Creately
Diagramming & visual collaboration for flowcharts, org charts, and whiteboards
WBO
Real-time collaborative whiteboard for teams and classrooms
WBO is a persistent, multi-user whiteboard where teams draw, teach, and brainstorm simultaneously. Self-hostable with Docker or Node.js, featuring JWT authentication and real-time synchronization.
Overview
Purpose and Audience
WBO (Whiteboard Ophir) is a collaborative whiteboard platform designed for educators, designers, remote teams, and anyone needing shared visual workspace. Multiple users draw simultaneously on a large virtual canvas that updates in real time and persists automatically across sessions.
Core Capabilities
The platform delivers instant synchronization across all connected users, ensuring every stroke appears immediately for collaborators. Board state is continuously saved, eliminating data loss concerns. The system supports diverse use cases from teaching mathematics and collaborative diagram editing to artistic creation and design workshops.
Deployment and Technical Features
WBO offers flexible self-hosting through Docker containers or direct Node.js deployment. Administrators can configure JWT-based authentication with role-based access control, defining moderators with board-clearing privileges and editors with drawing rights. Board-specific permissions enable granular access management. The platform supports reverse proxy configurations for subfolder deployment, statsd-compatible monitoring for production environments, and SVG export for board previews. Multi-language support and configurable rate limiting ensure adaptability to different organizational needs.
Highlights
Real-time multi-user drawing with instant synchronization across all connected clients
Persistent board state with automatic saving and configurable storage directory
JWT authentication with role-based access control and board-specific permissions
Self-hostable via Docker or Node.js with monitoring and reverse proxy support
Pros
- Simple deployment with official Docker image and minimal configuration requirements
- Persistent boards eliminate data loss and enable asynchronous collaboration
- Flexible authentication system supports both open and restricted access models
- Lightweight JavaScript implementation with low server resource requirements
Considerations
- Limited built-in drawing tools compared to commercial whiteboard platforms
- No native mobile apps; relies on browser-based access
- Rate limiting configuration required to prevent denial-of-service scenarios
- SVG export renderer not 100% faithful to original board appearance
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider WBO, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
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Fit guide
Great for
- Educational institutions needing persistent teaching and collaboration spaces
- Remote teams requiring lightweight, self-hosted visual collaboration tools
- Organizations with data sovereignty requirements preferring on-premises deployment
- Communities wanting simple, accessible whiteboard tools without subscription costs
Not ideal when
- Enterprises requiring advanced features like video conferencing or document annotation
- Teams needing native mobile applications with offline capabilities
- Use cases demanding pixel-perfect export or professional design tool integration
- Organizations without technical resources to manage self-hosted infrastructure
How teams use it
Remote Mathematics Instruction
Teachers draw equations and diagrams in real time while students follow along and contribute solutions on a persistent shared canvas
Distributed Design Collaboration
Design teams sketch wireframes and system diagrams together, with all iterations automatically saved for later reference
Workshop Facilitation
Facilitators create interactive brainstorming sessions where participants contribute ideas simultaneously on a shared visual workspace
Secure Internal Collaboration
Organizations deploy JWT-authenticated boards with role-based access, ensuring only authorized users access sensitive planning sessions
Tech snapshot
JavaScript91%
CSS5%
HTML4%
Dockerfile1%
Frequently asked questions
How do I persist boards when running WBO in Docker?
Mount a host directory to /opt/app/server-data using the --volume flag, and ensure it's owned by UID 1000:1000 so WBO can write board data outside the container.
Can I restrict access to specific boards?
Yes, use JWT authentication with board-specific roles like 'moderator:boardName' or 'editor:boardName' in the token payload to control access per board.
What's the difference between moderator and editor roles?
Editors can draw and collaborate on boards. Moderators have an additional Clear tool that wipes all content from the board.
How do I run WBO behind a reverse proxy on a subfolder?
Configure your reverse proxy to forward requests to WBO's port, then set HOST and PORT environment variables. Detailed reverse proxy setup instructions are available in the project Wiki.
Can I monitor my WBO instance in production?
Yes, set the STATSD_URL environment variable to send metrics to statsd-compatible collectors like Prometheus with statsd-exporter or Datadog with dogstatsd.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 2,546
- Watchers
- 2,546
- Forks
- 477
LicenseAGPL-3.0
Repo age12 years old
Last commit2 months ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageJavaScript
Last synced 12 hours ago