A Gentle Introduction to CRDTs
by matt-wonlaw
CRDTs let replicas update independently and merge automatically without conflicts
by matt-wonlaw
CRDTs let replicas update independently and merge automatically without conflicts
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
by carl-assmann
A local-first markdown editor PWA with E2E encryption, collaborative editing, and presentation mode.
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.
by david-greenspan
A technique for maintaining ordered sequences in collaborative systems using string-based keys that allow arbitrary insertions without renumbering.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
by marco-bambini
Explains why local-first apps remain niche despite their advantages—syncing data across distributed devices without losing information is genuinely hard.
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.
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.
Building applications where users control their data
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.
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.
by steph-ango
Digital artifacts that last require files you control in open formats—apps are temporary, but plain text endures.