TL;DR
A tiny text editor runs entirely in the browser and encodes documents into the page URL hash using deflate compression. The project stores data locally (both in the URL and localStorage), offers dark mode, autosave and a mobile-friendly interface, and is published as an open GitHub repository.
What happened
A developer published a minimalist web-based text editor that keeps all content client-side by encoding it into the URL hash. The app compresses entered text with the deflate algorithm so the resulting URL grows more slowly than raw text, and it also mirrors data to localStorage. It has a debounced autosave set to 500ms, respects dark mode preferences, and is designed to work on mobile. The project is available at textarea.my and the source is hosted publicly on GitHub under the account antonmedv; repository files include a README and index.html and are written in HTML. The README includes usage tips (for example, starting a document with "# Title" sets a custom page title) and playful examples like a version of Crime and Punishment and an ‘‘Ode to Comic Sans.’’ The author notes there is no backend involved — the app runs entirely in the browser.
Why it matters
- No server required: everything runs client-side, removing the need for a backend to store notes.
- Shareable state: documents can be shared via a URL that embeds compressed content, enabling quick link-based sharing.
- Local redundancy: the app stores data both in the URL and in localStorage, offering multiple local persistence points.
- Lightweight and accessible: small codebase (HTML) with mobile-friendly and dark-mode support for basic note-taking.
Key facts
- The editor encodes content into the URL hash and uses deflate compression to reduce length.
- Autosave is debounced to 500 milliseconds.
- The app mirrors data to localStorage as well as the URL.
- Features include dark mode support and a mobile-friendly interface.
- There is no backend; all functionality runs in the browser.
- The project is published on GitHub by antonmedv and the repository is public.
- Repository contents shown include README and index.html; the codebase language is HTML.
- Repository metadata in the source lists 134 stars, 5 forks and 3 watchers.
- The project is reachable at textarea.my and the README contains usage tips and examples.
What to watch next
- Practical limits when sharing very long URLs and how different platforms handle those links (not confirmed in the source).
- How reliably content embedded in the URL interacts with browser history, bookmarking, and cross-browser portability (not confirmed in the source).
- Privacy and security implications of storing potentially sensitive text in a URL, which can be exposed in logs or shared unintentionally (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- URL hash: The fragment portion of a web address (after #) that can store state or navigation targets without forcing a page reload.
- Deflate: A common lossless compression algorithm combining LZ77 and Huffman coding to reduce the size of data.
- localStorage: A browser API that lets web pages store key-value pairs persistently on the user's device.
- Debounce: A programming technique that delays invoking a function (such as autosave) until a specified pause in events.
Reader FAQ
Does the app require a backend server?
No. The README states there is no backend; the app runs entirely in the browser.
Where is my data stored?
The project stores content in the URL hash and also mirrors it to localStorage.
How do I start using it?
Open textarea.my, type your text and the URL will update; the README lists simple usage steps.
Is the source code available to inspect?
Yes. The code is published publicly on GitHub under the account antonmedv.
Is the app secure for sensitive data?
not confirmed in the source
textarea.my What is this madness? A minimalist text editor that lives entirely in your browser and stores everything in the URL hash. Yes, you read that right. Your entire novel…
Sources
- Show HN: Minimalist editor that lives in browser, stores everything in the URL
- What is best way to compress file and text "inside browser" before sending …
- Compressing a website into a URL
- Online Text Editor – Edit Text Quickly and Easily
Related posts
- Apple and Google begrudgingly allow alternative app stores in Japan
- Jolla launches a new phone with Sailfish 5 to counter iOS–Android sameness
- Young Brits’ Confidence in the Internet Drops Sharply, Ofcom Finds 2025