Web-Based Collaborative Drawing Tool - 18/04/2026 01:43 EDT

I need a browser-friendly drawing board that several people can sketch on at the same time, watching each stroke appear live. Visitors should land on the page, pick an optional nickname, and draw—no sign-ups, no email, pure guest access.

Core requirements
• Real-time collaboration: strokes and edits must sync instantly via WebSockets or WebRTC.
• Brush variety: multiple brush styles with adjustable size and color.
• Layer management: guests can add, rename, hide, and merge layers so their work stays organized even while others are drawing.

The finished app must run smoothly in the latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on both desktop and mobile. A lightweight tech stack is preferred—vanilla JavaScript/TypeScript, Canvas API, small helper libraries, or a minimal framework of your choice—so long as performance stays sharp.

Deliverables & acceptance criteria
1. A repo (Git) containing clean, documented code and a one-step script or README to spin up the server locally.
2. Live canvas test: open two browser tabs, draw in one, see changes appear in the other with negligible delay.
3. Functional brush selector, color picker, and layer panel exactly as described.
4. No authentication flow beyond the optional nickname prompt.

Please outline the technologies you’d use, a realistic timeline, and links to any real-time or canvas work you’ve done before. Once we agree, I’ll grant repo access and we can start right away.