ByteSteps - Digital Skills Platform for Elderly Users

Overview

ByteSteps is a comprehensive digital skills learning platform specifically designed for elderly users and those new to technology. Built with accessibility, security, and user-friendliness at its core, ByteSteps provides personalized learning pathways to help users gain confidence with digital tools.

🎯 Key Features

• Personalized Learning Paths: AI-powered assessment creates custom learning journeys
• Accessibility First: WCAG AA compliant with large touch targets and screen reader support
• Offline Support: Continue learning even without internet connection
• Local Resources: Connects users with nearby libraries and support centers
• GDPR Compliant: Full data privacy with export and deletion capabilities
• Multi-Language Ready: Infrastructure prepared for Welsh language support

🛠️ Technical Stack

• Frontend: React 18.3 + TypeScript 5.6
• Styling: Tailwind CSS + Radix UI components
• Backend: Supabase (PostgreSQL + Edge Functions)
• AI Integration: OpenAI GPT-4 for personalized coaching
• Security: AES-GCM encryption, comprehensive RLS policies
• Deployment: Vercel with global CDN

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+
• npm or pnpm
• Supabase account
• OpenAI API key

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/bytesteps.git
cd bytesteps

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Set up environment variables:

cp .env.example .env.local

4. Configure your environment variables:

VITE_SUPABASE_URL=your_supabase_url
VITE_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY=your_supabase_anon_key
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key

5. Run database migrations:

npm run db:migrate

6. Start the development server:

npm run dev

📊 Architecture

bytesteps/
├── src/
│   ├── components/     # React components
│   ├── pages/         # Route pages
│   ├── hooks/         # Custom React hooks
│   ├── utils/         # Utility functions
│   ├── content/       # Learning content
│   └── types/         # TypeScript definitions
├── supabase/
│   ├── functions/     # Edge functions
│   └── migrations/    # Database schema
└── public/           # Static assets

🔒 Security Features

• Encryption: AES-GCM 256-bit encryption for sensitive data
• Rate Limiting: Comprehensive API protection
• Input Sanitization: AI prompt injection prevention
• RLS Policies: Row-level security on all database tables
• Security Headers: Full CSP, HSTS, and XSS protection

🔒 Security Verification

ByteSteps has passed comprehensive security auditing. For detailed security status and verification queries, see Security Status.

Quick Security Check

# Verify no SECURITY DEFINER views (should return 0)
psql -c "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM pg_views WHERE schemaname = 'public' AND definition ILIKE '%security definer%';"

Known Platform Issues

See Known Issues for Supabase linter false positives and workarounds.

🧪 Testing

# Run unit tests
npm run test

# Run E2E tests
npm run test:e2e

# Run security audit
npm run security:audit

📈 Performance

• Lighthouse Score: 95+ across all metrics
• Bundle Size: <200KB gzipped
• Time to Interactive: <2s on 3G
• Memory Usage: <50MB typical usage

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see our Contributing Guide for details.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Designed with input from Age UK digital inclusion research
• Accessibility testing by local charities
• Security audit performed by independent security researchers

📞 Support

• Documentation: docs.bytesteps.co.uk
• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Email: support@bytesteps.co.uk

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Made with ❤️ for digital inclusion