I’m really curious about how Google Docs works under the hood. Does anyone know what kind of technology they use for their text editor? I’ve heard they built it from the ground up, even calculating character widths themselves.
I’m wondering if they use WebGL, Canvas 2D, or something else entirely. It’s so smooth and fast compared to other online editors I’ve tried. I’d love to know their secret sauce!
I’ve looked around but can’t find much info on their approach. It’s a bummer it’s not open source. We could learn so much from it!
I tried checking out some other open-source editors, but the code was pretty hard to understand. Like this snippet I found:
function isSpecial(item) {
return getType(item) === 'unique'
}
function isCollection(item) {
var itemType = getType(item)
return itemType === 'unique' || (itemType === 'standard' && typeof item.size === 'number')
}
Anyone have insights on how Google achieved such great performance? Or know of any good resources about building fast web-based text editors?
hey i think google docs uses a mix of stuff. prolly some custom js magic and maybe canvas for speed. they prolly do some fancy tricks with data to make it so smooth.
i heard they use something called operational transforms for real-time editing. sounds complicated lol. wish they’d share more about how it works!
As someone who’s dabbled in web development, I can share some insights on Google Docs’ architecture. While the exact details aren’t public, it’s likely they use a combination of technologies to achieve that smooth performance.
From what I’ve gathered, Google Docs probably uses a custom rendering engine, possibly built on Canvas or WebGL for optimal speed. They likely implement efficient data structures and algorithms for text manipulation and real-time collaboration.
One key aspect is probably how they handle updates and synchronization. Instead of sending entire documents back and forth, they likely use operational transforms or a similar technique to send only the changes.
For those interested in building similar editors, libraries like ProseMirror or Quill can be good starting points. They offer rich text editing capabilities and can be extended for collaborative features. However, reaching Google Docs’ level of performance would require significant optimization and custom development.
I’ve actually worked on a collaborative text editor project before, and it’s fascinating stuff. From my experience, Google Docs likely uses a combination of technologies to achieve its performance.
One key aspect is probably their use of operational transforms (OT) for real-time collaboration. This allows multiple users to edit simultaneously without conflicts. It’s complex to implement but incredibly powerful.
For rendering, they might be using a virtual DOM approach combined with efficient diff algorithms. This allows for quick updates without re-rendering the entire document.
As for the editor itself, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve built a custom solution. Off-the-shelf libraries often struggle with the scale and performance requirements of something like Google Docs.
Memory management is also crucial. They likely use clever data structures and caching techniques to keep things smooth, even with large documents.
While we can’t know for sure without insider knowledge, these are some educated guesses based on my own work in this area. It’s definitely a challenging and rewarding field to explore!