Folks, I spent the last 10-11 months writing an online collaborative screenplay program for Google Drive. It's not meant as a Final Draft killer, for now it's just for working together on the actual screenplay (my writing partners and I mostly use Google Docs for outlining etc). We've been using it for a while, and I'd really like to get other people to check it out, and if possible get some feedback and ideas?

https://youmescript.com

Thanks a lot, and hope it might be useful for some of you.
Jake.

This may help:

http://nibbler.silktide.com/en/reports/youmescript.com

ATM, I wouldn't use your software because I don't trust you. As far as I can see, everything I type will be uploaded to your server... well, the Hostgator servers anyway. You're also on a shared server, so there is another trust issue that doesn't have anything to do with you.

I'm happy using my old downloaded version of Celtx. I'm fine because I use Linux and not subject to numerous security flaws and resultant updates that destroys software compatibility.

Dustin, many thanks for taking the time to check it out, this sort of feedback is exactly what's needed.

I should say up front of course, for others reading this, that nothing is sent to the server, it's all between your browser and Google Drive - and all via https. I'm sure people will check that using Chrome Dev tools etc. For this kind of start-up situation, Hostgator has served me really well, but yes we'll be moving to a dedicated server or CDN when we're able; we do already have levels of code-security in place.

I've always assumed that as a program that's online, geared towards collaboration, and using Google Drive, it's inherently not going to suit everyone's situation, but that's fine: like you say, there's Celtx and similar doing their thing, very well.

But you're absolutely right, of course, that as a newcomer I have no reputation. I think that all I can really do about that right now, is carry on doing what I'm doing: keep improving it, try to make it the most useful tool I can, and trust that its reputation builds up...

As I said, many thanks for responding. Did you have any ideas or thoughts about the program itself?

Jake:

I think it would be helpful to you to write some background - i.e., who you are - the objective of your efforts (e.g., are you developing software for sale? etc.), and other info that would incentive one to provide feedback.

I did give it a quick spin. I would give it nice marks on ease of use.

You need a print to PDF function

There a lot of tools that I use (I use FD) that are not on your app so I would never be a user. Although, for newbies I think it might be an easy tool to get going.

The fatal flaw for me as the SAVE to Google. I will never buy or use anything that I can save specifically to where I want.  But then again - I am paying full price for FD.

Quoted from Youmescript Did you have any ideas or thoughts about the program itself?

It looks like it works as well as any other screenwriting program. I don't like fancy bells and whistles anyway. I just like to write.

As a collab with Google drive it will end up working quite well I imagine. A rival to the Adobe version. I was once asked to write a script in Adobe as the producer really liked the feel of it. For example, the ease of collaboration, thereby being able to improve the story immediately. So perhaps you'll be up there with those guys soon.

Most writers don't use Linux OS, they use Windows and look for ease of use. Something you provide. I wish you luck with it.

Quoted from eldave1 Jake: I think it would be helpful to you to write some background - i.e., who you are - the objective of your efforts (e.g., are you developing software for sale? etc.), and other info that would incentive one to provide feedback. I did give it a quick spin. I would give it nice marks on ease of use. You need a print to PDF function There a lot of tools that I use (I use FD) that are not on your app so I would never be a user. Although, for newbies I think it might be an easy tool to get going. The fatal flaw for me as the SAVE to Google. I will never buy or use anything that I can save specifically to where I want.  But then again - I am paying full price for FD.

elDave1, again a big thank you for taking it out for a ride, and I truly appreciate the feedback.

Saving locally and printing directly to PDF have been easily the two most requested features so far, and they're both in the works. As workarounds for right now, you can import/export locally, and print directly to PDF from Chrome or on a Mac (use the YouMeScript menu, not the browser menu which tries to prints scrollbars etc).

And yes, happy to share, this is me: I'm an immigrant software-engineer Brit who splits his time between LA, SF and Sac, programming, acting, and screenwriting/filmmaking with friends. Sometimes we're in the same room, sometimes in different countries, but always collaborating on scripts... and usually frustrated by Google Docs: I can't "see" films if they're not in standard format. So, I decided to write something better, which has turned into a year's work so far. Where it all goes, I don't know yet. I ask people to chip in $5/year for server costs etc, but that's all I'm doing, asking.

My personal motivation is always just to make things (sometimes fairly stupid things: http://www.theriotwheel.com), and this is really no different, I just wanted to build something useful/interesting/spectacular. I could definitely see YouMeScript being a help in education settings, and for writing groups and teams, but I'm not that great at putting myself out there, and I honestly don't know. Hence, asking for ideas here, and keeping on trying to make it better. I don't know what else to do, really.

Jake.

Quoted from DustinBowcot It looks like it works as well as any other screenwriting program. I don't like fancy bells and whistles anyway. I just like to write. As a collab with Google drive it will end up working quite well I imagine. A rival to the Adobe version. I was once asked to write a script in Adobe as the producer really liked the feel of it. For example, the ease of collaboration, thereby being able to improve the story immediately. So perhaps you'll be up there with those guys soon. Most writers don't use Linux OS, they use Windows and look for ease of use. Something you provide. I wish you luck with it.

Thank you for that Dustin, much appreciated.

Quoted from Youmescript elDave1, again a big thank you for taking it out for a ride, and I truly appreciate the feedback. Saving locally and printing directly to PDF have been easily the two most requested features so far, and they're both in the works. As workarounds for right now, you can import/export locally, and print directly to PDF from Chrome or on a Mac (use the YouMeScript menu, not the browser menu which tries to prints scrollbars etc). And yes, happy to share, this is me: I'm an immigrant software-engineer Brit who splits his time between LA, SF and Sac, programming, acting, and screenwriting/filmmaking with friends. Sometimes we're in the same room, sometimes in different countries, but always collaborating on scripts... and usually frustrated by Google Docs: I can't "see" films if they're not in standard format. So, I decided to write something better, which has turned into a year's work so far. Where it all goes, I don't know yet. I ask people to chip in $5/year for server costs etc, but that's all I'm doing, asking. My personal motivation is always just to make things (sometimes fairly stupid things: http://www.theriotwheel.com), and this is really no different, I just wanted to build something useful/interesting/spectacular. I could definitely see YouMeScript being a help in education settings, and for writing groups and teams, but I'm not that great at putting myself out there, and I honestly don't know. Hence, asking for ideas here, and keeping on trying to make it better. I don't know what else to do, really. Jake.

Cool - best of luck with this

Quoted from eldave1 Jake: I think it would be helpful to you to write some background - i.e., who you are - the objective of your efforts (e.g., are you developing software for sale? etc.), and other info that would incentive one to provide feedback. I did give it a quick spin. I would give it nice marks on ease of use. You need a print to PDF function There a lot of tools that I use (I use FD) that are not on your app so I would never be a user. Although, for newbies I think it might be an easy tool to get going. The fatal flaw for me as the SAVE to Google. I will never buy or use anything that I can save specifically to where I want.  But then again - I am paying full price for FD.

elDave1, may I ask what a couple of FD's tools that you find indispensable are? Other than comprehensive outlining tools, are there script-writing features that you couldn't be without?

Folks, I've added some (English) dictionaries to choose from: US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Let me know if you find any issues, or have suggestions for any more? Thanks, and a happy new year to all.