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Show HN: Excalideck – Use Excalidraw to make slides

125 points by pscanf 5y ago

boberoni 5y ago
Very cool! Even though the name suggests that Excalideck is for slide presentations, this is incredibly useful for me to organize multiple Excalidraw canvases for personal use. I often create system architecture diagrams that are separate but related. Rather than having to scroll around the infinite Excalidraw canvas or use multiple Excalidraw links (which I organize in a Google doc), now I can just flip through Excalideck slides. Small but very convenient
- yesimahuman 5y ago
  Exalidraw+ makes managing multiple designs easy and it’s only $7/mo (last I checked). Happy to support the product!
- pscanf 5y ago
  Oh, nice use case actually. Makes me think that a button to hide/collapse the slides miniatures might be useful then, to give more real estate to the drawing board.
  - dangoor 5y ago
    Along these lines, it'd be nice to be able to make part of the diagram a hyperlink to another slide. (And the next thing you know, you've got folks making UX mockups in Excalideck, just like they do with Keynote/Powerpoint!)
    - pscanf 5y ago
      Interesting! Added it as a possible future feature[1]. [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/34 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/34 > And the next thing you know, you've got folks making UX mockups in Excalideck, just like they do with Keynote/Powerpoint! Excalimock :P , could become a whole suite of tools!
omk 5y ago
Loved it. Is there no way to start a slideshow? As in fullscreen slides? If there is such a control, it isn't obvious to me. If it isn't would be awesome to have it.
- pscanf 5y ago
  Not yet, but it's planned for the ~future[1]. For the MVP I though it'd be ok for the user to save the pdf file and use their OS viewer to present it. :) [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/29 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/29
sgt 5y ago
When loading a library I get an error "There was an error loading the third party library." Using Safari on macOS.
- pscanf 5y ago
  Yes, it's a known bug[1] on all browsers. For the MVP I decided not to fix it, as copying-pasting from Excalidraw works, so there's a workaround for it. [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/11 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/11
pscanf 5y ago
Hello HN, here's an open source app I've been working on for the past few weeks. I love Excalidraw[1], the virtual whiteboard (discussed recently here on HN[2]). Its UX is great - simple and intuitive - and really makes it easy for me to express my thoughts and explain complex concepts with a quick sketch. I want to use it to make slides! However Excalidraw is not specifically designed for that. I used it for that many times actually, but the workflow is quite cumbersome: drawing a same-sized perimeter for each slide, adding to each slide watermarks and other common elements, exporting each slide as PNG into a powerpoint... it takes a long time! So well, here's Excalideck to simplify that workflow. :) It's still in early development, so it's not very polished. But you're welcome to give it a try, make some slides, and let me know how it goes! [1] https://excalidraw.com https://excalidraw.com [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29109995 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29109995
bertman 5y ago
This looks very nice and useful, thanks! Bookmarked :D
stuzenz 5y ago
I like it - I am also a fan of Excaldraw. I noticed some kind of error coming up in trying to export to pdf - other than that it seems to be working well. I am using the following set up ``` uname -a Linux arch-t460p 5.14.16-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT Tue, 02 Nov 2021 22:22:59 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux (base) ~ via 🅒 base firefox --version Mozilla Firefox 94.0 ``` I am not sure, but this message that pops up seems to suggest that it might not be establishing a good naming convention for the save. ``` application/vdn.excalideck+pdf (92.6 KB) ``` I will put an issue on the github project if I see it persists in the next day or two. Thanks for sharing - great work! Between presentation tools like this and reveal-md we have some nice options for building out presentations. Thinking about it. It would be great if it was possible to export each of the slides as independent png/svg as well. That would allow some possibilities to open up for using it with reveal-md
- pscanf 5y ago
  > I noticed some kind of error coming up in trying to export to pdf Ah sorry, not entirely unexpected actually, as for the moment the saving/loading functionality on Firefox and Safari is a bit broken. The functionality relies on a newish Web API only fully supported by Chrome / Edge, and I haven't implemented proper fallbacks yet (the plan is to make an Electron app, which fully allows working with local files, but an adequate fallback should be provided for all browsers regardless). > It would be great if it was possible to export each of the slides as independent png/svg as well. Definitely an option. Supporting different export formats is on the horizon. Feel free to open an issue / discussion about independent png/svg as well!
Fnoord 5y ago
I would appreciate an official Docker image. It also helps with a consistant dev env
- pscanf 5y ago
  Haven't thought about the self-hosting story yet (or rather, I thought more in the direction of a desktop Electron app), but definitely an option. Added an issue[1]. [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/33 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/33
arendtio 5y ago
I like it, but is there a presentation mode? So far I found fullscreen and zen-mode, but it was still showing the slide overview. It would be awesome if it would be using the JS API for presentations!
- pscanf 5y ago
  See my reply[1] to another comment, but basically not yet, but it's a planned feature[2]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29141090 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29141090 [2] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/29 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/29
  - arendtio 5y ago
    Thanks, for the answer. I find the PDF export a valid option too, but did not notice that it actually exports an PDF via the save button. Keep up the great work :-)
factorialboy 5y ago
This is great. I'd love an electron app, excalitron?
- pscanf 5y ago
  Thanks! Yes, it's a planned feature for the next iteration[1]. [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/9 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/9
zekenie 5y ago
This is amazing and I will use this.
- pscanf 5y ago
  Thanks, glad you like it!
amitoz_azad 5y ago
This is amazing! As a student I am always looking for tools to make good presentations fast. Wonderful ! However, I am wondering is there any way to add equations through latex of mathjx? Write now I feel that only way to include equations is via images or hand draw them.
avinassh 5y ago
In the past I have used Excalidraw Slides [0], which is open source [1] too. Any chance you looked into this as well? [0] - https://excalidraw-slides.netlify.app https://excalidraw-slides.netlify.app [1] - https://github.com/scastiel/excalidraw-slides https://github.com/scastiel/excalidraw-slides

125 points by pscanf 5y ago

Very cool! Even though the name suggests that Excalideck is for slide presentations, this is incredibly useful for me to organize multiple Excalidraw canvases for personal use. I often create system architecture diagrams that are separate but related. Rather than having to scroll around the infinite Excalidraw canvas or use multiple Excalidraw links (which I organize in a Google doc), now I can just flip through Excalideck slides. Small but very convenient

yesimahuman 5y ago
Exalidraw+ makes managing multiple designs easy and it’s only $7/mo (last I checked). Happy to support the product!
pscanf 5y ago
Oh, nice use case actually. Makes me think that a button to hide/collapse the slides miniatures might be useful then, to give more real estate to the drawing board.
- dangoor 5y ago
  Along these lines, it'd be nice to be able to make part of the diagram a hyperlink to another slide. (And the next thing you know, you've got folks making UX mockups in Excalideck, just like they do with Keynote/Powerpoint!)
  - pscanf 5y ago
    Interesting! Added it as a possible future feature[1]. [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/34 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/34 > And the next thing you know, you've got folks making UX mockups in Excalideck, just like they do with Keynote/Powerpoint! Excalimock :P , could become a whole suite of tools!

omk 5y ago

Loved it. Is there no way to start a slideshow? As in fullscreen slides? If there is such a control, it isn't obvious to me. If it isn't would be awesome to have it.

pscanf 5y ago
Not yet, but it's planned for the ~future[1]. For the MVP I though it'd be ok for the user to save the pdf file and use their OS viewer to present it. :) [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/29 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/29

sgt 5y ago

When loading a library I get an error "There was an error loading the third party library." Using Safari on macOS.

pscanf 5y ago
Yes, it's a known bug[1] on all browsers. For the MVP I decided not to fix it, as copying-pasting from Excalidraw works, so there's a workaround for it. [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/11 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/11

pscanf 5y ago

Hello HN, here's an open source app I've been working on for the past few weeks. I love Excalidraw[1], the virtual whiteboard (discussed recently here on HN[2]). Its UX is great - simple and intuitive - and really makes it easy for me to express my thoughts and explain complex concepts with a quick sketch. I want to use it to make slides! However Excalidraw is not specifically designed for that. I used it for that many times actually, but the workflow is quite cumbersome: drawing a same-sized perimeter for each slide, adding to each slide watermarks and other common elements, exporting each slide as PNG into a powerpoint... it takes a long time! So well, here's Excalideck to simplify that workflow. :) It's still in early development, so it's not very polished. But you're welcome to give it a try, make some slides, and let me know how it goes! [1] https://excalidraw.com https://excalidraw.com [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29109995 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29109995

bertman 5y ago

This looks very nice and useful, thanks! Bookmarked :D

stuzenz 5y ago

I like it - I am also a fan of Excaldraw. I noticed some kind of error coming up in trying to export to pdf - other than that it seems to be working well. I am using the following set up ``` uname -a Linux arch-t460p 5.14.16-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT Tue, 02 Nov 2021 22:22:59 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux (base) ~ via 🅒 base firefox --version Mozilla Firefox 94.0 ``` I am not sure, but this message that pops up seems to suggest that it might not be establishing a good naming convention for the save. ``` application/vdn.excalideck+pdf (92.6 KB) ``` I will put an issue on the github project if I see it persists in the next day or two. Thanks for sharing - great work! Between presentation tools like this and reveal-md we have some nice options for building out presentations. Thinking about it. It would be great if it was possible to export each of the slides as independent png/svg as well. That would allow some possibilities to open up for using it with reveal-md

pscanf 5y ago
> I noticed some kind of error coming up in trying to export to pdf Ah sorry, not entirely unexpected actually, as for the moment the saving/loading functionality on Firefox and Safari is a bit broken. The functionality relies on a newish Web API only fully supported by Chrome / Edge, and I haven't implemented proper fallbacks yet (the plan is to make an Electron app, which fully allows working with local files, but an adequate fallback should be provided for all browsers regardless). > It would be great if it was possible to export each of the slides as independent png/svg as well. Definitely an option. Supporting different export formats is on the horizon. Feel free to open an issue / discussion about independent png/svg as well!

Fnoord 5y ago

I would appreciate an official Docker image. It also helps with a consistant dev env

pscanf 5y ago
Haven't thought about the self-hosting story yet (or rather, I thought more in the direction of a desktop Electron app), but definitely an option. Added an issue[1]. [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/33 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/33

arendtio 5y ago

I like it, but is there a presentation mode? So far I found fullscreen and zen-mode, but it was still showing the slide overview. It would be awesome if it would be using the JS API for presentations!

pscanf 5y ago
See my reply[1] to another comment, but basically not yet, but it's a planned feature[2]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29141090 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29141090 [2] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/29 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/29
- arendtio 5y ago
  Thanks, for the answer. I find the PDF export a valid option too, but did not notice that it actually exports an PDF via the save button. Keep up the great work :-)

factorialboy 5y ago

This is great. I'd love an electron app, excalitron?

pscanf 5y ago
Thanks! Yes, it's a planned feature for the next iteration[1]. [1] https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/9 https://github.com/excalideck/excalideck/issues/9

zekenie 5y ago

This is amazing and I will use this.

pscanf 5y ago
Thanks, glad you like it!

amitoz_azad 5y ago

This is amazing! As a student I am always looking for tools to make good presentations fast. Wonderful ! However, I am wondering is there any way to add equations through latex of mathjx? Write now I feel that only way to include equations is via images or hand draw them.

avinassh 5y ago

In the past I have used Excalidraw Slides [0], which is open source [1] too. Any chance you looked into this as well? [0] - https://excalidraw-slides.netlify.app https://excalidraw-slides.netlify.app [1] - https://github.com/scastiel/excalidraw-slides https://github.com/scastiel/excalidraw-slides