Most modern software requires a constant internet connection and stores your data on someone else's server. MEP Desk takes a different approach.
What local-first means
Your data lives on your device. Calculations, project files, notes, and references are stored locally in your browser's IndexedDB — not uploaded to a cloud server.
Why this matters for engineers
Site work — You're in a basement plant room with no signal. Your data is still there.
Data ownership — Your project data is yours. It doesn't live on a server you don't control.
Speed — No loading spinners, no "connecting to server" delays. Everything is instant.
Privacy — Client project data stays on your machine. No GDPR concerns about third-party data processing.
Resilience — If MEP Desk's servers went down tomorrow, your data would still be on your device, exportable to Excel.
The tradeoff
Local-first means sync is harder. We're building device-to-device sync for Desktop and Pocket, but it takes more engineering than just "save to cloud."
Why we chose this
Because engineers work on sensitive projects (hospitals, government buildings, data centres). Their data shouldn't be on a server they didn't choose.