Lightwave
Productivity
notes app
SHOW HN2026
52points
37comments
#1,185of 4,366 in 2026
Top 28%of 2026 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
4 positive, 5 neutral or asking, 1 mixed, 9 critical, out of 19 comments about the project. Thread score -0.26.
Execution: 0 for, 6 againstDesign: 1 for, 2 againstIdea: 1 for, 1 againstPerformance: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Clean, slick UI and well-thought-out design
From 2 comments
Slick UI and well thought through, like the simplicity of the approach. On the collab side, any limitations on simultaneous users? Like just a couple at a time or can handle a…
gmays on HNI've been doing the "big ass text file" approach forever. This is a nice alternative that doesn't try to do too much. Enjoying it so far! Going to give this a real go to use it…
johnpolacek on HN
Slash menu is nicely implemented
From 1 comment
I love the slash for style menu, really nicely implemented!
mojoe on HN
Objections
Keyboard shortcuts missing or broken (Ctrl+N, Shift+Home/End, Ctrl+Backspace)
From 2 comments
Some thoughts, feedbacks, well-meaning critcism: - on non-supported browsers (eg. mobile) don't render the app, show a message instead - Shift + Home/End for selecting text…
Maro on HNNeat tool, although I can't CTRL + Backspace to delete words, or CTRL + Shift to select words (Selects whole line)
fallen_comrade on HN
Unusable on mobile
From 2 comments
https://imgur.com/a/g37lLv2 - flickering - keyboard appears on readonly document - can select info text that should not be user selectable - menu items melt into each other -…
Traubenfuchs on HNLooks horrendous on mobile. I love the effort, none of the other tools work for me and I might consider paying once I get to try the real deal
chironjit on HN
Not clearly better than Google Docs or plain text
From 1 comment
Some thoughts, feedbacks, well-meaning critcism: - on non-supported browsers (eg. mobile) don't render the app, show a message instead - Shift + Home/End for selecting text…
Maro on HN
Name conflicts with NewTek's Lightwave brand
From 1 comment
I'm so confused… when did NewTek switch Lightwave from a 3D renderer/ design application to a notes app? :-) (AKA: I'm not sure it's a good idea to use someone else's…
binaryturtle on HN
Onboarding and test account flow is annoying
From 1 comment
The test acc. UX flow is shit IMHO: I do not want to see the first user tips (just annoying flashes) and I can not directly edit the first doc I see.
sean_pedersen on HN
Requests
Mobile support
From 2 comments
Looks horrendous on mobile. I love the effort, none of the other tools work for me and I might consider paying once I get to try the real deal
chironjit on HNhttps://imgur.com/a/g37lLv2 - flickering - keyboard appears on readonly document - can select info text that should not be user selectable - menu items melt into each other -…
Traubenfuchs on HN
Keyboard shortcut fixes
From 2 comments
Some thoughts, feedbacks, well-meaning critcism: - on non-supported browsers (eg. mobile) don't render the app, show a message instead - Shift + Home/End for selecting text…
Maro on HNNeat tool, although I can't CTRL + Backspace to delete words, or CTRL + Shift to select words (Selects whole line)
fallen_comrade on HN
Drop new users into an editable doc
From 1 comment
The test acc. UX flow is shit IMHO: I do not want to see the first user tips (just annoying flashes) and I can not directly edit the first doc I see.
sean_pedersen on HN
Shared workspace demo to show multiplayer
From 1 comment
Thanks for the response! My suggestion would be that if multiplayer aspects are really the key differentiator between Obsidian and your app, you should let the user see that…
johnfn on HN
Questions
How does it compare to Obsidian?
From 1 comment
This looks neat! I suppose I might ask the hard questions - how does this compare to Obsidian, which is my go-to "real time notes app that roughly feels like dealing with a plain…
johnfn on HN
Limits on simultaneous users?
From 1 comment
Slick UI and well thought through, like the simplicity of the approach. On the collab side, any limitations on simultaneous users? Like just a couple at a time or can handle a…
gmays on HN
What was the hardest part to build?
From 1 comment
Respect for building the client from scratch. The "I wanted to understand every component" reasoning resonates. I took a similar approach with a conversion pipeline I built using…
unmarkdown on HN
Alternatives named
Obsidian
From 1 comment
This looks neat! I suppose I might ask the hard questions - how does this compare to Obsidian, which is my go-to "real time notes app that roughly feels like dealing with a plain…
johnfn on HN
Google Docs
From 1 comment
Some thoughts, feedbacks, well-meaning critcism: - on non-supported browsers (eg. mobile) don't render the app, show a message instead - Shift + Home/End for selecting text…
Maro on HN
Notion, Asana, Trello
From 1 comment