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I wouldn't call local Excel/Word/etc "local-first". The "-first" part implies that the network is used for secondary functionality, but the apps you're talking about are fully offline. IMO local-first definitionally requires some form of networked multi-device collaboration or sync.

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Excel and Word both support real-time collaboration and sync, e.g., https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/collaborate-on-wo...

Sure, now. I'm responding to this from OP:

> Local-first was the first kind of app. Way up into the 2000s, you'd use your local excel/word/etc, and the sync mechanism was calling your file annual_accounts_final_v3_amend_v5_final(3).xls

Google docs is the gold standard here.

Google Docs is not "local" in any meaningful sense of the word.

it's not!

Local-first apps aren't common because teams building web apps are primarily targeting online, database backed, SaaS.

With the exception of messenger clients, Desktop apps are mostly "local-first" from day one.

At the time you're beginning to think about desktop behavior, it's also worth considering whether you should just build native.

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