DevLink – Real-time Developer Collaboration Tool

Project Overview
Product Name: DevLink
Purpose: A real-time collaboration tool designed for developers to write, review, and debug code together in a seamless shared environment.

Duration: 6 months (MVP)
Tech Stack:

Frontend: React.js, Tailwind CSS

Backend: Node.js, Express.js

Real-time Engine: Socket.IO, WebRTC

Database: MongoDB

Authentication: JWT, OAuth (GitHub, Google)

DevOps: Docker, AWS EC2, S3, GitHub Actions

Problem Statement
As remote work became the norm, traditional version control and code sharing methods were no longer enough for agile, fast-paced teams. Tools like Git are excellent for versioning but lack native support for:

Instant pair programming

Live debugging

Voice/video-based code walkthroughs

Goal: Create a real-time, secure, developer-friendly tool that feels like Google Docs for coding—but tailored for development workflows.

Key Features Built
Real-Time Code Editor

Built with CodeMirror 6

Language mode support (JavaScript, Python, C++, etc.)

Live cursor tracking and syntax highlighting

Pair Programming Mode

Two developers can edit and see changes in real time

Permissions: viewer, commenter, editor

Video & Audio Integration

WebRTC-based low-latency calls

Screen sharing built-in for debugging sessions

Terminal Sharing (Beta)

Shared Linux sandboxed terminal (Docker-based)

GitHub Integration

Fetch repo branches

Push/pull directly from UI

Session Recording

Auto-record live sessions for future playback

Annotate code in recording mode

Development Challenges & Solutions
1. Conflict Resolution in Real-Time Editing
Challenge: Concurrent edits led to race conditions.
Solution: Used Operational Transformation (OT) logic with Socket.IO to sync user inputs without data loss.

2. WebRTC Peer-to-Peer Complexity
Challenge: ICE candidate handling and network traversal issues during video calls.
Solution: Integrated STUN/TURN servers using Twilio to stabilize P2P connections.

3. Ensuring Code Security
Challenge: Exposing terminal/sessions could create attack surfaces.
Solution: All terminals ran in isolated Docker containers, destroyed after session ends.

Impact & User Feedback
Beta testing with over 300 developers

89% reported that DevLink improved team velocity

Startups adopted DevLink for onboarding and technical interviews

Users praised its intuitive interface, calling it a “Figma-like feel for developers”

Lessons Learned
Real-time tools demand deep attention to latency, state sync, and UI responsiveness

Developer UX matters—keyboard shortcuts, dark mode, and Git-like command palette were essential

Building a CLI alongside the UI (e.g., devlink connect repo) improved adoption and workflow integration

Future Plans
AI code assistant integration

LLM-based auto code reviews

VS Code plugin for seamless sync with desktop IDEs

Enterprise version with SOC2 compliance

Conclusion
DevLink was born out of a personal pain point: collaborating on code remotely felt clunky. Building it taught me the intricacies of real-time systems, the importance of developer ergonomics, and how to scale a cloud-based collaborative experience. As a developer, the project sharpened my backend concurrency knowledge, frontend performance skills, and my appreciation for elegant UX.