live-share.nvim

Spec sheet

Purpose

live-share.nvim provides real-time pair programming and collaborative editing for Neovim.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Platforms

The default ws transport is described as tested on Linux, OpenBSD, macOS, and Windows using Git Bash; the optional punch P2P transport is tested on Linux.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Privacy

The maker says tunnel servers can see connection metadata such as guest IP addresses and timing, but cannot read encrypted session content or obtain the key from the URL fragment.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Support

The README directs users to troubleshooting documentation and invites issues and feedback.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

License

The project is licensed under GPL-3.0.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Access roles

The host can approve guests as read-write or read-only participants.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Audience and license

The project describes use cases including pair programming, read-only code review, and cross-editor collaboration, and is licensed under GPL-3.0.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Authentication

There is no authentication beyond possession of the session URL and host approval of a connection.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Collaboration

It supports shared editing, remote cursors and selections, and shared terminals.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Editing

Participants can share buffer edits, remote cursors, selections, and workspace files.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Editor integration

The project documents tested collaboration with the VS Code extension open-pair in both host and guest directions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Encryption

Session messages use mandatory AES-256-GCM encryption, and sessions will not start if OpenSSL is unavailable.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Guest roles

The host approves each guest and assigns read-only or read-write access.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Key sharing

The session key is placed in the share URL fragment, which the project says is not sent in HTTP requests to the tunnel server.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Known editing limit

Concurrent edits to the same line are resolved by host arrival order, so one participant's edit may be silently overwritten.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Platform support

The README lists Linux, OpenBSD, macOS, and Windows with Git Bash as tested for ws transport; punch transport is tested on Linux.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Requirements

The plugin requires Neovim 0.9 or later and OpenSSL, and its default ws setup has no external plugin dependencies.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Security limits

The project states that it has no forward secrecy and that tunnel providers can see connection metadata such as guest IP addresses, timing, and traffic volume.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Self-hosting

The project documents self-hosting a tunnel so session traffic does not pass through a third-party tunnel provider.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Shared terminal

The host can share a terminal with guests; the feature is marked beta.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Sync limitation

Concurrent edits to the same line use host-ordered last-write-wins behavior, so one edit can be silently overwritten.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Terminal limitation

A reconnecting guest starts with a fresh shared terminal buffer and does not receive previous scrollback.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Transport options

The default WebSocket transport uses a tunnel provider, while optional punch transport supports direct UDP connections and relay fallback.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Tunnel providers

Built-in tunnel providers include serveo.net, localhost.run, [email protected], and ngrok; custom providers can also be registered.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

VS Code integration

Neovim and VS Code can collaborate through the compatible open-pair client in either host and guest direction.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Workspace tools

Guests can browse the host’s workspace, open files, and follow another participant’s active buffer.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Where Specifiction places it

• Pair Programming Software#17 of 267.7