How to build Document collaboration with Lovable?

Book a call with an Expert

Starting a new venture? Need to upgrade your web app? RapidDev builds application with your growth in mind.

How to build Document collaboration with Lovable?

Project Setup and Structure

Create a new Lovable project. Since Lovable does not have a terminal, you must set up your project structure using the integrated file editor.
Create the following files in your project:
- index.html – This file will host the user interface.
- collaboration.js – This file will handle real-time document updates.
- app.js – This file will initialize the collaboration engine and make use of Lovable’s built-in API.

The file structure should look like this:


/project
   |-- index.html
   |-- collaboration.js
   |-- app.js

Including Dependencies Without a Terminal

Lovable automatically loads external libraries if you include their script tags in your HTML. To enable document collaboration, add the following dependency (a fictional real-time collaboration library for Lovable) directly in your index.html file.
Edit the index.html file and add the following code snippet inside the <head> section:


<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Document Collaboration</title>
  <!-- Include Lovable Collaboration Library from CDN -->
  <script src="https://cdn.lovable.com/collab/v1.0/lovable-collab.js"></script>
</head>

This script loads the necessary functionality for real-time collaboration.

Building the User Interface

Open index.html and set up a basic HTML structure with a text area for document editing. Paste the following code:


<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>Document Collaboration</title>
    <script src="https://cdn.lovable.com/collab/v1.0/lovable-collab.js"></script>
    <script src="app.js"></script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Collaborative Document</h1>
    <textarea id="docEditor" rows="20" cols="80"></textarea>
    <script src="collaboration.js"></script>
  </body>
</html>

This file contains the text area where users will edit the document; the collaboration logic will be applied here.

Implementing the Real-Time Collaboration Logic

Open collaboration.js and add the following code to handle the synchronization of document changes:


// Initialize a connection to the Lovable collaboration service.
// The LovableCollab library (loaded from the CDN) provides a connect method.
const collabConnection = LovableCollab.connect({
  projectId: "your-project-id",  // Replace with your actual project ID
  documentId: "collab-doc-001"   // Unique ID for the document
});

// Get reference to the text area
const editor = document.getElementById("docEditor");
// Listen for local document changes
editor.addEventListener("input", () => {
  // Send updated content to the collaboration service
  collabConnection.sendUpdate(editor.value);
});
// Listen for remote updates from other collaborators
collabConnection.onUpdate((newContent) => {
  // Avoid overwriting local changes if already up-to-date
  if (editor.value !== newContent) {
    editor.value = newContent;
  }
});

This code establishes a connection using Lovable’s built-in collaboration library and keeps the content synchronized among users.

Initializing the Collaboration Engine

Next, open the app.js file. This file is responsible for initializing the collaboration environment when the page loads. Insert the following code into app.js:


window.addEventListener("load", () => {
  // Initialize Lovable Collaboration API if any further setup is needed
  if (typeof LovableCollab !== "undefined") {
    console.log("Lovable Collaboration initialized.");
  } else {
    console.error("Lovable Collaboration library failed to load.");
  }
});

This ensures that the collaboration library is ready before any document edits occur.

Testing Your Document Collaboration

To test the collaboration:
- Open the project preview using Lovable’s built-in preview method.
- Open the project in another browser window or share the project URL with another user.
- Edit the document in one window and observe the changes synchronized in real time across all open sessions.
You can check the browser’s console logs for messages confirming the successful initialization and any error reports.

Deploying and Sharing Your Project

Once you have verified that document collaboration is functioning, save all files in Lovable’s editor.
Use Lovable’s deployment features (typically available via a "Deploy" or "Share" option) to publish the project.
Share the provided project URL with your collaborators. They can use it to join and start editing the document in real time.

Troubleshooting and Further Customization

If you encounter issues:
- Check the browser’s developer console for errors related to the collaboration library.
- Ensure that your project ID and document ID in collaboration.js are correctly set.
- If the LovableCollab library does not load, verify the CDN URL or consult Lovable’s documentation for updates.
For additional features like user cursors, change tracking, or version history, extend the code in collaboration.js using additional methods provided by the LovableCollab API.

Book a call with an Expert

Starting a new venture? Need to upgrade your web app? RapidDev builds application with your growth in mind.

Book a free No-Code consultation

Best Practices for Building a Document collaboration with AI Code Generators

Document Collaboration with AI Code Generators: Best Practices

This guide provides a detailed walkthrough for building a document collaboration platform that leverages AI code generators. The step-by-step instructions are designed to be simple enough for non-technical users while still covering critical technical best practices.

Prerequisites

A basic understanding of how document collaboration works (e.g., editing, versioning, sharing).
Familiarity with web-based applications and cloud services.
Access to an AI code generator API or service (e.g., OpenAI's Codex or similar).
Optional: Some basic knowledge of a programming language such as Python or JavaScript for customization.

Understanding the Objective

Define the core functionality of your document collaboration system, such as real-time editing, document version control, and collaboration between multiple users.
Decide how the AI code generator will enhance the platform—for example, by suggesting code snippets, automating formatting tasks, or generating boilerplate documents.
Establish clear user scenarios and use cases to guide the design of the system.

Planning the Architecture and Flow

Identify the main modules of your system:
- User interface for document editing
- Backend server handling requests and collaboration logic
- Integration module for the AI code generator API
- Database for storing documents and version history
Design a simple workflow where users can initiate AI-generated code or document segments as part of their editing experience.
Create flow diagrams or sketches to outline how data and commands will move through your system.

Selecting the Right Technologies

Decide on the programming language and frameworks for the front-end and back-end. For example, JavaScript frameworks (like React) for the front-end, and Python (such as Flask or Django) or Node.js for the backend.
Use cloud services (like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure) to host the collaborative environment if you expect a large number of concurrent users.
Choose a reliable AI code generator and ensure it has thorough documentation and developer support.

Integrating the AI Code Generator

Set up API access by registering for an API key with your chosen AI code generator provider.
Securely store the API key using environment variables or a secure secrets manager. For example, in a Python project you might add the following to a configuration file:
```
import os

API_KEY = os.environ.get("AI_CODE_GENERATOR_API_KEY")
    
```

Develop a module that sends requests to the AI API and retrieves results. For instance, using Python:


import requests
def get_ai_code(prompt):
    url = "https://api.example.com/generate"
    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"}
    data = {"prompt": prompt}
    response = requests.post(url, json=data)
    if response.status_code == 200:
        return response.json().get("code")
    else:
        return "Error: Unable to generate code"

Integrate this module into the document editor so users can highlight text and request AI-generated code or text.

Building the Document Editor with Collaboration Features

Create an intuitive web-based document editor where multiple users can work simultaneously.
Implement real-time collaboration features using technologies such as WebSocket or dedicated collaboration libraries (e.g., ShareDB).
Incorporate version control so that edits can be tracked and reverted if necessary.

Implementing Coding Standards and Version Control

Establish coding best practices and guidelines for contributors. Emphasize code readability and maintainability.
Use version control systems like Git to manage changes in both the platform’s code and collaborative documents.
Create branches for experimental features and merge them properly after thorough review and testing.

Ensuring Security and Data Protection

Implement user authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only permitted users access sensitive documents.
Use encrypted connections (HTTPS) for data transmission.
Regularly back up data and document versions.
Ensure that API keys and tokens are stored securely and not exposed in client-side code.

Testing, Debugging, and Quality Assurance

Regularly test the integration between the document editor, the backend, and the AI code generation module.
Encourage user testing sessions to gather direct feedback on usability and performance.
Utilize

Client trust and success are our top priorities

When it comes to serving you, we sweat the little things. That’s why our work makes a big impact.

Rapid Dev was an exceptional project management organization and the best development collaborators I've had the pleasure of working with. They do complex work on extremely fast timelines and effectively manage the testing and pre-launch process to deliver the best possible product. I'm extremely impressed with their execution ability.

CPO, Praction - Arkady Sokolov

May 2, 2023

Working with Matt was comparable to having another co-founder on the team, but without the commitment or cost. He has a strategic mindset and willing to change the scope of the project in real time based on the needs of the client. A true strategic thought partner!

Co-Founder, Arc - Donald Muir

Dec 27, 2022

Rapid Dev are 10/10, excellent communicators - the best I've ever encountered in the tech dev space. They always go the extra mile, they genuinely care, they respond quickly, they're flexible, adaptable and their enthusiasm is amazing.

Co-CEO, Grantify - Mat Westergreen-Thorne

Oct 15, 2022

Rapid Dev is an excellent developer for no-code and low-code solutions.
We’ve had great success since launching the platform in November 2023. In a few months, we’ve gained over 1,000 new active users. We’ve also secured several dozen bookings on the platform and seen about 70% new user month-over-month growth since the launch.

Co-Founder, Church Real Estate Marketplace - Emmanuel Brown

May 1, 2024

Matt’s dedication to executing our vision and his commitment to the project deadline were impressive.
This was such a specific project, and Matt really delivered. We worked with a really fast turnaround, and he always delivered. The site was a perfect prop for us!

Production Manager, Media Production Company - Samantha Fekete

Sep 23, 2022

How to build Document collaboration with Lovable?