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by code_pockets 5221 days ago
>Someone has to make an alternative to word that is as easy to use but doesn't allow you to do all the stupid stuff. Enforce styles, make references and other data-connections easy, smooth and reliable and provide a good diff.

That is why I'm building (actually finishing the ALPHA release) of a little FOSS app named Paste Box.

It is a paste bin/simple word processor with one click saving ( to a db ), syntax highligthing, user accounts, one button search feature, anonymous pasting, and a simple (but easy on the eyes) UI.

It also features a simplified install process, to keep the IT dept. from going postal.

The first release is a PHP/sqlite version, then a .NET version will follow (desktop and ASPX versions), and then a RoR version.

After those are done, I plan (if people actually use the thing) to add simple text formatting features with JS.

--

I came up with the idea after realizing that office people have a pretty bad workflow when dealing with text files.

They have to open up Word (which depending on their system, can take up to a minute), then they have to save the document, but not without deciding on a name. Worse if they have to create a directory to store the file into. This does not take into account all the different options that Word offers in terms of file types (which most people don't understand.

I just want to save people time (and whats left of their sanity).

The git repo for the project is over at github/codepockets.

All the code in there is just prototype (read: ugly, non-working)(I follow TDD).

Once the thing is ready and tested, I shall announce it to the community. Deadline is the last day of February.

-- code pockets.