list: ../manual/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md. Regression guard: npm run test:a11y (includes test/theme-contrast.test.mts).
Global help surface
Press ? (when not typing in a text field) to open the shell keyboard shortcuts overlay. Lists shell, chat, code, and orchestrate board bindings.
Per-app keyboard checklist
| App | Core flow (keyboard-only) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shell / app rail | Tab through menubar and app rail tiles; Enter launches apps | Ctrl+Tab cycles workspaces picker and recent apps |
| Code chat | Tab to composer; type message; Enter send; / skills; model picker Arrow keys | Streaming uses throttled aria-live (no token spam) |
| Code | File tree arrows; editor Tab/Escape; Ctrl/Cmd+K Quick Edit | Terminal: focus with tab; Ctrl/Cmd+C copies selection |
| Research | Tab through hub controls; Enter starts run | Progress uses aria-live="polite" |
| Models | Tab filters and model rows; Enter selects | |
| Brain | Tab form fields; Enter save | |
| Issues | List keyboard nav; context menu | |
| Scheduler | Tab job fields; Enter save | |
| Settings | Finder search; Tab sections; Escape closes drawer | Drawer traps focus |
| Orchestrate board | Tab cards and header; Arrow grid nav; Enter open task | Exec mode segments: Arrow keys |
Release-gated apps are out of scope until their gate flips; audit them in the PR that releases them.
Focus management
- Overlays: Source Control Center, Scheduler’s side panel, and the in-app editors return focus to the control that opened them.
- Modals: app dialog, git help, tool approval, question cards, and keyboard help trap Tab and restore focus on close.
- Reparenting: moving chat, file tree or preview nodes between layouts must not steal focus from an editable control (MIN-179).
Screen reader smoke (NVDA on Windows)
- App rail: tile names announced; Ctrl+Tab cycle announces the focused app.
- Chat stream: “Generating…” / “Thinking…” once; prose throttled (~3s); “Response complete” at end.
- Composer mode picker and model listbox: role/listbox + arrow navigation.
- Tool approval: digit shortcuts documented in strip; buttons labeled.
Contrast (WCAG AA)
test/theme-contrast.test.mts checks all 16 palette themes: --mn-fg on --mn-bg / --mn-surface-1, muted text, accent ink, and light-mode syntax highlights (MIN-243 folded into suite).
Automated regression
npm run test:a11y
npm run impeccable:detect # static anti-patterns incl. a11y heuristicsKnown long tail (file as issues)
- Full axe-core DOM pass per app route in Electron (CI browser harness).
- Source Control Center: roving tabindex across the seven-section rail.
- Live NVDA verification scripts (manual, not CI).