Introducing Offline Access: Your writing anywhere, anytime | HackMD Blog
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May 29, 2024

Introducing Offline Access: Your writing anywhere, anytime

Rachel Golden
Rachel Golden
Telling HackMD's story, building awareness, and meaningfully connecting with communities.

Today, we’re delighted to introduce improvements to your HackMD experience: Offline Access.

We’ve all been there. You’re working in a cozy coffee shop, but the wifi is spotty and keeps cutting out. Or you’re in the middle of a creative burst during a thunderstorm, and the internet is unstable. We’ve all faced these frustrating moments when an unreliable connection threatens to derail our progress. In the past, this meant maddening attempts to troubleshoot and potentially lost progress.

But not anymore with Offline Access.

Now you can rest easy knowing that your work can continue and it won’t be lost.

A seamless writing experience

So how does Offline Access work?

When you experience an unreliable internet connection, a message will appear indicating that you’re offline. Continue writing as you would, making sure not to close your browser or clear your cache.

Once you’re back online, you’ll confirm and merge the changes made while offline. Simply check that everything is reflected as it should be, apply the changes, and you’re set!

This confirmation step is especially important if others made changes in that doc while you were offline. Review what was added and decide whether to keep or discard changes.

Work in any weather

With Offline Access, you can work in any weather, both literal and metaphorical. Whether you’re facing a storm, a sunny day at the beach, or a hectic deadline, HackMD is here to support your writing journey. This new feature empowers you to be more flexible and resilient, no matter where you are or what conditions you’re working under.

Bonus: Pseudocode is now available

Alongside this update, we’re excited to share the availability of Pseudocode on HackMD.

Pseudocode is a syntax that, at its core, enables math formulas and algorithms to render online as beautifully as LaTeX. It’s perfect for developers, educators, and anyone who wants to plan and communicate algorithms effectively.

You can now write and format pseudocode directly in your HackMD documents, making it easier to conceptualize and share your ideas with collaborators. Whether you’re sketching out a new software design, teaching a class, or just brainstorming, Pseudocode support in HackMD enhances your ability to create clear and structured documentation.

Happy writing 🖥️

We’re delighted to bring these improvements to HackMD and are always looking for new ways to enchance your experience.

And a huge thank you to Lion, Jose, WildfootW, Zoe, and Rachel for helping us with usability testing.

We can’t wait to see what you create!