Zeminary Arrays offers an experimental web app providing infinitely expanding horizontal and vertical arrays of text editors. Each editor can be used for coding, writing, or note-taking, and supports Markdown rendering. Users can create new arrays, add or delete individual editors within them, and navigate the grid seamlessly. The application aims to provide a flexible and expansive workspace for managing various text-based tasks concurrently.
The Hacker News post titled "Show HN: Infinite horizontal arrays of text editors" introduces a web application demonstrating a novel approach to text editing. This application, accessible via the provided link, features a horizontally scrolling interface composed of an effectively limitless sequence of text editor instances. Each individual editor functions as a standard text area, allowing users to input and manipulate text. The key innovation lies in the horizontal arrangement and the seemingly infinite nature of the editors. As the user scrolls to the right, new editor instances are dynamically generated, providing an unbounded workspace for text entry. This contrasts with traditional text editors and word processors that are confined to a single, vertically scrolling document. The application presents a continuous, horizontally expanding canvas of text editors, offering a potentially new paradigm for working with textual data. This horizontal arrangement could facilitate specific use cases such as comparing multiple text snippets, managing lists of items, or developing unconventional text-based applications. While the functionality of each individual editor remains basic, the core concept of the infinitely extending horizontal array of editors represents a departure from conventional text editing interfaces, showcasing a unique approach to text manipulation and organization within a web browser.
Summary of Comments ( 39 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42995991
HN users generally praised the clean UI and unique approach of the infinite horizontal array of text editors. Several commenters questioned the practical use cases, wondering what problems it solves beyond novelty. Some suggested potential applications like managing code snippets, comparing different versions of text, or outlining long documents. A few users experienced minor glitches, like unexpected behavior with the backspace key. There was also discussion about the technical implementation, particularly regarding memory management with large arrays and the potential benefits of using a different data structure. One commenter appreciated the editor's mobile-friendliness. Overall, the reception was positive, with curiosity about its potential applications driving the conversation.
The Hacker News post "Show HN: Infinite horizontal arrays of text editors" sparked a moderate discussion with several commenters exploring various aspects of the project.
One commenter questioned the practical use cases of the tool, expressing skepticism about the need for infinitely extending horizontal arrays of text editors. They suggested more conventional solutions like multiple windows or tabs would suffice for most scenarios and wondered what specific problems this tool addresses that couldn't be solved with existing methods.
Another commenter pointed out the potential performance issues, particularly with larger datasets. They expressed concern about the efficiency of rendering and managing such a vast, potentially unbounded, number of text editors and how performance might degrade as the array grows.
A further comment focused on the niche nature of the application. They acknowledged the technical achievement and the interesting concept but questioned its broad appeal. They speculated that the use cases might be limited to very specific data analysis or visualization tasks, making it less relevant to a general audience.
One commenter expressed interest in the underlying technology and implementation details, specifically asking about the choice of using HTML canvas and JavaScript. They also inquired about the handling of scrolling and performance optimization techniques employed.
Some commenters explored alternative applications of the concept. One suggested its potential use in visualizing large datasets, while another mentioned the possibility of adapting it for code editing or collaborative writing scenarios.
Finally, a few commenters expressed general appreciation for the project, praising its novelty and the unique approach to text editing. They acknowledged the intriguing concept and the potential it holds for specific use cases.
Overall, the comments reflect a mixture of curiosity, skepticism, and cautious optimism. While acknowledging the technical achievement and innovative approach, many questioned the practicality and broader applicability of infinitely extending horizontal arrays of text editors. The discussion highlights the trade-offs between novelty and usability and explores the potential benefits and limitations of this unconventional approach to text editing and data visualization.