Offline-First Sync
NoteCove is designed to work perfectly offline, with seamless synchronization when you reconnect.
Philosophy
Offline-First Architecture
NoteCove follows the offline-first principle:
- All data local: Complete copy of your notes on every device
- Full functionality: All features work without internet
- Automatic sync: Changes sync when connection is available
- No blockers: Never wait for network or servers
This is different from cloud-first apps that require internet connectivity for basic operations.
Why Offline-First?
Reliability:
- Work anywhere (airplane, coffee shop, remote areas)
- No downtime from server issues
- No dependency on third-party services
Performance:
- Instant loading and saving
- No network latency
- Fast search and navigation
Privacy:
- Your data stays on your devices
- No third-party server access
- You control sync through your own cloud storage
Ownership:
- You own your data
- No vendor lock-in
- Export and backup anytime
How It Works
Local Storage
NoteCove stores everything locally:
- SQLite database: Note metadata, folders, tags, search index
- CRDT updates: Sync data for merging changes
- Configuration: App preferences and settings
Location on disk:
- macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/NoteCove/ - Windows:
%APPDATA%\NoteCove\ - Linux:
~/.config/NoteCove/
Cloud Sync
NoteCove syncs through your cloud storage:
- You edit a note on Device A
- CRDT update written to sync folder on disk
- Cloud storage syncs the file (Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud)
- Device B detects new file
- CRDT merge applies changes to Device B’s local database
Learn more about sync configuration →
Conflict Resolution
NoteCove uses CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) for automatic conflict resolution:
- All edits preserved and merged
- No “last write wins” - all changes kept
- Mathematically guaranteed convergence
- No conflict dialogs or manual resolution
Learn more about sync configuration →
Sync Features
Multi-Device Sync
Use NoteCove on multiple devices:
- Desktop: Multiple computers (Mac, Windows, Linux)
- iOS: iPhone and iPad (coming soon)
- Sync folder: Same cloud folder on all devices
- Automatic merge: Changes from all devices merged seamlessly
Real-Time Updates
Changes appear quickly on other devices:
- Local network: Near-instant via file system watching
- Internet: Depends on cloud storage sync speed
- Offline: Syncs when connection restored
Selective Sync
(Coming soon)
Choose what to sync on each device:
- Sync all folders
- Sync specific folders only
- Exclude large folders on mobile
Offline Capabilities
What Works Offline
Everything works without internet:
✅ Create and edit notes and tasks ✅ Rich text formatting ✅ Organize folders ✅ Kanban boards ✅ Search notes (FTS5) ✅ Multi-window support ✅ Keyboard shortcuts ✅ App preferences
What Requires Connection
Only cloud sync needs internet:
❌ Syncing changes to other devices ❌ Initial setup of cloud folder ❌ Downloading notes on new device
But even these work eventually - changes queue offline and sync when reconnected.
Sync Strategies
Cloud Storage Providers
NoteCove works with popular cloud storage:
Dropbox:
- Fast sync
- Cross-platform support
Google Drive:
- Large free tier
- Integrates with Google ecosystem
- Desktop sync app required
iCloud Drive (macOS/iOS):
- Built into Apple devices
- No extra app needed
- Great for Apple-only users
Learn more about configuring sync →
Troubleshooting
Sync Not Working
Check:
- Cloud storage app is running
- Sync folder has correct permissions
- Internet connection (for cloud sync)
- View activity log for errors
Slow Sync
Optimize:
- Check cloud storage app settings
- Reduce sync frequency
- Close unused devices
- Check network speed
On iCloud:
- On Mac, right click the folder and select “Keep Downloaded”
- On iOS, long press on the folder and select “Keep Downloaded”
Sync Conflicts
Note: CRDTs should prevent conflicts, but if you see issues:
- Check all devices use same sync folder
- Verify NoteCove versions match
- Check activity log for errors
- Contact support with logs
Best Practices
Sync Setup
Do:
- Keep cloud storage app updated
Don’t:
- Delete sync folder manually
- Edit sync data files directly
Backup
Even with sync, maintain backups:
- Regular exports: Export notes periodically
- Separate backup: Use Time Machine, Backblaze, etc.
- Sync folder backup: Cloud provider usually backs up automatically
Security
Protect your synced data:
- Encryption: Use cloud provider’s encryption features
- 2FA: Enable two-factor auth on cloud account
- Local encryption: Use FileVault (Mac) or BitLocker (Windows)
- Access control: Don’t share sync folder publicly