Local-First

Overview

Local-first is an architecture where the application reads and writes to a local database, with changes syncing to the server in the background. The local database is the source of truth for the UI, providing instant reads, offline support, and optimistic writes by default.

When to use: Collaborative apps needing offline support, latency-sensitive UIs where instant response matters, apps with unreliable network conditions, real-time multiplayer features, mobile apps with intermittent connectivity.

When NOT to use: Simple CRUD apps with reliable connectivity, server-authoritative workflows (payments, inventory), content-heavy sites with minimal interactivity, apps where data freshness from the server is critical on every render.

Quick Reference