Why no account and no server? A local-first songbook

What does local-first mean?

In a local-first app the primary copy of your data is on your device. The app doesn't ask a server to open, show a song or save an edit; everything works even with no internet at all. In a cloud-based app the primary copy sits on the company's server, and what's on your device is a temporary reflection of it.

In Songlivo the principle extends to stage sync: the band's devices connect to each other over a local Wi-Fi network or directly over Bluetooth. There's no server, no account and no internet connection in between.

Why it matters on stage

• The venue's internet is not your problem. In a wedding hall, a basement club or outdoors with no signal, your songs still open and the band still plays in sync.
• There's no such thing as a server outage. A company's server going down on gig night, or a login screen holding you at the door, simply can't happen.
• Speed. Opening a song, switching setlists or shifting the key never waits on the network; it all happens on the device itself.
• Your access isn't tied to a subscription. There's no app that locks your library when a payment lapses; your songs always open.

Where does your data live?

• Songs, setlists, notes and settings are stored only on your device.
• There's no account: no email, password or phone number is asked for.
• The app sends no ads, analytics or crash reports. With no server that knows what you do, there's no “profile” to delete either.
• During stage sync a song travels only between the band's devices, over a local connection. A song from the leader that isn't in your library is shown temporarily and not saved.
• You join a stage with a 4-digit code; the code itself is never sent across the Wi-Fi network in plain text.

The price: the backup is in your hands

Local-first has an honest cost: with no cloud keeping your data for you, the backup you made is what brings your songs back when a phone is lost or broken. Nor is there any sync that keeps two devices identical on its own.

• A full backup is a single .songlivo file: songs, setlists, notes and settings are all inside.
• You put the file wherever you like: your own cloud drive, email, your computer. You decide where it goes.
• Make a backup before a big gig, after adding songs in bulk and before changing phones.
• On the new phone, importing the file is all it takes; the app opens with your old setup. The free version's 30-song limit applies to imports too.

Your phone's own system backup may include app data, but don't rely on it: what gets backed up depends on the device and its settings. Keep a .songlivo file at hand.

How do purchases work without an account?

The free version of Songlivo holds 30 songs and includes every feature; Pro only removes the song limit. Pro is a one-time purchase, and it's tied not to an account we keep but to the Apple or Google account you already use.

• On a second device or after changing phones, “Restore Purchases” on the Pro screen is all you need; you never pay twice.
• The purchase doesn't carry your songs. Songs move with a .songlivo backup.
• There's no subscription; you pay once.

Five questions to ask when choosing an app

Whatever songbook you use, ask these before you trust it on stage:

1. Does it open and show songs in airplane mode?
2. Can I export my songs in an open format (ChordPro, plain text)?
3. What happens to my library if my subscription ends?
4. Does band sync need the internet or an account?
5. If the company closes or the app is pulled, where do my songs end up?