Previously, this existed as crixet.com [0]. At some point it used WASM for client-side compilation, and later transitioned to server-side rendering [1][2]. It now appears that there will be no option to disable AI [3]. I hope the core features remain available and won’t be artificially restricted. Compared to Overleaf, there were fewer service limitations: it was possible to compile more complex documents, share projects more freely, and even do so without registration.
On the other hand, Overleaf appears to be open source and at least partially self-hostable, so it’s possible some of these ideas or features will be adopted there over time. Alternatively, someone might eventually manage to move a more complete LaTeX toolchain into WASM.
This seems like a very basic overleaf alternative with few of its features, plus a shallow ChatGPT wrapper. Certainly can’t compete with using VS Code or TeXstudio locally, collaborating through GitHub, and getting AI assistance from Claude Code or Codex.
Very unfortunately named. OpenAI probably (and likely correctly) estimated that 13 years is enough time after the Snowden leaks to use "prism" for a product but, for me, the word is permanently tainted.
I'd think that most people in science would associate the name with an optical prism. A single large political event can't override an everyday physical phenomenon in my head.
Anecdotally, I have mentioned PRISM to several non-techie friends over the years and none of them knew what I was talking about, they know 'Snowden' but not 'PRISM'. The amount of people who actually cared about the Snowden leaks is practically a rounding error
I followed the Snowden stuff fairly closely and forgot, so I bet they didn't think about it at all and if they did they didn't care and that was surely the right call.
Previously, this existed as crixet.com [0]. At some point it used WASM for client-side compilation, and later transitioned to server-side rendering [1][2]. It now appears that there will be no option to disable AI [3]. I hope the core features remain available and won’t be artificially restricted. Compared to Overleaf, there were fewer service limitations: it was possible to compile more complex documents, share projects more freely, and even do so without registration.
On the other hand, Overleaf appears to be open source and at least partially self-hostable, so it’s possible some of these ideas or features will be adopted there over time. Alternatively, someone might eventually manage to move a more complete LaTeX toolchain into WASM.
[0] https://crixet.com
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/Crixet/comments/1ptj9k9/comment/nvh...
[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42009254
[3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46394937
So this is the product of an acquisition?
This seems like a very basic overleaf alternative with few of its features, plus a shallow ChatGPT wrapper. Certainly can’t compete with using VS Code or TeXstudio locally, collaborating through GitHub, and getting AI assistance from Claude Code or Codex.
Accessibility does matter
Check out MonsterWriter if you are concerned about the recent acquisition of this.
It also offers LaTeX workspaces
see video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feWZByHoViw
Very unfortunately named. OpenAI probably (and likely correctly) estimated that 13 years is enough time after the Snowden leaks to use "prism" for a product but, for me, the word is permanently tainted.
I'd think that most people in science would associate the name with an optical prism. A single large political event can't override an everyday physical phenomenon in my head.
Anecdotally, I have mentioned PRISM to several non-techie friends over the years and none of them knew what I was talking about, they know 'Snowden' but not 'PRISM'. The amount of people who actually cared about the Snowden leaks is practically a rounding error
˙ ͜ʟ˙
Pretty much every company I’ve worked for in tech over my 25+ year career had a (different) system called prism.
I suspect that name recognition for PRISM as a program is not high at the population level.
Or the JavaScript ORM.
this was my first thought as well.
I never though of that association, not in the slightest, until I read this comment.
Surprised they didn't do something trendy like Prizm or OpenPrism while keeping it closed source code.
I followed the Snowden stuff fairly closely and forgot, so I bet they didn't think about it at all and if they did they didn't care and that was surely the right call.