Hello there, fellow educators, publishers, and creators 👋🏼

Welcome to HibbittsDesign.org – creating open-source software for educators, digital publishers, and content creators, informed by over 25 years of experience in software interaction design, UX consulting, and higher education.

Whether you're digitally savvy or curious, HibbittsDesign.org offers a range of open-source software to harness the open, portable, and constraint-free nature of Markdown while enhancing the experience for both authors and their audiences. For those seeking personalized guidance, Paul Hibbitts also offers additional professional services & support.

You can also explore materials on Markdown publishing and UX design, building open-source projects & online learning insights that Paul has curated and authored.

Fostering positive experiences in open-source

Can people love open-source projects the way they love their favourite music or book? That positive feeling — for users and contributors alike — drives how Paul views and creates software.

Paul leads with outcomes over features, and strives to make tools both enjoyable and valuable in every open-source project. Explore the foundational article Building Open-source Projects with a Positive Vibe: 8 Practical Guidelines →

Personal lessons from open-source development

Insights into common open-source challenges from Paul's journey so far, informed by UX and higher education experience:

🌱 Sustainable Open Source Projects Pack - Build projects you can maintain in the long run

🎯 **Project Clarity Framework Pack** - Keep projects focused for both developers and users

🧡 Building Open Source with Heart Pack - Foster projects users and contributors enjoy

Or: View all of Paul’s blog posts →


Open-Source Publishing Tools for Educators, Publishers, and Creators

Three hand-drawn abstract icons on a flowing, multi-blue background suggesting digital waves. The first icon represents 'open-source', the second icon represents 'capability', and the third icon represents 'publishing'.

All the tools below share a common foundation: open, portable, and constraint-free Markdown files. This means you can start simple and grow into more capability over time – bringing your content with you at each step. From no-setup web publishing with Docsify-This, to self-hosted Docsify-based Starter Kits that support custom domains, to Helios Course Hub, the newest addition to Paul's Grav Projects, combining a full CMS platform with an admin panel, online editor, and modern premium theme.

Your content travels with you Every project runs on the same open, portable Markdown files – your content stays with you throughout, making it easy to start, easy to switch, and easy to leave.

Docsify-This Open Source Web App & Project