Local-First Software: Owning Your Data While Embracing Seamless Collaboration

Local-first software aims to combine the advantages of cloud apps, like seamless real-time collaboration and multi-device access, with the benefits of traditional "old-fashioned" apps, such as ownership and control of data. This approach addresses a growing concern among creative professionals and individuals who feel their data is vulnerable when stored on "someone else’s computer" in the cloud. Motivation: Collaboration and Ownership Today’s cloud apps have revolutionized the way we collaborate online. Services like Google Docs, Figma, and Trello allow real-time collaboration and access to data from any device. However, they come with significant drawbacks: reliance on server availability, lack of long-term data control, and potential privacy issues. Creative professionals, who often have deep emotional connections to their work, are particularly affected by these limitations. Current Alternatives and Their Limitations Files and Email Attachments Pros: Fast, offline capable, user control, longevity. Cons: Limited multi-device access, poor collaboration, potential for messy file versioning. Example: Sharing documents via email. Web Apps (e.g., Google Docs, Trello, Figma) Pros: Multi-device access, real-time collaboration. Cons: Dependent on server availability, limited offline support, lack of user control and privacy. Example: Google Docs blocking offline editing. Cloud-Based File Sync (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive) Pros: Fast on desktop, offline capable, longevity, user control. Cons: Poor mobile support, lack of real-time collaboration. Example: Dropbox’s need for manual "Make available offline" settings. Git and GitHub Pros: Offline capable, user control, longevity, fast. Cons: No real-time collaboration, limited support for non-textual file formats. Example: Engineers preferring local code storage over cloud-based alternatives. The Seven Local-First Ideals No Spinners: Your Work at Your Fingertips Description: Local-first software should respond instantly to user actions, eliminating the need for latency-inducing server requests. Example: Traditional text editors like Sublime Text. Your Work is Not Trapped on One Device Description: Data should be accessible across multiple devices, with seamless synchronization. Example: Dropbox’s desktop application. The Network is Optional Description: Applications should function fully offline, with background synchronization when the network is available. Example: Mobile apps like Things, which can sync data using iCloud. Seamless Collaboration with Your Colleagues Description: Real-time collaboration should be as smooth as in cloud apps, while allowing users to retain control over their data. Example: Git’s pull request model for collaborative coding. The Long Now Description: Ensure data longevity by allowing users to access and preserve their data independently of the service provider. Example: Storing documents in formats like PDF or plain text that can be read for decades. Security and Privacy by Default Description: Protect user data with strong privacy measures, using end-to-end encryption where possible. Example: Encrypted local storage and decentralized networks. You Retain Ultimate Ownership and Control Description: Users should have full control over their data, with the ability to back up, delete, and manage it as they see fit. Example: Running and maintaining software and data locally, as with traditional file systems. Prototypes and Findings To explore the feasibility of local-first software, the authors of the article developed several prototypes using CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) and related technologies: Trellis (Kanban Board) Technology: Automerge and WebRTC. Experience: Users could work offline, with changes syncing automatically upon reconnecting. A "time travel" interface allowed users to see document history and track changes. Pixelpusher (Collaborative Drawing) Technology: CRDTs and peer-to-peer libraries. Experience: Real-time drawing collaboration, with conflict resolution handling minor issues automatically. PushPin (Mixed Media Canvas) Technology: Automerge and Hypercore. Experience: A Trello-like interface for mixed media, including images, text, and web links. Advanced features for managing document history and user presence. Key Lessons CRDT Technology Works: The reliability of CRDTs in handling concurrent changes was encouraging, simplifying the developer experience. Offline Work is Seamless: Users reported a positive experience with offline work, highlighting the feeling of ownership over their tools and data. Conflicts Are Manageable: Automatic conflict resolution often sufficed, with users intuitively avoiding simultaneous edits to the same sections. Document History Visualization: Tools for visualizing and navigating document history were crucial for user understanding and managing versions. URLs for Sharing: URL-based sharing mechanisms were user-friendly and effective. Peer-to-Peer Systems: While promising, P2P systems still face technical challenges, especially in NAT traversal and consistent connectivity. Cloud Servers for Supporting Roles: Cloud servers can serve auxiliary functions like document discovery and burst compute, enhancing the local-first model without compromising ownership. Future Outlook Local-first software holds the promise of a better future, where users can enjoy the collaboration and accessibility of cloud apps while retaining control and ownership of their data. However, the technology is still evolving, and more research and development are needed. Industry Insights Research Opportunities: Further exploration into CRDTs, peer-to-peer networking, and user interface design for decentralized systems can significantly advance local-first software. Market Opportunity: A startup offering "Firebase for CRDTs" could fill a crucial gap, providing a robust, user-friendly solution for local-first applications across desktop, mobile, and web platforms. Practical Steps for Developers: Incrementally adopt local-first features like aggressive caching, multi-device syncing, and secure local storage to enhance user experience and data ownership. By addressing the limitations of cloud apps and leveraging the strengths of local-first software, the tech industry can create more resilient, user-centric tools that stand the test of time.