AFFiNE: An Amazing Experience of an Open Source Collaboration Tool#
I discovered an open source project called AFFiNE, and I was immediately amazed after trying it out! This thing is simply the perfect combination of Notion, Miro, and Obsidian, and it's completely free and open source! The most astonishing part is that it has already attracted over 50,000 stars on GitHub, growing faster than most commercial products.
What is AFFiNE?#
AFFiNE is essentially a knowledge management and collaboration platform. In simple terms, with AFFiNE, you no longer need to have Notion open for notes, Miro for flowcharts, and Obsidian for managing your knowledge base. One software can solve all problems, and you have complete control over your data without worrying about privacy issues or payment limitations.
Core Features#
What sets AFFiNE apart is its "All in One" design philosophy. Do you know where the pain points of traditional collaboration tools lie? It's that functionalities are scattered across different software, and data cannot interoperate. AFFiNE directly addresses this issue at its root.
Most Attractive Features:#
- Seamless Switching Between Whiteboard and Document: The same content can be converted between structured documents and free whiteboards with one click.
- Local First Design: All data is stored locally by default, completely under your control.
- Real-time Collaboration: Multiple users can edit the same document/whiteboard simultaneously.
- Offline Work: All features can be used normally without an internet connection.
- Rich Chart and Embedding Support: Mind maps, flowcharts, tables, etc.
- Cross-Platform Sync: Full coverage on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Web.
- Plugin System: Easily extend functionalities.
I tried writing a few technical documents with it, and the experience was truly unexpected. The response speed while typing is extremely fast, and the editing experience is very smooth. The best part is that when I need to brainstorm, I can switch directly to whiteboard mode, freely drag content blocks, draw a few connecting lines, and then switch back to document mode to continue writing. This seamless switching experience is something I've never felt in other software.
Comparison with Other Tools#
There are many similar tools on the market, but what makes AFFiNE unique is its comprehensiveness and open-source nature. Notion, while powerful, is closed-source, and your data resides on their servers. Plus, you have to pay a significant amount each month to unlock advanced features. Obsidian is indeed local-first, but its collaboration features are weak, and the whiteboard feature was only recently added and is still not mature enough. Miro does well in whiteboard collaboration, but it is not a good knowledge management tool, not to mention it's extremely expensive. AFFiNE integrates all the advantages of these software and is completely free. You can deploy it yourself, and your data is fully under your control. This is a lifesaver for individual users and businesses that prioritize data security.
Quick Start#
Want to experience AFFiNE? You can get started in just a few minutes:
- The simplest way is to directly access the official cloud service: https://app.affine.pro
- If you want to deploy locally, you can use Docker:
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 ghcr.io/toeverything/affine:latest - Download the desktop client: https://affine.pro/download
Once you enter, you will see a clean interface. After creating a new page, you can start writing. The editor supports all common Markdown syntax, as well as advanced features like block quotes, tables, and code blocks. The coolest part is that by clicking the "Switch to Whiteboard" button in the upper right corner, the same content instantly transforms into a visual whiteboard, allowing you to freely drag and connect various content blocks.
Technical Highlights#
From a technical perspective, AFFiNE's design is truly avant-garde. It is based on an architecture called "block protocol," treating all content as composable blocks. This design makes the data structure more flexible, making export, conversion, and collaboration exceptionally simple. The backend uses CRDT (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) technology, which is currently the most advanced collaborative editing solution, ensuring data consistency when multiple users edit simultaneously. The frontend is based on React and IndexedDB, ensuring an exceptional user experience and offline functionality. The entire application is written in TypeScript, with high code quality. What’s most surprising is its plugin system, with a fully open API that allows you to extend functionalities based on your needs. The community has already developed several plugins, such as AI-assisted writing and PDF import/export.
Data Security and Privacy#
In terms of data security, AFFiNE is a textbook example. It adopts a local-first design, with all data stored on local devices by default. Even if you use the cloud sync feature, the data is end-to-end encrypted, and the server cannot read your content. This is a world apart from commercial software that uploads your data to their servers. Especially for scenarios involving sensitive business information or personal privacy, AFFiNE's design is crucial.
Conclusion#
Overall, AFFiNE is not just a tool; it feels like a revolution in knowledge management. With data security as a premise, it integrates the capabilities of documents, whiteboards, and knowledge management, truly achieving "All in One." No wonder it has gained over 50,000 stars in a short time; this is entirely a result of its strength. Ironically, it is said that even Microsoft's product managers are closely watching this project, hoping to draw inspiration to improve their own products. But the charm of open source lies here; its pace of innovation far exceeds that of any commercial company.