CodiMD: The Collaborative Markdown Editor for Open Communities

Volodymyr Pavlyshyn
2 min readJul 4, 2024

--

CodiMD is a web-based platform designed for real-time collaborative editing of Markdown documents. Originating as the free software version of HackMD, CodiMD has garnered attention for its focus on community-driven projects and data ownership. With an array of features ranging from presentation mode to graph support, it serves as a versatile tool for both individual and collaborative work.

Why CodiMD?

  1. Open Source: One of CodiMD's most compelling features is its open-source nature. Developed and open-sourced by the HackMD team, it gives users complete control over their data (GitHub Repository ).
  2. Reduced Features, Increased Focus : Unlike HackMD, which emphasizes permission and access controls, CodiMD is tailored for open communities. It offers a streamlined set of features that focus on collaboration and content creation.
  3. Markdown Support : CodiMD is not just a text editor; it’s a Markdown editor that supports CommonMark and other markup syntaxes. This makes it incredibly versatile for creating rich documents, notes, and even presentations.
  4. Extensibility: With support for plugins like MathJax, Mermaid, Vega-lite, and more, CodiMD can be extended to fit specialized needs (Markdown Guide ).
  5. Low System Requirements: CodiMD is designed to be lightweight, making it accessible on a variety of systems without compromising performance.

The Evolution: HedgeDoc

It’s worth noting that CodiMD has evolved into HedgeDoc , which continues the legacy of being a self-hosted, collaborative Markdown editor. HedgeDoc further enhances the feature set and focuses on “Ideas grow better together.”

Use Cases

  • Documentation: Create and edit technical documents in real-time with team members.
  • Note-taking: Share your notes and collaborate with others for academic or professional projects.
  • Presentations: Utilize the presentation mode to turn your Markdown files into slideshows.

Conclusion

CodiMD serves as a robust platform for those who seek a collaborative Markdown editor that prioritizes community involvement and data ownership. Its open-source nature and extensible features make it a go-to choice for a wide range of use-cases, from note-taking to creating presentations.

References

  1. CodiMD Official Website
  2. CodiMD GitHub Repository
  3. HedgeDoc Official Website
  4. Markdown Guide on CodiMD
  5. CodiMD Releases

--

--

Volodymyr Pavlyshyn
Volodymyr Pavlyshyn

Written by Volodymyr Pavlyshyn

I believe in SSI, web5 web3 and democratized open data.I make all magic happens! dream & make ideas real, read poetry, write code, cook, do mate, and love.