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Hackpad is a web application that enables you and your teammates to create fully functioning, cross-linked wikis quickly and efficiently. The application allows you to make new pages, link to existing pages, embed task lists and other media into pages, and then share those pages with collaborators working either on-site or remotely. Unlike other wikis, Hackpad’s editing occurs in real-time.

Hackpad supports simultaneous editing and provides color-coded authorship notes so you always know who made what edits to a particular page. The application is essentially an enhanced wiki-creation suite, with the basic features you’d expect and a few extras as well.

Hackpad was launched in 2011 and is slowly gaining support among wiki editors and creators. It was used as the primary wiki for the 2012 South by Southwest Festival, and co-founder Alex Graveley is well known in the industry for his work on Tomboy, a note-taking application developed in 2011. Hackpad is still relatively small in terms of user-base, but has seen steady increase in users and praise as awareness of the platform has grown.

Hackpad uses “pads” instead of pages, and provides real-time collaborative editing. The application features syntax highlighting for a number of programming languages included in HTML, C, Java and JavaScript, and its unique use of the “@” symbol makes linking to and creating other wiki pads quite easy. You can also click and drag links from media sources like Google Maps, Vimeo or YouTube to import that media directly into your pad.

Hackpad is easy to use, once you understand the application’s basic language. A “[]” creates a task list box that can be checked off, while the “@”symbol tells Hackpad to look for other wiki pages. Most of the tasks in Hackpad can be accomplished by either clicking and dragging or straight text input, and it won’t take long for most experienced wiki users to become comfortable in the application’s working environment.

Registration can be executed in one of three ways: You can sign in with Facebook, sign in with Google or create an entirely new account. Creating a new account is straightforward—simply provide your name, an email address and create a password. You’ll need to click a link in the verification email in order to gain access to the application.

Hackpad is currently free, though there is a professional version being developed that will likely require some sort of purchase. Known as Hackpad Pro, the still-in-development software will come with an internal wiki domain name and functionality for importing Google Wiki or MediaWiki indexes.

Hackpad is an excellent utility for anyone that works in a team-based environment and needs a fluid, easy-to-edit wiki to guide work and provide information to both internal and external sources. Hackpad has a bevy of potential uses as demonstrated by its implementation as a guide for SXSW, but will generally work best in environments where response time is key and collaborative effort wins the day.

• Simple document editing with authorship color-coding.
• Simple mechanics for sharing created content.
• Easy linking to other wiki pages.
• Support for inline media such as videos, task lists and images.
• Private internal wiki support planned for Hackpad Pro.
• Designed for efficiency and ease of use.

Hackpad video

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