Real-Time Collaborative Code Editor: A Web based Synchronous Programming Platform

Abstract

As collaborative development gains prominence in both academic and professional software environments, the need for intuitive, accessible, and real-time programming platforms becomes essential. This paper presents a minimalistic, browser-based code editor that enables synchronous programming collaboration through live code sharing and execution capabilities. Built using the MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js) stack and Socket.IO for real-time communication, the platform allows multiple users to write, view, and execute code together seamlessly. Designed with simplicity and performance in mind, the system enables peer coding, interviews, and learning scenarios with instant feedback and interactive features. This paper details the architectural framework, user-centric interface, and implementation of the proposed system, supported by a review of existing tools and their limitations.

Introduction

Modern software development increasingly relies on live, synchronous collaboration, especially with remote work and online learning. Traditional IDEs often lack built-in real-time collaboration or require complex setups. To address this, the paper proposes a lightweight, browser-based real-time collaborative code editor that enables multiple users to simultaneously edit and compile code, specifically supporting languages like C.

The system uses React.js for the frontend, Node.js and Express.js for the backend, MongoDB for storing session data, and Socket.IO to synchronize edits in real time across clients. It features room management, shared editing with live cursor tracking, integrated code compilation via a backend API, and a chat function for communication. The platform targets ease of use and accessibility without installation barriers, making it ideal for classrooms, coding interviews, and remote teams.

Compared to existing tools like Replit, CodePen, and VS Code Live Share, this editor prioritizes simplicity and seamless real-time collaboration while handling challenges like consistency and error management. Minimal hardware requirements and standard modern browsers are sufficient to run the system.

Conclusion

The platform was tested with multiple users joining the same session across different machines and networks. The average sync latency observed was below 150ms, even with concurrent editing. Testers praised the minimal interface, ease of entry (no installation required), and seamless collaboration. The live execution feature performed consistently across standard C programs, returning output within 2 seconds. Experiments also included simulated network drops to test fault recovery. The system successfully retained last-synced states and re-established connections without data loss. These outcomes affirm the viability of the platform for practical collaborative use. This project demonstrates a functional, real-time, collaborative coding platform that balances performance, usability, and technical depth. By focusing on accessibility and minimalism, it empowers users to engage in synchronous code editing and execution without software overhead. The project is particularly valuable for remote instruction, pair programming, and coding interviews.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mohd Saad Ansari, Soham Babdi, Vidhee Bandkar, Ansh Mishra, Prof. Vijay Jumb. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.