textarea.my on GitHub: A Minimalist Text Editor
Published:Dec 27, 2025 03:23
•1 min read
•Simon Willison
Analysis
This article highlights a minimalist text editor, textarea.my, built by Anton Medvedev. The editor is notable for its small size (~160 lines of code) and its ability to store everything within the URL hash, making it entirely browser-based. The author points out several interesting techniques used in the code, including the `plaintext-only` attribute for contenteditable elements, the use of `CompressionStream` for URL shortening, and a clever custom save option that leverages `window.showSaveFilePicker()` where available. The article serves as a valuable resource for web developers looking for concise and innovative solutions to common problems, showcasing practical applications of modern web APIs and techniques for efficient data storage and user interaction.
Key Takeaways
Reference
“A minimalist text editor that lives entirely in your browser and stores everything in the URL hash.”