Docs by Suite Numerique — Collaborative Wiki and Documentation Platform

Introduction

Docs is an open-source collaborative documentation and wiki platform developed by La Suite Numerique, a French government digital initiative. Built with Django on the backend and React with BlockNote on the frontend, it provides real-time collaborative editing for teams that need full control over their documentation infrastructure.

What Docs Does

• Enables real-time collaborative document editing with multiple simultaneous users
• Provides a block-based editor powered by BlockNote.js for rich content creation
• Supports markdown-native workflows with export and import capabilities
• Offers fine-grained access control and sharing permissions per document
• Syncs changes in real time using Yjs CRDT for conflict-free concurrent editing

Architecture Overview

The backend runs on Django with a PostgreSQL database for document storage and metadata. Real-time collaboration is handled through Yjs, a CRDT framework that enables conflict-free concurrent editing without a central server arbitrating changes. The frontend is a React application using BlockNote.js as the rich text editor. WebSocket connections maintain live sync between collaborators.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Deploy using Docker Compose with the provided configuration files
• Set up PostgreSQL as the primary data store
• Configure environment variables for authentication and email settings
• Use the included Makefile for development setup and database migrations
• Optionally configure SSO via OpenID Connect for enterprise authentication

Key Features

• Real-time collaborative editing with conflict-free resolution via Yjs
• Block-based editor supporting text, headings, lists, tables, and embeds
• Document versioning with history and rollback capabilities
• Multi-tenant architecture suitable for organizations with multiple teams
• MIT-licensed and backed by a government-funded open-source initiative

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Outline — similar wiki focus but Docs uses BlockNote and Yjs for editing
• BookStack — chapter-based organization; Docs offers free-form document editing
• Wiki.js — more wiki-oriented with page trees; Docs emphasizes real-time co-editing
• HedgeDoc — markdown-only; Docs provides a richer block-based editing experience
• Notion — proprietary SaaS; Docs is fully self-hosted and open source

FAQ

Q: What database does Docs require? A: PostgreSQL is the primary supported database.

Q: Can I integrate Docs with my existing SSO provider? A: Yes. Docs supports OpenID Connect for single sign-on integration.

Q: Is Docs production-ready? A: It is actively used in French government infrastructure and receives regular updates.

Q: What languages are supported in the interface? A: The interface supports multiple languages through Django's internationalization framework.

Sources

• https://github.com/suitenumerique/docs
• https://lasuite.numerique.gouv.fr