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Teamtype

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What Teamtype is

Teamtype lets people collaborate on local text files in real time through their own editors or other tools. Several users can edit together and see one another’s cursors, selections, and changes. Collaboration can cover a whole directory recursively, with most files included except those ignored by the project. The project describes pair programming, brainstorming, and shared notes as example workflows.

Connections are encrypted and peer to peer, so a server is not required. A one-time join code connects peers; afterward, the secret address stored in `.teamtype/config` should be treated like a password. Content remains on disk while a user is offline, and changes can sync later. Offline support is disabled for directories in Git repositories with a configured remote. Concurrent changes are integrated automatically, though the resulting files may not be semantically correct or compile, and simultaneous creation of same-named files can cause one copy to overwrite the other.

Teamtype requires no account. The project says it does not access user data, use it to train AI, show ads, or track users. Plugins are listed for Neovim and VS Code/Codium, with community projects for JetBrains IDEs and TeXstudio. It is free software under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 or later, with precompiled static binaries and several package-manager installation routes. Users needing an always-online host can run a peer on a public server.

Who it suits

Teamtype suits collaborators who want to edit local files together in their existing text editors, whether for ad hoc pair programming or longer-term shared notes. It may also suit privacy-conscious users who want peer-to-peer connections and content kept on disk while offline.

What it does well

  • Supports simultaneous editing with visible cursors, selections, and changes.
  • Can synchronize entire directories, not just individual files.
  • Encrypted peer-to-peer connections work without a required server.
  • No account is required, and content stays on disk offline.
  • Plugins include Neovim and VS Code/Codium; community options include JetBrains and TeXstudio.
  • Free software licensed under AGPL version 3 or later.

What to know first

  • Offline syncing is disabled for directories in Git repositories with a configured remote.
  • Concurrent edits may produce results that are not semantically correct or compilable.
  • Simultaneous creation of same-named files can cause one copy to overwrite the other.
  • The maintainers say bugs remain and maintain the project in their free time.

Getting started

  1. Open the Teamtype GitHub project.
  2. Choose a platform or installation route, such as a precompiled static binary, Arch Linux, Gentoo, Homebrew, Nix, or Cargo.
  3. Use the one-time join code to connect with collaborators.
  4. Treat the resulting secret address in `.teamtype/config` like a password.
  5. Install an available editor plugin, or use the JSON-RPC protocol to build a plugin. If an always-online host is needed, run a peer on a public server.

Verdict

Choose Teamtype if you want real-time collaboration on local files through your own editor, without requiring a central server or account. Look elsewhere if you need guaranteed semantic conflict resolution: concurrent edits can produce incorrect results, and same-named files created at once can overwrite a copy.

Questions

How much does Teamtype cost?

Teamtype is free. The makers say they are not a company and have nothing to sell.

Does Teamtype require an account or server?

It requires no account, and peer-to-peer connections do not require a server. Users can run a peer on a public server if they want an always-online collaboration host.

Which editors have integrations?

The project lists plugins for Neovim and VS Code/Codium. Community projects include plugins for JetBrains IDEs and TeXstudio integration.

Can collaborators work offline?

Content stays on disk while a user is disconnected, and changes can sync later. Offline support is disabled for directories in Git repositories with a configured remote.

What happens when two people edit at once?

Teamtype integrates concurrent edits automatically, but the outcome may not be semantically correct or compile. If users create a same-named file simultaneously, one copy can overwrite the other.

What license does Teamtype use?

It is free software distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 or later.

Facts from Teamtype's own pages

Concurrent editing
Multiple users can edit files at the same time in different text editors and see peers’ cursors, selections, and edits in real time. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Conflict handling
Concurrent edits are integrated automatically, but the result may not be semantically correct or compile, and when two users create a same-named file simultaneously one copy can overwrite the other. · teamtype.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Connection setup
A one-time join code can connect peers, and the resulting secret address is stored in .teamtype/config and should be treated like a password. · teamtype.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Directory collaboration
Teamtype synchronizes a project directory recursively, with most files included except ignored files. · teamtype.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Directory sharing
Teamtype supports collaboration on entire directories, not just single files. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Distribution
The project provides precompiled static binaries and installation options through Arch Linux, Gentoo, Homebrew, Nix, and Cargo. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Editors
The project lists Neovim and VS Code/Codium plugins; community projects include plugins for JetBrains IDEs and TeXstudio integration. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Extensibility
Developers can build editor plugins using the project’s JSON-RPC protocol. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Integrations
The project lists Neovim and VS Code/Codium plugins, and community plugins for JetBrains IDEs and TeXstudio. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
License
Teamtype is free software distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 or later. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Local first
Teamtype retains content on disk when a user goes offline. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Offline work
Users can keep editing while disconnected, and changes can sync with peers later; offline support is disabled when the directory is in a Git repository with a configured remote. · teamtype.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Platforms
The command-line program works on Linux, macOS, Android, and Windows Subsystem for Linux; its README lists no native Windows desktop build. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Pricing
The makers say they are not a company and have nothing to sell. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Privacy
The project says it requires no account, has no access to user data, does not use data to train AI, and does not serve ads or track users. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Product
Teamtype enables real-time peer-to-peer collaborative editing of local files using users’ own text editors or other tools. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Project status
The maintainers say they maintain Teamtype in their free time and note that the project has bugs users should be aware of. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Project status and support
The project says it is maintained in the developers’ free time, notes that bugs remain, and invites questions on Zulip or bug reports through GitHub issues. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Security
The project describes its peer-to-peer connections as encrypted and says it does not need a server for direct collaboration. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Self-hosting
For an always-online collaboration host, users can run a Teamtype peer on a public server as a cloud peer. · teamtype.github.io, 5 Oct 2026
Support
The project directs users to open GitHub issues to report bugs. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Use cases
The project describes pair programming, brainstorming, note-taking, and shared documentation as use cases. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
What it does
Teamtype enables real-time peer-to-peer collaborative editing of local text files using a text editor or other tools. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Who it is for
The documentation describes ad hoc pair programming and longer-term shared notes as collaboration workflows. · teamtype.github.io, 4 Oct 2026

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