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Outline

Documentation Alternative to Notion

Outline is a modern team knowledge base and documentation platform that helps teams organize their information with an intuitive editor, real-time collaboration, and powerful search capabilities.

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Key Features

  • Intuitive markdown editor
  • Real-time collaboration
  • AI-powered search
  • Slack integration
  • Custom branding
  • Multiple language support

Interface Preview

Outline user interface

Video Overview

Outline is a modern knowledge base platform designed to help teams organize and share information effectively. With its blazing-fast editor, real-time collaboration features, and powerful search capabilities, it’s the perfect solution for teams drowning in scattered documentation.

Key Features

  • Blazing Fast Editor: Experience lightning-quick editing with Markdown support, slash commands, and interactive embeds that make document creation a breeze.
  • Real-Time Collaboration: Work together with your team in real-time, keeping discussions organized through comments and threads.
  • AI-Powered Search: Find information instantly with powerful search capabilities and ask questions about your documents to get direct AI answers.
  • Slack Integration: Search and share documents directly from Slack, with automatic notifications when documents are updated.
  • Customizable Branding: Make it yours with custom domains (docs.yourteam.com), brand colors, and logos.
  • Robust Security: Control access with detailed read & write permissions, user groups, and guest user management.

Why Choose Outline?

  • Speed Matters: Built for performance with millisecond response times and instant document loading.
  • Multiple Languages: Supports 20+ languages including French, Spanish, German, Korean, and Chinese, with RTL support.
  • Dark Mode: Easy on the eyes with a beautiful dark theme option.
  • Extensive Integrations: Connect with 20+ tools including Figma, Loom, and more, plus access to an open API.
  • Open Source: Full transparency with public source code and the option to self-host.
  • Regular Updates: Constant improvements with a public changelog to track progress.

Perfect For Teams Who Need

  1. A central place for documentation
  2. Real-time collaboration capabilities
  3. Quick access to information
  4. Integration with existing tools
  5. Customizable branding options

Getting Started

Starting with Outline is straightforward:

  1. Sign up for a free 30-day trial (no credit card required)
  2. Set up your workspace and invite team members
  3. Start creating and organizing your documentation
  4. Customize your instance with your brand colors and domain
  5. Connect with your existing tools through integrations

Docker Compose File

services:
  outline:
    image: docker.getoutline.com/outlinewiki/outline:latest
    container_name: outline-app
    hostname: outline-app
    ports:
      - 3000:3000
    volumes:
      - ./storage-data:/var/lib/outline/data
    depends_on:
      - postgres
      - redis
    environment:
      PGSSLMODE: disable
      SECRET_KEY: ${SECRET_KEY}
      UTILS_SECRET: ${UTILS_SECRET}
      DATABASE_URL: postgres://${POSTGRES_USER}:${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}@outline-postgres:5432/${POSTGRES_DB}
      REDIS_URL: redis://outline-redis:6379
      URL: ${URL}
      PORT: ${PORT}
      FILE_STORAGE: local
      FILE_STORAGE_LOCAL_ROOT_DIR: /var/lib/outline/data
      FILE_STORAGE_UPLOAD_MAX_SIZE: 26214400
      SLACK_CLIENT_ID: ${SLACK_CLIENT_ID}
      SLACK_CLIENT_SECRET: ${SLACK_CLIENT_SECRET}
    restart: unless-stopped
  redis:
    container_name: outline-redis
    hostname: outline-redis
    image: redis
    volumes:
      - ./redis.conf:/redis.conf
    command:
      - redis-server
      - /redis.conf
    healthcheck:
      test:
        - CMD
        - redis-cli
        - ping
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 30s
      retries: 3
    restart: unless-stopped
  postgres:
    image: postgres
    container_name: outline-postgres
    hostname: outline-postgres
    volumes:
      - ./database-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    healthcheck:
      test:
        - CMD
        - pg_isready
      interval: 30s
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: ${POSTGRES_USER}
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${POSTGRES_PASSWORD}
      POSTGRES_DB: ${POSTGRES_DB}
    restart: unless-stopped

Security and Privacy

Outline takes security seriously with:

  • Granular permission controls
  • User group management
  • Secure public and private sharing options
  • Data protection agreements available
  • Regular security updates

Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, Outline provides the tools you need to keep your team’s knowledge organized, accessible, and up-to-date. Say goodbye to scattered documentation and hello to an organized, searchable knowledge base that grows with your team.

Join thousands of teams who have transformed their documentation process with Outline - where knowledge sharing meets modern collaboration.

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