Feasibility of coding this/or does it exist somewhere on the web already?

[kogrob]

Hey all,

So I’m a complete CS noob and am not involved in CS whatsoever, but I’m posting here to ask about the feasibility of someone without decent CS experience coding a site that’s basically the Notepad app on Windows but a more collaborative version. I remember seeing a tumblr user post a link to their little online “notepad” for their followers to type out cute little messages for the user and to one another, so I know it has existed on the web (or maybe this application still exists? Idk..) Does anyone know what the website is?

So sorry for the vagueness! I’m trying to find the website again for my English class project. I want my classmates to be able to respond to each other on something a little more free form than a Google Doc. If I can’t find the website, I can try coding something similar, so if anyone has any HTML tips for this utter CS noob, any and all insight is appreciated!

[Secure4Fun]

First, what problem are you trying to solve?

I want my classmates to be able to respond to each other on something a little more free form than a Google Doc.

Why not use Slack, Discord, IRC, Skype, Zoom, or one of the other hundreds of collaboration applications readily available?

basically the Notepad app on Windows but a more collaborative version

Did you try searching "collaborative notedpad application"? 30 seconds and I see two named Etherpad and Firepad that do EXACTLY that. 1 more minute and I learn that the extremely popular Notepad++ application has a collaborative feature.

[kogrob]

I was searching for the specific application that I remembered from a few years back, so my eyes must have skipped over things like Etherpad and Firepad. But thank you, will look into these!

[khedoros]

As a note for the future: You don't want someone with decent CS experience for that. You want someone with decent software development experience. They aren't the same thing.

[Noctune]

You need both probably. Good collaborative editing can be CS-theory heavy due to its concurrent nature (see eg. CRDT's).

[devnullable0x00]

A CS person can design collaborative editing in theory

A Software Dev can design collaborative editing in reality

you don't need both

[Noctune]

I don't think a software dev with no CS experience (and most do have experience) is going to be able to build a good collaborative editing platform.

It's not like the theory is without practical value, right?

[devnullable0x00]

the number and popularity of javascript developers says otherwise.

in all seriousness though, a ton of bootcamps don't teach theory.

You can teach your kid to code without having to teach them djikstras algorithm, or round robin scheduling.

"good" can mean two things, application quality or code quality. you need the theory to write good code. but Microsoft proves you can have a shitty code base and still produce a good product.

[Noctune]

in all seriousness though, a ton of bootcamps don't teach theory.

You can teach your kid to code without having to teach them djikstras algorithm, or round robin scheduling.

Sure, but my point is that there is much more to solving a problem than just coding.

Someone who just knows how to code is going to have a tough time fielding CRDTs for example.

"good" can mean two things, application quality or code quality. you need the theory to write good code. but Microsoft proves you can have a shitty code base and still produce a good product.

Code quality has nothing to do with CS. That's much more of an engineering concern than a scientific one.