JuryRigged

JuryRigged is a real-time, multi-agent courtroom simulation built as a full-stack TypeScript portfolio project. It combines LLM-driven role orchestration, live event streaming, jury interaction, and an Ace Attorney-inspired presentation layer. The project is designed to showcase how I build interactive systems that balance technical ambition with product usability.

Why this project stands out

• Real-time system design: Orchestrates judge, counsel, witness, and bailiff agents through deterministic trial phases
• Full-stack delivery: Combines an Express API, a React/Vite operator dashboard, and a PixiJS-based courtroom renderer
• Interactive product thinking: Supports live jury voting, audience-triggered actions, and streamed session updates over SSE
• Operational maturity: Includes Docker workflows, Postgres persistence, health metrics, CI automation, moderation controls, and replay tooling

Tech stack

• Backend: Node.js, TypeScript, Express, Server-Sent Events
• Frontend: React, Vite, PixiJS, Tailwind CSS
• Data & infrastructure: PostgreSQL, Docker Compose, GitHub Actions
• AI integration: OpenRouter-powered agent dialogue with a deterministic mock mode for development without API keys

What it demonstrates

This project showcases skills that translate directly to production engineering work:

• Architecting multi-service, stateful application flows
• Building responsive interfaces for both operators and end users
• Designing APIs for live updates and user interaction
• Balancing experimentation with reliability through testing, replay, and fallback paths

Quick start

npm install
cp .env.example .env
npm run dev

After copying .env, you can leave OPENROUTER_API_KEY empty to use deterministic mock dialogue and leave DATABASE_URL empty to use in-memory storage.

Open http://localhost:3000 for the main experience. Build the operator dashboard with:

npm run build:dashboard

The operator dashboard is then available at http://localhost:3000/operator.

Useful commands

npm run dev
npm run build
npm test

For containerized local development:

npm run docker:up

Project highlights

• Deterministic courtroom phase progression from case prompt through final ruling
• Live per-session SSE streaming and jury vote endpoints
• Optional Postgres-backed persistence with in-memory fallback
• OBS broadcast hooks and Twitch audience command support
• NDJSON recording and replay for repeatable debugging and demos

Documentation

• docs/architecture.md — system design and phase sequencing
• docs/api.md — REST and SSE contracts
• docs/ADR-001-juryrigged-architecture.md — architectural decisions
• docs/operator-runbook.md / docs/ops-runbook.md — operating guidance

JuryRigged demonstrates production-ready full-stack engineering across real-time backend coordination, polished frontend presentation, and operational tooling in one cohesive project.