Wired Magazine reports on a new “local-first” approach to software design
Wired is reporting that in recent years, discussions among security-focused engineers on the Hacker News forum have centered around the term “local-first software,” which places a strong emphasis on privacy and security. This concept emerged as a response to the perceived shortcomings of the software being developed, especially concerning data security and privacy concerns. A 2019 white paper authored by computer scientist Martin Kleppmann and a group of open-source developers at Ink & Switch introduced the idea. These tech experts, who had previously worked for successful startups, had become disenchanted with aspects of the tech industry related to security and privacy. They noticed that while there were more software developers than ever, the quality of user experiences wasn’t improving. Instead, software was increasingly being designed for cloud-based platforms, raising serious security and privacy concerns.
The local-first software concept proposes a different approach—one that prioritizes the user’s security and privacy. It retains the advantages of cloud-based software, such as accessibility from various devices and collaborative capabilities, but eliminates the dependency on centralized cloud servers, thereby enhancing data security. In a local-first system, each user has a copy of the data stored on their device, ensuring data privacy. Edits made offline can later be synchronized with others’ copies in a secure and privacy-conscious manner. This innovative approach requires a fundamental change in data structuring and mathematics, with a primary focus on enhancing data security and privacy. It has the potential to result in better software quality while safeguarding user privacy and data security. Moreover, it enables startups and indie developers to create more interesting apps without relying on venture capital funding, contributing to a more secure and private digital ecosystem for users.
For the full article in Wired:
- https://www.wired.com/story/the-cloud-is-a-prison-can-the-local-first-software-movement-set-us-free/
