Proton launches privacy-focused Google Docs alternative: Docs in Proton Drive is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted collaborative document editor

proton.me Introducing Docs in Proton Drive – collaborative document editing that’s actually private | Proton

Create docs and collaborate in real time on documents knowing they are end-to-end encrypted.

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Very cool but Proton Drive for Linux when?
- I feel like their goal is more close to providing a privacy-minded alternative to Google's G-suite to "regular" users, so for me it totally makes sense. But yeah, I'm also really waiting for the Linux drive app.
- They don't care.
  
  That might be it. Whatever the reason, it seems like a missed opportunity. Especially when they go out of their way to provide direct APKs to Android users who do not use Play Store.
  
  I don’t think they don’t care, they have been adding Linux versions for all of their apps (except drive of course). The CEO themselves said in an interview that a Linux client for drive is inevitable and they will make one, but one of the hardest clients to develop.
  
  They need Linux developers to help.
- Doesn't rclone work?
- I'm gonna try to see if you can use a windows vm with proton drive and a shared folder with the host system. Kinda a pain, but if it works it works. What I'd really love is an api for this kind of asshattery
  
  Rclone now works:
  https://rclone.org/protondrive/
- It doesn't make financial sense to spend money on supporting an entire new platform that's used by <3% of the population.

For every proton post, can we please get a bot that auto posts these, to save everyone the effort:
proton isn't private / yes it is / they never claimed to be
wasnt there a case when they shared that activist account / you have the facts wrong, here's what actually happened
[insert proton app name] for Linux when? / Linux is only x% of user base
proton needs to finish [insert proton app name] before starting something new / they are different teams so not relevant
proton needs to make X / no they don't
people shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket / don't use the service then
Thanks!
- You forgot proton is glowing / no they're not
- also SaaS is cancerous shit
  
  Not for 99% of the population...
  
  No one forces you to use it

Looks like its based on Standard Notes
https://github.com/standardnotes
- It probably IS standard notes, given that Proton acquired them.
- That'd make sense, given that they recently joined forces
- Source? This looks like a note-taking app, not a google docs replacement.

FYI this does not include spreadsheets, so if you're hoping to replace an office suite, it's not there yet.
- Spreadsheets are life. I think in spreadsheets. I hope it comes soon.
  
  Have you tried a low-code database, such as nocodb? I tried satisfy my need for structures data that way and it works for simple usecases. There are formulas too, but they (like spreadsheets) require some knowledge to set up.
- Maybe Cryptpad would be a good option if you need spreadsheets more than documents.
- However, subscribing is aiding in their funding, and that could help get them there quicker.

I need an android app
- You sort of have one but not really. You can launch it from the Android Proton Drive app. Granted it then launches it into a web browser, but GrapheneOS/Vanadium seems to handle it well. Would also prefer an app, or allow me to use Standard Notes as the client and sync with my Proton account.
  
  I can't seem to find the option in the proton drive app.

Nice.
This might just be the push to fully switch over from Google.
- I would need spreadsheets and slideshow presentations as well.

What would be the benefits of this over Nextcloud, apart from not having to set it up?
- I don't think it's Nextcloud competition so much as Google Drive competition, which is certainly closed-source.
  
  Nextcloud doesn't do end-to-end encryption
- Lack of true open cooperation? Oh wait, you said benefit.... Ease of use? Maybe? And slightly less buggy?
- Over nextcloud probably the e2ee. I suppose soon they will also integrate this better with email (like you can attach directly and save directly from email), so the seamless integrations with the rest of the products will probably amount to other benefits over time.

Has anyone used it?
How did you get to it?
Clicked the link:
At that time, if you go to drive.proton.me(new window) and click on New in the top left, you will see the ability to create a New document
- Proton Drive requires Javascript. Enable Javascript and reload this page to continue.

Is it FOSS?
- I imagine it is. Developing something like that in house would take a lot. Probably Collabora or something.
  
  Looks like its based on Standard Notes
  https://github.com/standardnotes

I am still waiting for contacts app😔

“After years of pushing their proprietary and closed solutions to privacy minded people Proton decided that it was in their best interest to further bury said users into their service as a form of vendor lock-in. To achieve this they made yet anoter non-standard groupware feature - a document editor.
- Is there an open standard for encrypted asynchronous colabreative document creation and editing?
  
  As open components, we have the OpenDocument standard + signal protocol for E2EE + CRDTs for conflict resolution. No idea whether they're compatible though.
  As a product, Collabora Online is open and collaborative.
- Exactly. At this point idk why anyone bothers migrating to things that are not backed by open standards. The price of vendor lock-in always comes.
  
  Until I can easily export the data, where is the vendor lock?
  Vendor lock means that migrating away has significant cost or technical challenges.
  Take this case: documents saved are first of all easily downloadable from drive (in bulk), and also exportable in markdown.
  They change pricing/add features that I don't want/sell off the company (hard now that it's managed by a nonprofit but still) etc.? I make a nice bulk download and move everything in whatever other system I want. I can do the same for contacts, email (I use my own domains) and calendar. Basically, 1h + the time to download files and I am moved to another provider.
  Can you elaborate in what you think the vendor lock looks like?
- I want Proton to replace Google. I wish for that. And during this time we can use open source software as well

So... where's the source?

wasn't proton revealed to be bullshitting about privacy recently?
edit: swiss courts compelled protonmail to log IPs, keep fingerprints of browsers and disclose them to authorities. there is no privacy.
- And they specifically logged and delivered data about freedom fighters and environmentalists, so there's some bias on Proton's hand there.
  
  If I have to choose between a company that freely sells and uses all my data versus a company that e2e encrypts my data and only complies with police and intelligence agency if it is specifically mandated by a swiss judge (and are fighing against it[1]), my money is definitely on the later
  Is it perfect? Probably not. - Does it match my thread model? Definitely yes!
  Also their privacy policy [2] allows to make a pretty well informed decision and map it against your thread model
  And by the way, here's the statement of the ceo regading the activist: https://proton.me/blog/climate-activist-arrest
  [1] https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/proton-wins-appeal-in-swiss-court-over-surveillance-laws/47052196 [2] https://proton.me/legal/privacy

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