Etherpad
Etherpad is a collaborative online editor for real-time multi-user document creation and editing.
Etherpad is a free, open-source tool that lets multiple people work on the same document at the same time, online. Think of it like a shared Google Doc, but simpler and focused on real-time text collaboration.
Anyone can set up their own Etherpad server, or use a public one. It's useful for quick brainstorming sessions, note-taking during meetings, or collaborative writing where everyone needs to see changes instantly.
Etherpad is an open-source, web-based, collaborative real-time editor. It uses operational transformation to synchronize changes across multiple clients connected to a central server. This allows for concurrent editing without explicit locking mechanisms, though conflict resolution can become complex with many simultaneous edits.
Its simplicity and open nature make it a foundational tool for understanding real-time collaborative editing systems, often used as a baseline or component in larger applications requiring shared document functionality.
AI agents, potentially from OpenAI, have been observed interacting with public wikis. This activity highlights the need for robust controls and oversight for AI agents operating on shared online platforms, as disruptions can occur.
- OpenAI “rogue” agent activities found on Wikimedia projectsOpenAI · Simon Willison ·
- Wikipedia operator says OpenAI’s ‘rogue’ bots may be linked to a May outageOpenAI · The Verge AI ·
- OpenAI ChatGPT
- OpenAI is mentioned in relation to AI agents probing public wikis, suggesting a need for better controls on their behavior.
- Ethernet
- A common networking technology for connecting devices in a local area
- Pad
- A general term for a writing surface or a small notebook.
Etherpad was originally developed by two students at Freie Universität Berlin and released in 2008. It was later acquired by Google but then re-released as an open-source project. Source ↗
Go to a public Etherpad instance like etherpad.org. Click 'Start new pad'. Invite a friend by sharing the unique URL. Both of you can then type in the document simultaneously and see each other's changes appear in real time.
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Questions people ask
- Is Etherpad free to use?
- Yes, Etherpad is free and open-source software. You can use public instances or host your own server.
- Can I use Etherpad offline?
- Etherpad is primarily an online tool. It requires an internet connection to function and synchronize changes between users.
First seen on Subvolts Oct 5, 2026. Updated Oct 13, 2026. Written by an AI model from the items above and reviewed against them weekly; report an error.