I’m excited to introduce org-roam-ui-lite, a lightweight and maintainable reimplementation of org-roam-ui’s core visualization features. Built with deep respect for the original project’s vision, this implementation focuses on simplicity, static export capabilities, and long-term maintainability.
Motivation
While org-roam-ui offers an impressive feature set, its complexity can present maintenance challenges. org-roam-ui-lite addresses these challenges by:
- Focusing on core functionality - Graph visualization and note browsing
- Minimizing dependencies - Reducing the maintenance burden
- Enabling static site generation - Built-in support for publishing to GitHub Pages, Netlify, etc.
- Providing a sustainable codebase - Clean architecture with comprehensive testing
Key Features
1. Minimal Yet Powerful
- Zero-configuration setup
- TypeScript throughout for type safety
- Comprehensive test coverage with Vitest
- Clean, maintainable codebase
2. Native Static Export
npm run export -- -d /path/to/org-roam.db -o /path/to/output
python3 -m http.server -d /path/to/output
Perfect for sharing knowledge bases without running a server!
3. Dual Backend Architecture
- Node.js Backend: Fast Hono server with modern tooling
- Emacs Backend: Single-file implementation using only
simple-httpd
4. Modern Tech Stack
org-roam-ui-lite/
├── packages/
│ ├── backend/ # Hono + DrizzleORM + sql.js
│ ├── frontend/ # React + Vite + Cytoscape/Force-Graph
│ └── emacs/ # Pure Elisp server (one file!)
Complementary, Not Competitive
org-roam-ui-lite is designed to complement org-roam-ui, not replace it:
| Use Case | org-roam-ui | org-roam-ui-lite |
|---|---|---|
| Rich editing features |  Best choice |
 Not supported |
| Static site publishing |  Requires setup |
Built-in |
| Maintenance complexity | Complex |
Simple |
| Feature richness | Comprehensive |
Essential only |
Technical Highlights
Compatibility
- Uses the same org-roam database format
- Supports familiar themes (Nord, Gruvbox, Dracula)
- Multiple renderer options (Cytoscape, Force Graph, 3D Force Graph)
Quick Start
Pre-built Release
curl -fsSLO https://github.com/tani/org-roam-ui-lite/releases/latest/download/org-roam-ui-lite.zip
unzip ./org-roam-ui-lite.zip
cd org-roam-ui-lite
node ./backend/dist/serve.js -d /path/to/org-roam.db
Emacs Integration
(add-to-list 'load-path "/path/to/org-roam-ui-lite/emacs")
(require 'org-roam-ui-lite)
(org-roam-ui-lite-mode)
Vision for Integration
By joining the org-roam-ui family as org-roam-ui-lite, we can:
- Expand user choice - Different tools for different needs
- Share maintenance burden - Each project focuses on its strengths
- Strengthen the ecosystem - Complementary solutions increase overall value
- Improve sustainability - Simpler codebases are easier to maintain long-term
Resources
- GitHub Repository: GitHub - tani/org-roam-ui-lite
Conclusion
org-roam-ui-lite represents a sustainable approach to org-roam visualization, prioritizing maintainability and static publishing while respecting the original project’s pioneering vision. By working together, we can offer users a complete spectrum of tools for their knowledge management needs.
I would be honored to contribute org-roam-ui-lite to the org-roam-ui organization and work alongside this amazing community.