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# Making collaborative editing the standard on the web
# Really Real-Time Collaborative Editor
![alt text](http://primarypad.com/files/2012/11/PrimaryPad1.jpg "Etherpad in action on PrimaryPad")
# About
Etherpad lite is a really-real time collaborative editor spawned from the Hell fire of Etherpad.
We're reusing the well tested Etherpad easysync library to make it really realtime. Etherpad Lite
is based on node.js ergo is much lighter and more stable than the original Etherpad. Our hope
is that this will encourage more users to use and install a realtime collaborative editor. A smaller, manageable and well
documented codebase makes it easier for developers to improve the code and contribute towards the project.
**Etherpad vs Etherpad lite**
<table>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td><td><b>Etherpad</b></td><td><b>Etherpad Lite</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">Size of the folder (without git history)</td><td>30 MB</td><td>1.5 MB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">Languages used server side</td><td>Javascript (Rhino), Java, Scala</td><td>Javascript (node.js)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">Lines of server side Javascript code</td><td>~101k</td><td>~9k</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">RAM Usage immediately after start</td><td>257 MB (grows to ~1GB)</td><td>16 MB (grows to ~30MB)</td>
</tr>
</table>
Etherpad Lite is designed to be easily embeddable and provides a [HTTP API](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite/wiki/HTTP-API)
Etherpad is a really-real time collaborative editor maintained by the Etherpad Community.
Etherpad is written in Javascript(99.9%) on both the server and client so it's easy for developers to maintain and add new features. Because of this Etherpad has tons of customizations that you can leverage.
Etherpad is designed to be easily embeddable and provides a [HTTP API](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite/wiki/HTTP-API)
that allows your web application to manage pads, users and groups. It is recommended to use the [available client implementations](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite/wiki/HTTP-API-client-libraries) in order to interact with this API. There is also a [jQuery plugin](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite-jquery-plugin) that helps you to embed Pads into your website.
There's also a full-featured plugin framework, allowing you to easily add your own features.
Finally, Etherpad Lite comes with translations into tons of different languages!
There's also a full-featured plugin framework, allowing you to easily add your own features. By default your Etherpad is rather sparce and because Etherpad takes a lot of it's inspiration from Wordpress plugins are really easy to install and update. Once you have Etherpad installed you should visit the plugin page and take control.
Finally, Etherpad comes with translations into most languages! Users are automatically delivered the correct language for their local settings.
**Visit [beta.etherpad.org](http://beta.etherpad.org) to test it live**
@ -86,9 +63,9 @@ You like it? [Next steps](#next-steps).
# Next Steps
## Tweak the settings
You can modify the settings in `settings.json`. (If you need to handle multiple settings files, you can pass the path to a settings file to `bin/run.sh` using the `-s|--settings` option. This allows you to run multiple Etherpad Lite instances from the same installation.)
You can initially modify the settings in `settings.json`. (If you need to handle multiple settings files, you can pass the path to a settings file to `bin/run.sh` using the `-s|--settings` option. This allows you to run multiple Etherpad instances from the same installation.) Once you have access to your /admin section settings can be modified through the web browser.
You should use a dedicated database such as "mysql", if you are planning on using etherpad-lite in a production environment, since the "dirtyDB" database driver is only for testing and/or development purposes.
You should use a dedicated database such as "mysql", if you are planning on using etherpad-in a production environment, since the "dirtyDB" database driver is only for testing and/or development purposes.
## Helpful resources
The [wiki](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite/wiki) is your one-stop resource for Tutorials and How-to's, really check it out! Also, feel free to improve these wiki pages.
@ -98,11 +75,11 @@ Documentation can be found in `docs/`.
# Development
## Things you should know
Read this [git guide](http://learn.github.com/p/intro.html) and watch this [video on getting started with Etherpad Lite Development](http://youtu.be/67-Q26YH97E).
Read this [git guide](http://learn.github.com/p/intro.html) and watch this [video on getting started with Etherpad Development](http://youtu.be/67-Q26YH97E).
If you're new to node.js, start with Ryan Dahl's [Introduction to Node.js](http://youtu.be/jo_B4LTHi3I).
You can debug Etherpad lite using `bin/debugRun.sh`.
You can debug Etherpad using `bin/debugRun.sh`.
If you want to find out how Etherpad's `Easysync` works (the library that makes it really realtime), start with this [PDF](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite/raw/master/doc/easysync/easysync-full-description.pdf) (complex, but worth reading).
@ -114,7 +91,7 @@ Look at the [TODO list](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite/wiki/TODO) and ou
Also, and most importantly, read our [**Developer Guidelines**](https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md), really!
# Get in touch
Join the [mailinglist](http://groups.google.com/group/etherpad-lite-dev) and make some noise on our freenode irc channel [#etherpad-lite-dev](http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=#etherpad-lite-dev)!
Join the [mailinglist](http://groups.google.com/group/etherpad-lite-dev) and make some noise on our busy freenode irc channel [#etherpad-lite-dev](http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=#etherpad-lite-dev)!
# Modules created for this project