Offline is just online with extreme latency (blog.jim-nielsen.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the concept of 'local-first software' and how it can change the way we approach building applications. It highlights the idea that offline and online modes are not binary, but rather a spectrum of latency. The article also touches on the challenges of building local-first applications, including the need for data synchronization and conflict resolution. The author argues that this approach can lead to more resilient and robust applications.

Main themes

• local-first software
• offline and online modes
• data synchronization
• conflict resolution
• optimistic UI
• data locality and ownership
• network conditions and latency
• resilient and robust applications
• distributed systems and consensus

What commenters say

• Offline is not just online with extreme latency, but rather a fundamentally different paradigm that requires distinct design approaches.
• Optimistic UI can be a useful strategy for handling offline and online modes, but it may not always be the best solution.
• Data locality and ownership are crucial aspects of offline applications, and cannot be reduced to simply a matter of latency.
• Conflict resolution and consensus are significant challenges in offline operation, and require careful consideration of merging and resolution schemes.
• The distinction between offline and online modes can be misleading, and instead, developers should focus on building applications that can handle a range of network conditions.
• Some applications, such as those requiring immediate consistency or responses, may not be well-suited for offline or local-first approaches.
• The concept of local-first software has implications for data verifiability, trust, and anti-corruption, and may require new approaches to data storage and transfer.