local-first

A Gentle Introduction to CRDTs

by matt-wonlaw

CRDTs let replicas update independently and merge automatically without conflicts

LiveStore

by johannes-schickling

A client-centric state management framework combining reactive SQLite with event sourcing and built-in sync, designed for high-performance local-first applications

Alkalye

by carl-assmann

A local-first markdown editor PWA with E2E encryption, collaborative editing, and presentation mode.

Home-cooked Software and Barefoot Programmers

by maggie-appleton

Language models will enable a new class of 'barefoot developers'—technically savvy non-programmers who build small-scale, personal software for their communities, and local-first should become the default infrastructure for this movement.

Implementing Fractional Indexing

by david-greenspan

A technique for maintaining ordered sequences in collaborative systems using string-based keys that allow arbitrary insertions without renumbering.

Local First: the secret master plan

by peter-van-hardenberg

Ink & Switch's three-part vision: local-first software enables universal version control, which enables malleable software where users customize their tools without waiting for developers.

The Past, Present, and Future of Local-First

by martin-kleppmann

Martin Kleppmann traces local-first from CRDTs to a proposed definition: software where another computer's availability never blocks the user—including when the developer shuts down.

The Ultimate Mind Map Builder for Obsidian

by zsolt-viczian

Zsolt Viczián demonstrates his new Mind Map Builder script for Obsidian Excalidraw, enabling rapid visual thinking with keyboard navigation, markdown interoperability, and flexible layout controls.

Unexpected benefits of going local-first

by tuomas-artman

Beyond performance and offline support, local-first architecture dramatically improves developer productivity by eliminating network error handling and enabling synchronous data access.

How I use Obsidian

by steph-ango

Steph Ango's personal note-taking system emphasizes file-based storage, minimal folder hierarchy, and emergent organization through linking rather than rigid structure.

Why Local-First Apps Haven't Become Popular

by marco-bambini

Explains why local-first apps remain niche despite their advantages—syncing data across distributed devices without losing information is genuinely hard.

Malleable Software

by ink-and-switch

A research agenda for malleable software—tools that users can adapt to their needs without relying on developers, restoring agency in an era of locked-down applications.

UX++ and DX++ with Sync Engines

by carl-assmann

Sync engines remove network latency from the user interaction path by maintaining local data stores that sync bidirectionally with servers in the background.

Local-First Software & Data Ownership

Building applications where users control their data

Local-First Software: You Own Your Data, in Spite of the Cloud

by martin-kleppmann, adam-wiggins, peter-van-hardenberg, mark-mcgranaghan

A foundational essay proposing that data ownership and real-time collaboration are not mutually exclusive, introducing CRDTs as the enabling technology for local-first software.

What is Local-first Web Development?

by alexander-opalic

An introduction to local-first web development, a paradigm shift that prioritizes storing data on users' devices first, enabling offline functionality, instant access, and greater user control over their data.

File Over App

by steph-ango

Digital artifacts that last require files you control in open formats—apps are temporary, but plain text endures.