Code Collab - Browser Based Real-time Code Collaboration System using WebSockets

Abstract

The demand to develop efficient remote programming environment and web based learning platforms has increased gradually due to the rapid growth of the remote programming environments and collaborative coding systems in real time. Although, there are already solutions like Visual Studio Live Share, JetBrains and Code with Me which provide synchrous editing capabilities, they usually require heavy installations, authentication processes and also resource intensive environments, and limiting them in applicable to the educational and low spec environment. This research paper is the creation of a lightweight native browser based code collaboration platform known as Code Collab. A Platform to do instant multi-user and no installation coding created in React, CodeMirror, Node.js, Socket.io. System offers code matching, protected room creation and a built in chatand file/media sharing. A detailed review of modern studies of Operational Transformation (OT), Conflict Free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs), browser based IDEs and low- latency communication frameworks suggested a number of usability and performance constraints that inspired the creation of this system. Code Collab is based on WebSockets to ensure low latency communication between devices and achieves high performance in classroom-oriented scenarios. Possible extensions are AI based programming assistance and better classroom management capabilities.