[opensourcedex]

GhostText is a free, open source browsers & extensions project written in JavaScript and released under MIT. It has 3,641 GitHub stars, 133 forks and 40 open issues, and was last pushed 4 months ago. On this registry it ranks #49 of 65 tracked projects in Browsers & Extensions, with 5 head-to-head comparisons available. It gained 1 stars over the last 3 tracked days.

What is GhostText?

What it is

GhostText is a JavaScript project that connects a browser text field to a local text editor. It lives in the browser-extension and editor-plugin ecosystem, with published versions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code, Emacs, Vim, Neovim, Helix, and another Ghost package listed in the README.

The problem it addresses is simple: users often need to write in a browser, but they want to use their editor for that writing. GhostText lets the editor and the browser field stay synchronized, so text typed in one appears in the other.

Key capabilities

  • It provides browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, as indicated by the topics and installation links.
  • It provides editor integrations for Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code, Emacs, Vim, Neovim, Helix, and a Ghost package listed in the README.
  • It updates the browser field from the editor and updates the editor from the browser field, according to the tagline and README.
  • It distributes the browser side through the Chrome Web Store, Mozilla Add-ons, and the Mac App Store.
  • It distributes the editor side through package sources such as VS Code Marketplace, MELPA, and GitHub-hosted editor packages.
  • It publishes a website with more details and a troubleshooting page.
  • It is MIT licensed and has public repository metadata showing 3640 stars, 133 forks, and 40 open issues.

Who uses it and how

  • Browser users who want to write with their editor install the browser extension and the matching editor extension.
  • Editor users who already use Sublime Text, VS Code, Emacs, Vim, Neovim, Helix, or another listed editor can connect that editor to browser writing.
  • Users of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari can choose the browser extension version that matches their browser.
  • Users who have installation problems are directed to the project website and troubleshooting page.

Getting started

Install the browser extension from the Chrome Web Store, Mozilla Add-ons, or the Mac App Store, then install the matching editor extension from the package source listed in the README. Visit the project website for details and troubleshooting.

When to use it — and when not to

GhostText fits users whose main workflow is writing in a browser with an editor they already know, because the README describes two-way synchronization between editor and browser. The provided facts do not list a hosted option, a database, storage, SMTP, or a paid product replacement, so users needing a server-based service must look elsewhere. The repository metadata shows 40 open issues and no listed contributor count, which is a maintenance weakness to consider.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

Frequently asked questions

Is GhostText free to use?

GhostText is open source under the MIT licence. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does GhostText do?

👻 Use your text editor to write in your browser. Everything you type in the editor will be instantly updated in the browser (and vice versa).

What is GhostText written in?

GhostText is primarily written in JavaScript. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/fregante/GhostText, and it has 3,641 GitHub stars.