Penpot: The Open-Source Figma (github.com)

Article summary

Penpot is an open-source design platform that allows teams to build digital products at scale, with features such as real-time collaboration, design tokens, and a plugin system. It is built on open standards like SVG, CSS, HTML, and JSON, and can be self-hosted or used in the browser. Penpot aims to provide a flexible and secure design environment, with a focus on compliance and governance requirements. The platform is designed to work seamlessly with developers, allowing for direct translation and shipping of products.

Main themes

• Open-source design platform
• Real-time collaboration
• Design tokens and systems
• Self-hosting and security
• Developer integration
• Figma comparison

What commenters say

• Penpot's grid layout idea may have been taken from CSS, rather than being an original concept.
• The platform's performance and stability are questionable, with some users experiencing crashes and lag.
• The requirement for a backend stack and Docker to run the self-hosted version is seen as a drawback by some users, who prefer a more lightweight solution.
• The comparison to Figma is inevitable, with some users feeling that Penpot is more resource-intensive and less performant, while others defend its design choices and potential for improvement.
• Some users appreciate the open-source nature and customizability of Penpot, while others are frustrated by its limitations and instability.
• The platform's ability to handle large documents and complex designs is a point of contention, with some users experiencing issues and others finding it to be reasonable.