Warning
This project is still in its early stages of development, so a lot could change from a version to another
Important
For some external reasons, I'm going to take a break from updating Novident and its related packages, as I'm running out of time. I'll be back in a few weeks to continue the project.
Novident is an open source writing suite designed to be a free, cross-platform alternative that is as similar as possible to Scrivener. Built with modularity and freedom in mind, Novident offers authors, researchers, and storytellers Scrivener-like features without the cost or limitations of closed source code.
Scrivener is one of the most beloved project-creation tools among novelists, students, and researchers. Yet, like any software, it has its limitations—poor cross-platform compatibility and a paid model that can be a barrier for many users. The most frustrating part? There’s no true Scrivener alternative that preserves its most valued features. Many users lose access to essential tools simply because they can’t afford the software.
This reality drives our mission: to create a 100% free and transparent solution that, while not matching Scrivener in full, delivers a comparable experience where it matters most.
We’re not aiming to surpass Scrivener in design or functionality. Our current focus is to deliver a viable, minimalist-yet-powerful alternative to one of the best writing tools available.
Important
Novident is not affiliated with Scrivener or Literature & Latte. Our goal is to create a free, ethical alternative inspired by their workflow innovations.
Novident bridges this gap by providing:
- 🆓 100% Free & Open Source: No paywalls, ever.
- 🧩 Modular Architecture: We use our own individual components (corkboard, compiler, tree view, editor, and split view) to create each of your project's modules.
- 🔍 Comfortable Experience: Intuitive UI/UX that tries to resemble Scrivener's core workflow as much as possible.
- 🌍 Community-Driven: Built by and for writers who value transparency.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Smart Editor | Distraction-free writing with rich formatting and metadata tagging |
| Corkboard | Visual scene organization using virtual index cards |
| Tree View | Hierarchical project structure for chapters, scenes, and research |
| Outliner | Plot management with drag-and-drop sequencing |
| Split view | Customizable system for split views designed to work with the novident-corkboard |
| Compiler | Export to multiple formats (PDF, ePub, DOCX) with custom templates |
| Snapshot System | Version control for drafts |
Novident is built as a collection of independent, reusable libraries:
── novident-editor/ # Custom editor component
── novident-corkboard/ # Corkboard UI
── novident-compiler/ # Export engine
── novident-tree-view/ # Hierarchical project view
── novident-split-view/ # General grid-based view separator
We welcome:
- UI/UX Designers: Help refine Novident user experience.
- Technical Writers: Improve documentation.
- Developers: Tackle Good First Issues.
Review our Contribution Guidelines before submitting PRs.
- Star This Repo: Show your support!
- Donate: Help fund development via - No available by now.
- Spread the Word: Share Novident with writing communities.
