AI is writing code, smartphones rival space shuttles and we are streaming 8K from our wrists. But sharing a 200MB file with someone in the same room? Still broken. It's 2025. Why does offline file sharing still feel like a road left untouched?
TL;DR
- Most file sharing tools assume you are online
- In offline scenarios (classrooms, hackathons, outages), they fall apart
- Airdrop isn't cross platform, cloud tools require logins and USBs are unreliable - especially when transfers are between smartphones
- We need local first, P2P, open source solutions - built for real world collaboration
The Illusion of Cloud Convenience
The "cloud-first" mindset is taking over the world. We have VS Code in cloud, Web mail, Web apps and even fully operational OS in cloud (looking at you Windows - how do you do that?!).
It is cool, I get it. But not every interaction requires pushing your files to the cloud.
- Not every interaction requires the cloud.
- You shouldn't have to sign up just to send a file across the table.
- You shouldn't be forced to sign up for a service just to share one folder. This shouldn't be happening. This shouldn't be complicated. Yet here we are.
"But existing solutions just work!"
Picture this: you are in the middle of a team sprint - maybe in a classroom, maybe a startup garage. You've got notes, screenshots, source code, and maybe some videos over 200 MB.
You need to share it with your teammates. And the chaos just unfolds. So here is what happens next:
- Someone tries Airdrop. It fails as two of them use Windows.
- Someone pulls out a USB. Are you sure your other ports are free - with that wireless keyboard, mouse and other accessories? Or do you even have the right port?
- Someone tried Google Drive. Your teammate waits for it to sync. And boom, you hit the storage limits.
- Then comes Whatsapp. Your screenshots and videos get distorted beyond recognition.
- Then WiFi goes out. Now what? At this point, your team spends more time thinking how to share those files than work on the project. Why? ### Modern file sharing solutions assume you are always online. You are not. And you shouldn't be. And that's a broken assumption.
The Internet Isn't Always A Given
Whether it's a college campus, a hackathon with 50 people on the same WiFi or a power outage in the hostel - you cannot count on internet access. But you can count on LAN, mobile hotspot or ad-hoc WiFi.
Yet most tools don't use that. They don't let you share device to device without a server or cloud between them. This is 2025. And that, is embarrassing.
Collaboration Deserves Better
We share more than ever - code, documents, media, designs - but our tools are stuck assuming we are always online. The truth? Many of us are not. Or just don't want to share online. Even when we are online, the process should be simple, fast, and privacy respecting - not mining our data for profit.
We need a tool that is local first, internet optional. One that supports P2P file transfer or over WiFi, doesn't require sign ups or logins or cloud dependencies, works across platforms, all open source and auditable and optional encryption for peace of mind - especially in an enterprise workspace.
Closing Notes
It's 2025. Offline collaboration is as broken as ever. We need something - something that fills this gap. Because right now, we aren't just living with broken tools - we're building on broken assumptions. We cannot assume people in the same room needs to be connected to the internet in order to share files.
That assumption is broken. And it's holding us back
Top comments (16)
what if we make a web app using express and serve it on local host.I think it should be working even while internet off.Plus, we can make the interface in our own way(no login and pass keys).
And the serving pc may be of any os, the user devces will get a consistent file sharing env.
It will work when one of the devices is a desktop. How about sending between 2 different mobile devices?
Yeah, that's a problem.
Ok, there is an app called warpinator (you may know) that we can use between pcs' and mobiles.
Here is the link:
link
Fair enough. But as far as I remember, there is no "official" ports for Android or iOS or Mac.
I have been using it on android and linux. Its works well!
But, don't know about mac!
Lets see in future,if it gets mac support or maybe some other app that fills the need and gap!
Let's hope something fills that gap. Cross-platform file sharing is a mess these days - if you don't go the cloud way, that is.
tbh, I had some plans for building a file-sharing app with cross-compatibility between different os but it got scrapped. now that I read this article and also I've got quite fluent in KMP, you've kinda convinced me to build one such. I'll see if I'm able to build one after my current projects get done. fingers crossed.
Looking forward to it!
this hits home, honestly. every time i run into this in person, i wonder if anyone at those big tech companies even cares about real-world file sharing. you think the lack of offline-first tools is because nobody sees profit in it, or is it just not on their radar
Or the cloud integration may have become so ingrained that it's just not a concern anymore. Let's face it, cloud integration brings in more data, but what about the lack of cloud? There used to be more offline-first apps that just worked. Where did they go?
true agree wish there was a fix
Unfortunately, there isn't one... yet
Totally feel this - the amount of times I've tried to send a big file in person and ended up wasting way too much time is ridiculous. Have you found any local-first apps that actually get this right?
Right? Currently, I rely on the good old USB. I'll give an update when I find one
Like this App!Recommended!
Which one?