Collaboration & Sharing
OpenFlowKit supports share links and collaboration-oriented room flows while keeping local-first behavior as the default.
What the share flow includes
Section titled “What the share flow includes”The share dialog can expose:
- a room ID
- an invite URL
- current viewer count
- participant badges
- connection state such as realtime, connecting, or local-only fallback
Current collaboration model
Section titled “Current collaboration model”The product includes a collaboration scaffold with presence, transport status, and local cache behavior. In practice, that means you can share a room link and see whether the current session is in live sync or local-only fallback mode.
This is important because local-first tools should fail gracefully. If realtime sync is not available, the app should not force you to stop working.
How to use it well
Section titled “How to use it well”- open the share dialog before inviting others
- confirm whether the session is in live sync or fallback mode
- use room links when you want collaborators in the same canvas context
- export JSON when you need a durable editable backup outside the current browser state
Share Modal Features
Section titled “Share Modal Features”The Share Modal provides:
- Room ID: A unique identifier for the current diagram session
- Invite URL: A link others can open to join the room
- Viewer Count: Number of people currently in the room
- Participant Badges: Visual indicators showing who’s in the room (with name and color)
- Connection Status: Shows whether you’re in realtime sync, connecting, or local-only fallback
Connection States
Section titled “Connection States”- Realtime: Connected and syncing with other participants in real-time
- Connecting: Attempting to establish a realtime connection
- Fallback: Working locally; realtime connection not available
In fallback mode, you can still edit and export your diagram, but changes won’t sync with others until reconnected.
Best Practices
Section titled “Best Practices”- Check status before presenting: Confirm you’re in realtime mode when presenting to others
- Export before handoff: Always export JSON when handing off to someone who won’t use the room
- Use room links for reviews: Great for live architecture reviews or brainstorming sessions
- Local-first by default: Even without collaboration, your work is always saved locally
When to use sharing vs exporting
Section titled “When to use sharing vs exporting”Use collaboration sharing when:
- the diagram should stay interactive
- other people should join the current working canvas
- you want presence and room-based workflows
Use exporting when:
- you need an artifact, not a live session
- the next destination is docs, slides, or a design tool
- you need a durable handoff file