Editoval

Editoval is a term used to describe a modular, open-design framework for collaborative document editing and revision tracking. In theoretical and experimental contexts, Editoval refers to a protocol and software component set that enables multiple editors to work on the same document with an auditable history and reduced merge conflicts.

Origin and scope: The concept arises in discussions of collaborative editing architectures and is not tied to a single project. It is described as combining real-time collaboration with immutable version history and pluggable storage backends, along with fine-grained access control.

Core features: Editoval envisions conflict-tolerant reconciliation using data structures inspired by CRDTs or transformation rules; a coherent edit log or diff history that remains verifiable; modular components for editors, storage, and synchronization; offline edits with eventual consistency; and export paths to common formats. It emphasizes auditability, provenance tracking, and role-based permissions.

Uses and status: Editoval is discussed mainly in academic and experimental settings to compare approaches to cooperative editing. It has not become a standard or widely deployed protocol. Proponents cite benefits for accountability and resilience; critics point to complexity, performance trade-offs, and interoperability challenges with existing formats.

Related topics include collaborative editing, CRDT, operational transformation, and version control.