@veltdev/codemirror-crdt-react and @veltdev/codemirror-crdt libraries enable real-time collaborative editing on CodeMirror Editors. The collaboration editing engine is built on top of Yjs and Velt SDK.
Prerequisites
- Node.js (v14 or higher)
- React (v16.8 or higher for hooks)
- A Velt account with an API key (sign up)
- Optional: TypeScript for type safety
Setup
Step 1: Install Dependencies
Install the required packages:- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 2: Setup Velt
Initialize the Velt client by following the Velt Setup Docs. This is required for the collaboration engine to work.Step 3: Initialize Collaborative Editor
- Initialize the collaboration manager and use it to create the CodeMirror editor.
- Pass an
editorIdto uniquely identify each editor instance you have in your app. This is especially important when you have multiple editors in your app.
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Use the
useCollaboration hook to manage the entire CRDT lifecycle. It creates a CollaborationManager, initializes the CRDT store, and returns collaboration primitives (ytext, awareness, undoManager, doc) that you pass to yCollab() from y-codemirror.next.Step 4: Status Monitoring (Optional)
Monitor the connection status and sync state to display UI indicators.- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
The
useCollaboration hook returns reactive status, isSynced, and error state:Step 5: Version Management (Optional)
Save and restore named snapshots of the document state.- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
The
manager returned by useCollaboration provides version management methods:Step 6: Force Reset Initial Content (Optional)
By default,initialContent is applied exactly once only when the document is brand new. Pass forceResetInitialContent: true to always overwrite remote data with initialContent on initialization.
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 7: CRDT Event Subscription (Optional)
Listen for real-time sync events usinggetCrdtElement().on() from the Velt client.
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 8: Custom Encryption (Optional)
Encrypt CRDT data before it’s stored in Velt by registering a custom encryption provider. For CRDT methods, input data is of typeUint8Array | number[].
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 9: Error Handling (Optional)
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Pass an
onError callback to handle initialization or runtime errors. The error reactive state is also available for rendering.Step 10: Access Yjs Internals (Advanced)
The manager exposes escape hatches for direct Yjs manipulation when needed.- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Step 11: Cleanup
Cleanup is handled by callingmanager.destroy(), which cascades to the store, provider, undo manager, and all listeners. Safe to call multiple times.
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
Notes
- Unique editorId: Use a unique
editorIdper editor instance. - Wait for auth: Initialize the store only after the Velt client is ready.
- Use yCollab: Pass the Yjs text, awareness, and undo manager to
yCollab. - Initialize and clean up: Destroy the
EditorViewand manager on unmount to avoid leaks.
Testing and Debugging
To test collaboration:- Login two unique users on two browser profiles and open the same page in both.
- Edit in one window and verify changes and cursors appear in the other.
- Cursors not appearing: Ensure each editor has a unique
editorIdand users are authenticated. Also ensure that you are logged in with two different users in two different browser profiles. - Editor not loading: Confirm the Velt client is initialized and the API key is valid.
- Disconnected session: Check network.
Complete Example
- React / Next.js
- Other Frameworks
- React / Next.js Live Demo
- Non-React Demo
A complete collaborative CodeMirror editor with user login, status display, and version management.App.tsxEditor.tsx
Complete App.tsx
Complete Editor.tsx
How It Works
useCollaboration(React) /createCollaboration(non-React) creates aCollaborationManager. This initializes a CRDT Store (type: 'text'), a YjsY.Text, and aSyncProvider.- The primitives (
ytext,awareness,undoManager,doc) are returned by the hook or viamanager.getCollaborationPrimitives(). You pass these toyCollab()fromy-codemirror.nextas a CodeMirror extension. - User types -> CodeMirror transaction ->
Y.Textmutation -> Yjs CRDT broadcasts via Velt backend -> all connected clients see the change. - Remote cursors are tracked via Yjs Awareness. The
yCollabextension renders colored cursor indicators at each remote user’s selection position. - Initial content is applied only once for brand-new documents. The manager waits for remote content before deciding the document is new.
- Conflict resolution is handled by Yjs CRDTs, concurrent typing at different positions merges correctly.
- Version management saves the full Yjs state as a named snapshot. Restoring a version replaces the current state and broadcasts to all clients.
- Cleanup is automatic, the manager destroys the editor bindings, store, and all listeners when destroyed or the component unmounts.
APIs
React: useCollaboration()
The primary React hook for collaborative CodeMirror editing. Creates aCollaborationManager, initializes the CRDT store, and returns collaboration primitives for CodeMirror integration.
- Signature:
useCollaboration(config: UseCollaborationConfig) - Params: UseCollaborationConfig
editorId: Unique identifier for this collaborative session.initialContent: Text content applied once for brand-new documents.debounceMs: Throttle interval (ms) for backend writes. Default:0.forceResetInitialContent: Iftrue, always clear and re-applyinitialContent. Default:false.veltClient: Explicit Velt client. Falls back toVeltProvidercontext.onError: Error callback.
- Returns: UseCollaborationReturn
primitives: Yjs primitives for CodeMirror.nullwhile loading.isLoading:trueuntil CollaborationManager is initialized.isSynced:trueafter the initial sync with the backend completes.status: Connection status:'connecting','connected', or'disconnected'.error: Most recent error, ornull.manager: The underlyingCollaborationManager.nullbefore initialization.
Non-React: createCollaboration()
Factory function that creates aCollaborationManager, calls initialize(), and returns a ready-to-use instance.
- Signature:
createCollaboration(config: CollaborationConfig): Promise<CollaborationManager> - Params: CollaborationConfig
editorId: Unique editor/document identifier for syncing.veltClient: Velt client instance must have an authenticated user.initialContent: Plain text content applied once for brand-new documents.debounceMs: Throttle interval (ms) for backend writes. Default:0.onError: Callback for non-fatal errors.forceResetInitialContent: Iftrue, always reset toinitialContent. Default:false.
- Returns:
Promise<CollaborationManager>
CollaborationPrimitives
Theprimitives object (from the React hook) or manager.getCollaborationPrimitives() (non-React) contains everything you need to set up yCollab():
CollaborationManager Methods
Once themanager is available (non-null from the hook, or returned from createCollaboration), you can use its full API:
manager.getCollaborationPrimitives()
Returns the Yjs primitives needed to callyCollab(). Non-React only, the React hook returns primitives directly.
- Returns:
{ ytext: Y.Text | null, awareness: Awareness, undoManager: Y.UndoManager | null, doc: Y.Doc }
manager.onStatusChange()
Subscribe to connection status changes.- Signature:
manager.onStatusChange(callback: (status: SyncStatus) => void): Unsubscribe - Returns:
Unsubscribe(call to stop listening)
manager.onSynced()
Subscribe to sync state changes.- Signature:
manager.onSynced(callback: (synced: boolean) => void): Unsubscribe - Returns:
Unsubscribe
manager.initialized
Whetherinitialize() has completed.
- Returns:
boolean
manager.synced
Whether initial sync with the backend has completed.- Returns:
boolean
manager.status
Current connection status.- Returns:
SyncStatus('connecting' | 'connected' | 'disconnected')
manager.saveVersion()
Save a named snapshot. Returns the version ID.- Signature:
manager.saveVersion(name: string): Promise<string> - Returns:
Promise<string>
manager.getVersions()
List all saved versions.- Returns:
Promise<Version[]>
manager.restoreVersion()
Restore to a saved version. Returnstrue on success. The restored state is pushed to all connected clients.
- Signature:
manager.restoreVersion(versionId: string): Promise<boolean> - Returns:
Promise<boolean>
manager.setStateFromVersion()
Apply a Version object’s state locally to the current document.- Signature:
manager.setStateFromVersion(version: Version): Promise<void> - Returns:
Promise<void>
manager.getDoc()
Get the underlying Yjs document.- Returns:
Y.Doc
manager.getText() / manager.getYText()
Get the Y.Text bound to the document content. In React, this method is calledgetText(); in non-React, it is called getYText().
- Returns:
Y.Text | null
manager.getProvider()
Get the sync provider.- Returns:
SyncProvider
manager.getAwareness()
Get the Yjs Awareness instance.- Returns:
Awareness
manager.getStore()
Get the core CRDT Store.- Returns:
Store<string>
manager.getUndoManager()
Get the Y.UndoManager for undo/redo operations.- Returns:
Y.UndoManager | null
manager.destroy()
Full cleanup (automatic on editor destroy or component unmount). Safe to call multiple times.- Returns:
void
Migration Guide: v1 to v2
React
Overview
The v2 API replacesuseVeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtension() with useCollaboration(). The new hook provides richer reactive state (status, sync, error), returns Yjs primitives directly, and exposes the CollaborationManager for advanced use.
Key Changes
Step-by-Step
1. Replace the hook:Non-React
Overview
The v2 API replaces the callback-basedcreateVeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtension() with an async createCollaboration() factory that returns a CollaborationManager.
Key Changes
Step-by-Step
1. Replace the store creation:Legacy API (v1)
React: useVeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtension() (deprecated)
A React hook that returns a store for CodeMirror integration. Internally delegates touseCollaboration (v2) via a compatibility wrapper.
- Signature:
useVeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtension(config: VeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtensionConfig) - Params: VeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtensionConfig
- Returns: VeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtensionResponse
React: VeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtensionConfig (deprecated)
React: VeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtensionResponse (deprecated)
Non-React: createVeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtension() (deprecated)
Creates a collaboration store using a callback-based pattern. The function subscribes to the Velt SDK lifecycle and invokes theonReady callback when the store is ready.
- Signature:
createVeltCodeMirrorCrdtExtension(config: VeltCodeMirrorStoreConfig, onReady: (response) => void): () => void - Returns:
() => void(cleanup function)

