"Local-first" gets used loosely in software marketing. Here is what it actually means for your manuscript in Author Notebook, and where the boundaries are.
On the Windows desktop app, your project is stored on your own device rather than requiring a remote server to function. You can write and save without an internet connection.
Cloud Projects lets you sync selected workspaces across devices if you choose to. It is a separate, opt-in feature layered on top of local-first storage, not a replacement for it.
The browser-based web app needs a network connection for sign-in and any cloud sync. If fully offline use matters to you, the Windows desktop app is the better fit.
Local-first reduces dependence on a remote server, but it does not replace backups. Exporting a portable .anb project file gives you a copy you control, independent of any single device.
A practical approach to character profiles, relationships, and a cast list that stays readable.
Locations, factions, rules, and timeline consistency, covered step by step.
A practical, act-based approach to planning your novel before you draft.