Local-first, explained
Exactly what stays on your machine, what "opt-in cloud sync" really means, and why "no telemetry" is a promise you can verify in the open source — not just take on trust.
Local-first is not a feature we bolted on — it is the default Ava is built around. Here is precisely what that means for your data.
What stays on your machine
By default, everything: your memory, tasks, journal, settings and generated assets all live on disk in your ~/.ava folder. Ava works fully offline. If you run a local model, even the AI never leaves your device.
What "opt-in cloud sync" means
Cloud sync is a switch, off until you flip it. Turn it on and your data syncs across your devices; leave it off and nothing is uploaded. It is a choice you control from the start — not a default you have to discover and disable.
No telemetry — and you can check
No tracking, no usage beacons, no "anonymous analytics." Your code is never used to train models. And because every line of Ava is open source, this is not a promise you have to take on trust — you can read it.
Why it matters
Your work is yours. Local-first means the sensitive thing — your code, your notes, your decisions — stays where you can see it, under your control, portable and exportable at any time. Capable AI should not require handing your life to someone else’s cloud.