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Offline-First Architecture

Solo is designed with an offline-first approach, meaning all your data is stored locally on your machine. No cloud accounts, no internet dependency, complete privacy.

What is Offline-First?​

Offline-first means the application works completely without an internet connection. Your data is stored locally and accessible anytime, anywhere.

Core Principles​

  1. Local Storage – All data lives on your machine
  2. No Cloud Sync – No data sent to external servers
  3. Instant Access – No loading from remote servers
  4. Privacy First – Your API keys never leave your device
  5. Works Anywhere – Use on planes, trains, or without WiFi

Benefits of Offline-First​

Complete Privacy​

Your sensitive data stays private:

  • API keys and tokens stored locally only
  • No cloud accounts or login required
  • No data transmitted to external servers
  • No tracking or analytics on your usage
  • Complete control over your data

Maximum Performance​

Local storage means instant access:

  • No network latency
  • Instant load times
  • Fast search and filtering
  • Smooth UI interactions
  • No waiting for cloud sync

Work Anywhere​

No internet? No problem:

  • Work on airplanes
  • Use during commutes
  • Test in isolated networks
  • Develop offline
  • No connectivity issues

Data Ownership​

You control your data:

  • Know exactly where data is stored
  • Easy backup and migration
  • Export anytime you want
  • No vendor lock-in
  • No subscription required

How Solo Stores Data​

Local Storage Location​

Solo stores data in your system's application data directory:

macOS:

~/Library/Application Support/com.solo.app/

Windows:

C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\com.solo.app\

Linux:

~/.config/com.solo.app/

What Gets Stored​

Solo stores the following data locally:

Collections & Requests​

  • Request configurations (URLs, methods, headers)
  • Request bodies and parameters
  • GraphQL queries and mutations
  • gRPC service definitions
  • Folder structure and organization

Variables​

  • Global variables
  • Collection variables
  • Request-specific variables
  • Environment configurations

Response History​

  • Recent response data
  • Response headers and metadata
  • Timing information
  • Status codes

Application Settings​

  • Theme preferences (dark/light mode)
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • UI layout preferences
  • Update settings

Storage Format​

Data is stored in JSON format:

{
  "collections": [
    {
      "id": "uuid-1",
      "name": "User API",
      "variables": {
        "base_url": "https://api.example.com"
      },
      "requests": [
        {
          "id": "uuid-2",
          "name": "Get User",
          "method": "GET",
          "url": "{{base_url}}/users/{{user_id}}",
          "headers": { ... },
          "body": { ... }
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "globalVariables": { ... },
  "settings": { ... }
}

Security Considerations​

Data Encryption​

Your local data is protected by:

  • File system permissions – Only your user account can access
  • OS-level security – Protected by your OS authentication
  • No network exposure – Data never transmitted externally

API Keys and Tokens​

Store sensitive credentials safely:

  • Stored in local variables
  • Never sent to Solo servers (there are none!)
  • Protected by OS file permissions
  • Can be encrypted by OS features (FileVault, BitLocker)

Best Practices​

  1. Use full disk encryption

    • macOS: Enable FileVault
    • Windows: Enable BitLocker
    • Linux: Use LUKS or dm-crypt

  2. Regular backups

    • Export collections periodically
    • Back up application data folder
    • Keep backups secure

  3. Lock your computer

    • Use strong passwords
    • Enable auto-lock
    • Require password after sleep

Backup & Restore​

Manual Backup​

Export your data for backup:

  1. Export Collections:

    • Right-click on collection
    • Select "Export Collection"
    • Save JSON file to backup location

  2. Export All Data:

    • File → Export All
    • Choose backup location
    • Save complete workspace

  3. Copy Data Folder:

    • Locate Solo's data folder
    • Copy entire folder to backup
    • Store securely

Restore from Backup​

Restore your data easily:

  1. Import Collections:

    • Click "Import" button
    • Select JSON file
    • Collections are restored

  2. Restore Data Folder:

    • Close Solo
    • Replace data folder with backup
    • Restart Solo

Automated Backups​

Set up automatic backups:

# macOS/Linux backup script
#!/bin/bash
BACKUP_DIR="$HOME/Backups/Solo"
DATA_DIR="$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.solo.app"
DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)

mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"
cp -r "$DATA_DIR" "$BACKUP_DIR/solo-backup-$DATE"

Run daily via cron or Task Scheduler.

Migration & Portability​

Moving to a New Computer​

Transfer Solo data easily:

  1. Export Method:

    • Export all collections
    • Install Solo on new computer
    • Import collections

  2. Direct Transfer:

    • Close Solo on old computer
    • Copy data folder
    • Paste into new computer's data location
    • Start Solo on new computer

Syncing Across Devices​

Since Solo is offline-first, sync manually:

Option 1: Export/Import

  • Export on Device A
  • Transfer file (USB, email, cloud)
  • Import on Device B

Option 2: Shared Folder

  • Store exports in Dropbox/Google Drive
  • Access from any device
  • Import when needed

Option 3: Version Control

  • Export collections as JSON
  • Commit to Git repository
  • Pull on other devices
note

Solo intentionally does not include automatic cloud sync to maintain privacy and offline functionality. Use manual methods above if sync is needed.

Comparing to Cloud-Based Tools​

Solo (Offline-First)​

Complete privacy Works offline No account required Instant performance No subscription Data ownership Manual sync between devices Manual team collaboration

Cloud-Based Tools​

Automatic sync Team collaboration features Access from anywhere Requires internet Account required Monthly subscription Data on external servers Privacy concerns

Data Persistence​

When Data is Saved​

Solo automatically saves:

  • When you create a request
  • When you modify a request
  • When you send a request
  • When you change variables
  • When you reorganize collections
  • When you close the application

No Data Loss​

Solo protects against data loss:

  • Auto-save on every change
  • No "Save" button required
  • Instant persistence
  • Crash recovery

Performance Benefits​

Instant Load Times​

No cloud means fast loading:

Cloud-based:
- Launch: ~3-5 seconds (API call)
- Load workspace: ~2-3 seconds
- Search requests: ~500ms

Solo (Offline):
- Launch: <1 second (local read)
- Load workspace: <200ms
- Search requests: <50ms

Large Workspaces​

Handle thousands of requests:

  • 1,000+ requests load instantly
  • Fast search across all data
  • No pagination needed
  • Smooth scrolling
  • No API rate limits

Working Without Internet​

What Works Offline​

Everything except the actual API calls:

Create and edit requests Organize collections Manage variables Search and filter View past responses Export as cURL Import collections Edit documentation

Send HTTP/GraphQL/gRPC requests (requires network) Fetch GraphQL schemas (requires API access) Download updates (requires internet)

Offline Workflow​

Typical offline usage:

  1. Prepare requests offline:

    • Create and configure requests
    • Organize into collections
    • Set up variables
    • Write documentation

  2. Test when online:

    • Connect to network
    • Send requests
    • Verify responses

  3. Review results offline:

    • Analyze response data
    • Plan next steps
    • Update documentation

Privacy & Security​

What Solo Never Does​

Solo respects your privacy:

No telemetry or analytics No crash reports sent No usage tracking No account creation No data uploaded No ads or marketing No third-party integrations No license validation calls

Open Source Transparency​

Solo's offline-first approach is verifiable:

  • Source code available on GitHub
  • No hidden network calls
  • Community audited
  • Transparent development

FAQs​

Can I use Solo without internet?​

Yes! Solo works completely offline except when actually sending requests to APIs.

Where is my data stored?​

Locally on your computer in the application data directory.

Can others access my data?​

No, data is stored locally and protected by your OS permissions.

How do I backup my data?​

Export collections or copy the data folder to a backup location.

Can I sync between devices?​

Not automatically. Export/import collections manually or use a shared folder.

Is my data encrypted?​

Solo stores data as JSON files protected by OS permissions. Use OS-level encryption (FileVault, BitLocker) for additional security.

What happens if I lose my data?​

If you don't have backups, data is lost. Export collections regularly.

Can I move to another tool?​

Yes! Export collections as JSON or cURL commands to migrate.

Best Practices​

Regular Exports​

Export important collections:

Weekly: Export active collections
Monthly: Full workspace backup
Before major changes: Safety backup

Organize for Backup​

Structure collections for easy backup:

Active Projects (export frequently)
Templates (export once)
Archive (export rarely)

Use Version Control​

Track collection changes:

git init ~/SoloCollections
# Export collections to this folder
git add .
git commit -m "Updated user API endpoints"
git push

Document Everything​

Since there's no cloud to search:

  • Add descriptions to requests
  • Document expected responses
  • Note authentication requirements
  • Explain variable purposes

Comparison with Other Approaches​

Offline-First (Solo)​

User → Solo → Local Storage
        ↓
      API (when needed)

Benefits: Privacy, speed, ownership Trade-offs: Manual sync

Cloud-First (Traditional)​

User → Cloud Service → API
            ↓
       Cloud Database

Benefits: Sync, collaboration Trade-offs: Privacy, requires internet

Hybrid Approach​

User → App ⇄ Cloud Sync
        ↓         ↓
    Local    Cloud Storage

Benefits: Offline + sync Trade-offs: Complexity, privacy

Solo chooses offline-first for maximum privacy and simplicity.

Next Steps​