Why Local-First Matters for Engineering Data

"Where does my data go?" It's a question most engineers never ask about their tools — but should.

The problem with cloud-first tools

Your project data lives on someone else's server. If the service goes down, you can't access your work. Subscription lapses? Your data might be locked behind a paywall. Data privacy concerns — especially on sensitive projects (MOD, healthcare, government). Internet dependency — can't work offline or on site.

What local-first means in MEP Desk

All your data is stored on your device using IndexedDB (built into your browser). No account required for the free tier — just open the app and start working. Works offline — no internet connection needed after initial load. Your device is always the primary data store. Professional users can opt into encrypted cloud backup for peace of mind, but local storage remains the source of truth. You control your data completely — export it, back it up, move it between devices with transfer packs.

But what about sync?

Local-first doesn't mean isolated. MEP Desk uses transfer packs — lightweight JSON exports that you can move between devices however you want (USB, email, AirDrop, cloud drive). You choose when and where your data moves.

Why this matters for engineers

Client confidentiality — some projects require data to stay on approved devices. Reliability — no server outage can stop your work. Ownership — if you stop using MEP Desk, your data is already yours. Speed — no network latency, everything runs instantly.

We don't want your data. We want to give you better tools. Local-first is how we do that.