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World Congress 2026 Europe • Jul 10, 2026 • Session details

What is Local-first Web Development?

Alexander Opalic

Eliminate network latency and loading spinners by making the local database your primary data source. Learn how to build resilient, local-first web apps using Vue 3 and Dexie.js.

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#1 about 4 min

Setting the stage for local-first web development

Preparing for a deep technical breakdown of local-first capabilities requires establishing core goals and reviewing the overall conference agenda.

#2 about 3 min

Limitations of traditional three-tier web application architectures

Typical client-server models and state libraries struggle to provide seamless default offline capabilities.

#3 about 3 min

Core principles and properties of local-first software

Moving beyond superficial latency improvements requires understanding core local-first principles like data longevity and full user control.

#4 about 5 min

Persistent in-browser databases and offline-first architecture

Replacing traditional server databases with IndexedDB or SQLite paired with progressive architectures ensures applications function fully offline.

#5 about 5 min

Sync engines and solving distributed data conflicts

Implementing collaborative synchronization layers requires shifting business logic to the client and establishing targeted conflict resolution strategies.

#6 about 3 min

Distinguishing offline-first capabilities from true local-first values

True local-first architecture prioritizes data ownership by avoiding vendor lock-in and allowing continued usage even if the application's underlying startup shuts down.

#7 about 3 min

Simplifying IndexedDB usage and synchronization with Dexie.js

The Dexie library abstracts IndexedDB schemas to provide live reactive queries and handle transparent cloud data synchronization.

#8 about 5 min

Building a reactive to-do application using Dexie.js

Implementing a local-first DB schema enables active cloud tracking and integrated front-end reactivity without writing custom backend configurations.

#9 about 3 min

Managing conflict resolution and syncing trade-offs in Dexie.js

Timestamp-based conflict resolution simplifies synchronization but lacks the technical nuance of self-hosted, pure local-first peer-to-peer implementations.

#10 about 3 min

Future outlook and appropriate use cases for local-first

Dedicated sync engines are becoming industry standard, but complete local-first implementations may remain restricted to specialized user-controlled domains.

#11 about 3 min

Mitigating data loss during prolonged offline synchronization periods

Specific strategies enable robust data reconciliation and seamless schema migrations after extended gaps in network access.

Matching moments

5:40 min

The historical struggles of building persistent progressive web apps

Chris Heilmann +2 · LIVE

1:27 min

Introduction to progressive web apps

Laura Morinigo · World Congress 2022

2:35 min

Managing dynamic application data effectively using IndexedDB

Nico Martin · LIVE

3:02 min

Developer questions on offline editors and application scaling

Eli Holderness · World Congress 2022

3:16 min

Leveraging native browser capabilities for local web development

JS Congress

2:17 min

Introduction to modern client-side state management concepts

Michael Egger-Zikes Michael Egger-Zikes · World Congress 2025

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