Gallery of file-based apps*

Privacy and Control

• Full Ownership of Data: In a file-based app, users store data locally, which gives them complete control over where and how their files are stored. There’s no need to trust third-party cloud providers with sensitive information.
• No Data Harvesting: Since the app operates locally, there's no risk of third-party tracking or data being harvested by cloud providers.

Offline Functionality

• Access Without Internet: File-based apps typically function fully offline, allowing users to work in environments with limited or no internet connectivity.
• Resilience to Outages: Files are stored locally, so the app remains accessible even if the cloud or remote servers go down.

Portability

• Easy to Move Data: Files can be easily copied, backed up, or moved between devices. Users can take their data on external drives or cloud sync services without relying on any specific platform or app ecosystem.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Files managed by a file-based app can be accessed across operating systems or devices, making it easier to switch platforms or manage files in different environments.

No Vendor Lock-In

• Open Formats and Flexibility: File-based apps often use standard, open file formats (e.g., text files, images, PDFs) that can be opened and edited with other software. This minimizes the risk of being locked into a specific app or service.
• Self-Hosting Options: Users can self-host their files or share them through their preferred storage solution, avoiding dependency on a particular vendor.

Security

• Local Storage Security: Users can apply their own encryption methods or use native encryption features on their device to secure their data without relying on cloud encryption methods.
• Reduced Attack Surface: Since the app is often offline and doesn’t require communication with external servers, there’s less exposure to hacking, breaches, or data leaks.

Speed and Efficiency

• Local Performance: File-based apps read and write data directly from the local system, often resulting in faster performance compared to web-based apps or cloud services, which depend on network speed and latency.
• No Sync Issues: Users don’t have to deal with delays or conflicts that sometimes occur in cloud-syncing apps.

Customization and Flexibility

• Custom File Organization: Users have the freedom to organize their files in the way they prefer, using folders, tags, or custom file naming systems without being constrained by a specific app’s structure.
• Integration with Existing Tools: Users can integrate file-based apps with their existing file management tools, backup solutions, or cloud sync services (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive) if they choose to.

Transparency and Auditing

• Direct Access to Files: Users can directly view, inspect, and modify the files created by the app without needing specialized software or access to a database. This transparency is useful for auditing or making manual changes.
• Easy Backups: Users can easily create backups by copying their files to external drives, cloud services, or other devices without needing a specialized backup system.

Resilience to Company Shutdowns

• No Dependency on Provider’s Longevity: If we as TagSpaces developers go out of business or stops maintaining the app, users retain access to their files and can continue managing them with other software.