---
# System prepended metadata

title: Collaboration via whiteboards
tags: [' real-time', whiteboard, excalidraw, ' collaboration']

---



### Current setup
- only one user can write to a whiteboard at any given time
- user needs to save the whiteboard to update it for others
- all users can read a whiteboard
- readers are receiving updates only when the whiteboard is saved

### What we want
- All members of the community where the whiteboard has been created are able to open the whiteboard and see updates real time
- Who writes to the whiteboard doesn't save the whiteboard - it's automatic
- There is a mode in which the whiteboard can always be read and real time updates are available BUT only one person can write to it and others just spectate.
- As soon as you open the whiteboard you can spectate and also write to it in multiuser mode (if this is enabled).
- The multiuser mode cannot be switched off
- A single session (room) to work on a whiteboard

### Gaps and questions
- A server to handle all the collaboration interactions
    - already done https://hackmd.io/yidu66gzRgSxQcKcVQEmdg
- Authentication and authorization over the whiteboard
    - authentication is done
    - authorization is possible as soon as the whiteboardID is acquired
- A client to enable the mutliuser collaboration
    - excalidraw-app but we need to encapsulate all the needed logic into our application
- The client enables encrypted data transfer
    - do we also need this?
- The client generates a roomID and an encryption key - we need to match the roomID to the whiteboard ID or pass the whiteboard ID in other means (query parameters)
- Deeper analysis over the gaps is needed. The whole featured broken down into epics and stories will raise more questions and gaps.

### Video call
`https://stichtingcherrytwist-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/simone_alkem_io/ESyL89ISOBRLgAPEbaSSuxcBaCON2wNTJuag-iaJQJYdug`

### Glossary
- single user mode
    - Checked out before any updates are applied to it
    - Can be written to only by one member at a time.
    - Saved manually
    - Checked in to be editable by another user
    - Members can see updates only if the whiteboard is saved

- multi user mode
    - Editing is available as soon as the whiteboard is opened
    - Multiple users can edit the content at the same time
    - The content is saved automatically
    - Members can see updates in real time
    - There is a multi edit mode and single edit mode.
