What is OpenJam?
OpenJam is an open-source, self-hosted collaborative whiteboard application. It enables teams to work together in real time on a shared canvas with rich drawing tools, interactive widgets, and seamless synchronization.
Key Capabilities
- Multi-user real-time collaboration via WebSocket with CRDT conflict resolution
- Rich canvas with sticky notes, shapes, text, connectors, freehand drawing, and images
- 11 interactive widgets including timers, polls, kanban boards, retro boards, and more
- Session-based authentication with bcrypt password hashing
- Auto-save with periodic persistence to PostgreSQL
- Export boards as PNG images or JSON
- Self-hosted - deploy with Docker Compose in one command
Tech Stack
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Frontend | React 19, TypeScript, Vite, Tailwind CSS |
| Backend | Go 1.22, Gin |
| Database | PostgreSQL 16 |
| Cache | Redis 7 (optional) |
| Storage | MinIO / S3 (optional) |
| Real-time | WebSocket with CRDT vector clocks |
Who is it for?
- Teams that need a self-hosted alternative to Miro, FigJam, or Excalidraw
- Organizations with data sovereignty requirements
- Developers who want a customizable whiteboard platform
- Anyone who wants to brainstorm, plan, or collaborate visually