alex
alex is free, open-source software for finding gender-favouring, polarising, race-related, religion-inconsiderate, and other unequal phrasing.
What alex is
alex is free, open-source software for finding gender-favouring, polarising, race-related, religion-inconsiderate, and other unequal phrasing. It can suggest alternatives when wording is flagged, such as replacing “his” with “their.” Checks cover plain text, HTML, MDX, and Markdown, including gendered work titles and proverbs, ableist language, condescending language, intolerant phrasing, and profanities. You can install Alex globally with npm and run it on files from the command line, or use API exports for supported formats. Configuration works through .alexrc files or a package.json field, with options to allow or deny rules. Listed integrations include Atom, Sublime, Gulp, Slack, Ember, Probot, Vim, Contentful, GitHub Actions, browser extensions, Figma, and VS Code. The package is ESM only and requires Node 14 or later. Alex assumes good intent and ignores literal word use.
Good
- Free and open source under MIT
- Checks text, Markdown, MDX, and HTML
- Suggests alternative wording
- CLI and programmatic API
- Many editor and service integrations
Watch out
- Requires Node 14 or later
- ESM-only package
- Automated checks cannot replace inclusive communication learning
- Rules may need configuration
Who it suits
It suits writers and development teams checking their own or others’ text. It is useful in project workflows that run writing checks alongside tests.
Verdict
alex offers configurable inclusive-language checks through command-line, API, and integrations. Its own limitations mean results should support, not replace, human judgment.
The facts
Each one read from alex's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Additional integrations
- The README also lists integrations for GitHub Actions, browser extensions, Figma, and VS Code.checked 8 Oct 2026
- API
- The README documents API exports for Markdown, MDX, HTML, and text.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Assumptions
- alex says it assumes good intent and ignores words meant literally.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Checks
- Examples of checks include gendered work titles and proverbs, ableist language, condescending language, intolerant phrasing, and profanities.checked 8 Oct 2026
- CLI
- The site shows alex running from the command line and gives `npm install alex --global` as an installation command.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Command line
- The official site documents installing Alex globally with npm and running it on a file from the command line.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- The README says the package is ESM only and requires Node 14 or later.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Users can configure Alex with .alexrc files or a package.json field, and can allow or deny specific rules.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Input formats
- The project README says Alex checks plain text, HTML, MDX, and Markdown.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The official site lists integrations for Atom, Sublime, Gulp, Slack, Ember, Probot, Vim, and Contentful.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The site describes checking your own or someone else’s writing, and the README recommends running Alex with tests in a project workflow.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository identifies the project as open source and links to its MIT license.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License and contributions
- The site describes alex as open source software and welcomes community requests and contributions.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The README says Alex is not very smart and that automated tools cannot replace studying inclusive communication or listening to lived experiences.checked 8 Oct 2026
- More integrations
- The README also lists GitHub Actions, a browser extension, Figma, and VSCode integrations.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Programmatic API
- The README documents API exports for checking Markdown, MDX, HTML, and plain text.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Alex helps find gender favouring, polarising, race related, religion inconsiderate, and other unequal phrasing.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Suggestions
- When it flags wording, Alex can suggest alternatives, such as replacing “his” with “their.”checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The official site welcomes suggestions, feature requests, and issues through GitHub Issues, and provides an email address for contacting the maker.checked 8 Oct 2026
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