Cleditor is a lightweight HTML editor built as a jQuery plugin, designed to replace a standard textarea with an inline rich text editing area while keeping a small, fast footprint.
What is Cleditor?
Cleditor is a lightweight, jQuery-based HTML editor originally created by Chris and now hosted on GitHub with 231 stars. The project converts a standard HTML textarea into an editable rich text region, producing HTML output that can be saved to a database or rendered directly on a page. The original project page is available at premiumsoftware.net, and the GitHub repository remains accessible despite the project being effectively unmaintained.
Key Features
- Lightweight design — The maintainer describes it as a "sane, tight approach" to HTML editing, offering a fast and reduced alternative to larger editors.
- jQuery plugin — Built on jQuery, so it integrates into any page that already includes the jQuery library.
- HTML output — Produces HTML markup, making it suitable for web applications that store or display rich content.
- Open source availability — The source code is publicly available on GitHub, with 231 stars indicating community interest.
Who is it for?
- Web developers building custom admin panels or CMS backends who want a simple HTML editor without the bloat of CKEditor.
- Developers who need a fast-loading editor — as noted by users, cleditor's reduced approach is preferred over "gigantic, overbearing" alternatives.
- Non-technical clients — the discussion notes that clients often prefer word-like editors over Markdown; cleditor provides a basic rich text interface for them.
What can you do with Cleditor?
- Integrate into web forms — Replace any textarea element with an HTML editor, giving users a word-like experience.
- Build a lightweight content management interface — The small footprint makes it suitable for projects where performance matters.
- Use as a simple editor for comments or blog posts — Its minimal feature set is enough for basic formatting.
Alternatives
The discussion names CKEditor as a larger, slower alternative and Aloha as an editor with a slick look but problematic licensing. Markdown is described as a non-WYSIWYG option that clients often dislike.
FAQ
Is Cleditor still maintained?
No, the project is effectively abandoned. The current maintainer (Scott, per the discussion) stopped using cleditor and is willing to hand over the repository key to anyone interested in reviving it.
Does Cleditor have a successor?
The discussion suggests there is no direct successor. The maintainer says HTML editing "is still dismal" and points to CKEditor and Aloha as alternatives, plus the rise of Markdown, but no single project took over cleditor's role.
How does Cleditor compare to CKEditor?
Per the discussion, CKEditor is "gigantic, overbearing" and "freaking slow," while cleditor offers a fast, reduced alternative. cleditor is a lightweight jQuery plugin, whereas CKEditor is a full-featured editor with a much larger footprint.
Can I use Cleditor in a commercial project?
The discussion does not specify a license. The code is publicly hosted on GitHub, so it has presumably been used and shared. For commercial use, check the repository for license information.
