Raneto - Markdown Knowledgebase for Node.js | WarmIndex

Raneto is an open-source Markdown-powered knowledge base platform for Node.js that uses static files to create fast, searchable documentation sites without a database.

🚀 Overview

Raneto is a simple, lightweight knowledge base solution that lets you build and manage documentation using plain Markdown files stored on your server. It serves your content as static HTML pages, making it incredibly fast with no database required—just drop in your .md files and go.

The project solves the common pain point of setting up documentation or internal wikis without dealing with complex CMS setups, databases, or heavy dependencies. It's built for developers, small teams, and indie makers who need quick, editable, and version-controllable knowledge bases via Git.

It was created to provide a developer-friendly alternative to bloated wiki software, emphasizing speed, simplicity, and customization while leveraging familiar tools like Markdown and Node.js.

✨ Key Features

Lightning Fast – Serves pure static files with no database queries for blazing performance.
Markdown Powered – Write and version control docs with Git; supports syntax highlighting via Highlight.js.
Full-Text Search – Powered by Lunr.js to instantly find content across files.
Built-In Editor – Edit Markdown pages directly in the browser with a simple UI.
Custom Themes – Easily customize the Bootstrap-based design to match your brand.
Optional Auth – Login system to protect editing while keeping read access public.
Upcoming: Enhanced config options via environment variables.

🛠 Tech Stack

Backend: Node.js, Express
Frontend: JavaScript, Bootstrap (customizable), Mustache templating
Search: Lunr.js
Syntax Highlighting: Highlight.js
Database: None (file-based)
Auth: Custom login system
Hosting: Self-hosted, Docker (linuxserver/raneto), npm

👥 Who Is This For?

This project is useful for:

Developers who want to quickly document APIs, projects, or codebases with Git integration
Teams looking for a lightweight internal wiki or knowledge base
Indie makers building simple product guides or help centers