In the vast sea of knowledge management and documentation tools, the launch of Docmost has sparked considerable excitement. As a project promising to be the open-source alternative to heavyweights like Confluence and Notion, Docmost aims to deliver a robust, feature-rich platform tailored for real-time collaboration and comprehensive documentation. The announcement on Hacker News reveals a 12-month labor of love, culminating in the beta release, which is already buzzing with feedback and feature suggestions from seasoned users of Confluence and Notion.
One of the first topics that users like ‘j45’ emphasized is the necessity for offline and mobile-first capabilities. The gap in Notion’s offline usability drove the commenter to explore alternatives like Anytype and Obsidian, indicating an unmet need in the current market. For developers and documentation-heavy environments, having documents accessible offline can be a game-changer, especially in scenarios with limited internet connectivity. Although the creator, Pi9h, acknowledged the importance of such features, their current focus is on perfecting the core functionalities. This transparency is refreshing, as it highlights a methodical approach to feature roll-out, ensuring a solid foundation before expanding capabilities.
Issues of performance, particularly with Confluence, were voiced by commenters like ‘Atotalnoob,’ who pointed out the notorious slowness of Confluence, which often hampers productivity. Docmost’s promise of a Peppy React frontend and a Node.js backend using NestJS offers hope for a faster, more responsive user experience. The discussion delved deep into the technicalities with ‘sgarland’ providing crucial advice on database management. For instance, he suggested moving away from Postgres for document storage to avoid performance bottlenecks caused by continuous updates and WAL amplification. Instead, alternatives like object stores or LSM-tree solutions such as MyRocks were recommended.
Accessibility features—or the lack thereof—in prominent tools like Notion and Confluence raised discussions led by users like ‘zersiax.’ The present inadequacies in accessibility can be detrimental to inclusivity, especially in professional environments where compliance with ADA in the US and EAA within the EU is not just ethical but also a legal requirement. Accessibility isn’t just about checking a box; it’s about designing a platform that everyone can use effectively. Suggestions included better keyboard navigation, screen reader support, and attention to color contrast ratios. Docmost, built with the Mantine UI library, appears to respect these accessibility best practices, though there’s room for continuous improvement.
The conversation about collaborative and real-time editing also brought fascinating insights on version control and merging capabilities. The potential for implementing a ‘merge request’ style system for documentation, similar to what exists in GitBook, piqued the interest of many users. However, as mentioned by ‘salamander014’, integrating a seamless workflow between non-technical user interfaces and markdown or git repositories could elevate the tool’s versatility. Being markdown-centric, as some suggested, could make Docmost the go-to platform for existing markdown content while providing a bridge for collaborative editing in real-time.
As the founder, Pi9h, gears up for further development, it’s clear that the community is filled with users eager to contribute suggestions and feedback. From requiring robust backup solutions to demanding intricate user and group permissions, the comments have laid out an extensive wishlist. This discourse not only underscores the enthusiasm surrounding Docmost’s potential but also highlights the challenges ahead. The project stands at a crossroads where careful prioritization and community engagement will define its trajectory in the crowded landscape of documentation tools. Pi9h’s openness to feedback, coupled with a clearly articulated development plan, already sets Docmost apart as a promising contender to well-established giants.
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