Etherpad
Collaborate on documents in really real-time
Etherpad is a hosted web service that allows really real-time document collaboration for groups of users.
Etherpad is open source; you can host your own Etherpad by downloading the source code or try Etherpad for free on one of the Public Sites.
The Etherpad Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the development of the Etherpad project.
Moodle, say hello to Etherpad
Today we’re pleased to announce a Moodle module that makes collaborative writing inside of Moodle a doddle. Real time editing inside of Moodle brings even more functionality to the worlds most popular Educationally focused Learning Platform. If you want to try it out before you install you can use our sandbox Etherpad deployment at beta.etherpad.org
If you require any assistance deploying Etherpad Lite or help installing new plugins or features then please get in touch.
PrimaryPad offers a hosted Etherpad Lite instance too that can be leveraged so you don’t need to host your own, this service comes with an uptime guarantee and SLA that should provide your school with the piece of mind and simplicity of deployment.
Get the module now
Watch a video guide for how to get started.
We want to send a huge thanks out to Chris K from Dearborn Public Schools for leading on this project and also @spnova who lead the development.
Etherpad at the London Ajax User Group
On Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 6:00 PM at The Skills Matter eXchange Peter M from the Etherpad Foundation on Etherpad Lite
This is a must see event and only the second time Peter (The original author of Etherpad Lite) has given a public presentation about Etherpad Lite so attendees will be treated to some behind the scenes info and an insight to some of the amazing projects the foundation is involved with.
Etherpad Lite, say hello to Django
@Sfyn wrote a great write up about how he used Etherpad Lite with his recent thinkwemust.org project so we wanted to show him some love back by sharing his django etherpad-lite app with the rest of the Etherpad Lite community.
Over the next few weeks we have even more announcement so stay tuned 
Etherpad Hackathon 2012 update
So we’re half way through our hackathon and we have some updates..
We have decided to drop the Etherpad Legacy nameand allow Etherpad Lite adopt the name of Etherpad, we are still working on getting the same features into Lite that were in Legacy so until then this is just an agreement.
The plugin framework is now in very early alpha and developer docs are due today.
A number of bugs have been squashed
We have decided on a prefix for the plugin structure ep_
A number of plugins have been written and will be available to review soon
We now have some example users that we are using for internal discussions.
We’re looking for a nodejs community liaison master, can you help?
We’re looking for a bugmaster, can you help?
We’re looking for someone to lead our continuous testing efforts, can you help?
We’re looking for someone with bugzilla experience and resources, can you help?
2012 Etherpad road map
Our road map is designed to give users, developers and site admins the ability to see where the Etherpad Community is going with Etherpad and what areas we need help with.
Replace Etherpad (“legacy”) completely with Etherpad Lite.
Write some User Documentation.
Complete a Plugin Framework.
* Create a group Management Plugin.
* Create a rich Text plugin.
Completely support full migration from V1 to V2 including saved revision support.
Implement optional natural language processing.
Implement optional Distributed bug tracking.
If you feel you can help then please get in touch We need all the help we can get!! Thanks
Welcome to the hackathon
Today signals the beginning of the Etherpad Hackathon. Our goal is to get version 1.1 finalized and hopefully a plugin framework.
Here is our progress tracker for remote joiners and includes a list of stuff to get involved with.
Please ping us via email/skype/irc/google group if you have any questions.
Getting a name wrong.
We’re having a bit of a reflection period at the Etherpad foundation lately. A big issue for all of us is the name “Etherpad Lite”. We really messed that up. Etherpad Lite isn’t Light for the users, Etherpad Lite is light for the admin and the business’ bottom line.
We made the code base 80% lighter, the application requirements 80% lighter, the system requirements 80% lighter but we kept the majority of the functionality.. In fact, we introduced more via an API. More potential for developers.. We also made it wayyyy easier for developers to get started as we reduced the whole 3 language stack(scala, java, javascript) down to just one language.
So why Lite and why not V2?
We didn’t want to upset any foundation members. We knew we had a bunch of talented Java guys we didn’t want to upset and lose so we took the 1/2 cocked descision and tried to keep everyone happy. In hindsight, this was a terrible mistake. We are now 100% sure that the pure JS approach is the future, adoptions are up, performance is up, all of the indicators the foundation committed to from day one are showing positive signs.
We’re a family focused on making the collaborative web better. A group of people made this call and the same group of people are committed to finding a good solution.
Like any organization or individual we know that we have to correct our mistake so we’re on the hunt for a better name for Etherpad Lite.
A consideration is “LinePad” which would stand for Lite Is Not Ether.. Pad…
Another consideration is NodePad, also Etherpad V2, also Etherpad N (N for Node), also Etherpad JS…
So many choices, how do we make the right one?