Markal
a productivity tool for creating collaborative calendars
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What is Markal?
Markal is a privacy-focused open source tool for creating interactive, collaborative calendars that you can share and export to PNG/PDF. It enables real-time collaboration via WebRTC, allowing multiple users to work on the same calendar simultaneously without a central server storing data.
Key features include a responsive UI that works on any device, customizable legend and date ranges, and local data storage ensuring nothing is saved on a server. The tool is built with modern technologies including Lit, Astro, Typescript, and Deno/Express. It supports localization in English and Spanish via XLIFF, with transparent support for additional languages.
Markal is designed for individuals and teams who need to create shared calendars for planning events, scheduling meetings, coordinating projects, or managing group activities. It's particularly suitable for privacy-conscious users, open source advocates, developers who want to self-host, and anyone looking for a collaborative calendar tool without subscription fees.
Markal pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free and open source. No subscription fees or paid plans. The tool is completely free to use, self-host, fork, and integrate within your own app. There are no tiers or premium features - all functionality is available for free.
Markal pros
- Privacy-focused with local data storage
- Open source and freely available
- Real-time collaboration via WebRTC
- Export calendars to PNG format
- Export calendars to PDF format
- Responsive UI works on any device
- Customizable legend options
- Customizable date ranges
- No server storage of user data
- Self-hosting capability
- Can fork and modify the code
- Integratable within your own app
- English and Spanish localization
- Easy to add more languages via XLIFF
- Built with modern tech stack (Lit, Astro, Typescript)
Markal cons
- Only localized to English and Spanish currently
- No mobile app mentioned, web-only
- WebRTC may have browser compatibility issues
- Self-hosting requires technical knowledge
- No cloud backup since data is local only
- Limited to 2 languages out of the box
- No mention of calendar import features
- No integration with external calendar services mentioned
Frequently asked questions about Markal
What is Markal?
Markal is a privacy-focused open source tool for creating interactive calendars that you can share with others and export to PNG/PDF formats. It features real-time collaboration via WebRTC and stores all data locally on your device.
Is Markal free to use?
Yes, Markal is completely free and open source. There are no subscription fees, paid plans, or premium features. You can use it, self-host it, fork it, or integrate it within your own app at no cost.
How does real-time collaboration work?
Markal uses WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) for real-time collaboration. This enables peer-to-peer communication between users working on the same calendar simultaneously without needing a central server.
Where is my calendar data stored?
All data is stored locally on your device. Nothing is saved on a server, which ensures maximum privacy and security for your calendar information.
Can I export my calendar?
Yes, you can export your interactive calendars to both PNG and PDF formats, making it easy to share or print your calendar views.
What devices does Markal work on?
Markal has a responsive UI that works on any device, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones through any modern web browser.
What languages does Markal support?
Markal is currently localized to English and Spanish via XLIFF. The XLIFF localization system means it can transparently support even more languages, and contributors can easily add new language translations.
Can I self-host Markal?
Yes, Markal is open source and you are encouraged to self-host it. The tool is built with Deno/Express on the backend, making it suitable for self-hosting on your own server.
What technologies is Markal built with?
Markal is made with Lit (a lightweight library for building web components), Astro (a web framework), Typescript (for type-safe JavaScript), and Deno/Express (for the backend server).
Can I customize the calendar appearance?
Yes, Markal offers customizable legend options and date ranges, allowing you to tailor the calendar view to your specific needs and preferences.