Local vs Cloud: The Honest Trade offs

Local (Claude CLI) Advantages

✅ Ownership:

• Files on your computer = you control them

• No “platform lock-in”

• Works offline (after initial generation)

✅ GitHub workflow:

• Push to GitHub

• Deploy to GitHub Pages (free hosting!)

• Professional version control

✅ Privacy:

• Source code lives locally

• Can disconnect after building

✅ Integration:

• Use your favorite text editor

• Real terminal access

• Professional developer tools

Local Disadvantages

❌ Setup complexity:

• Terminal learning curve

• Initial installation (though it’s easier now!)

• Git configuration

❌ No mobile/tablet:

• Must be at your Mac

• Can’t tweak from phone (unless GitHub + CodeSandbox)

❌ Internet still needed:

• For Claude AI requests

• For npm packages

• For deploying

Cloud (claude.ai) Advantages

✅ Instant start:

• No installation

• Works anywhere (phone, tablet, any computer)

• Just click “Create Artifact”

✅ Sharing:

• Get a link instantly

• Others can remix

• Built-in collaboration

✅ Lower barrier:

• No terminal needed

• No Git knowledge required

• Visual interface

Cloud Disadvantages

❌ Export complexity:

• Manual copy-paste for complex projects

• Loses some structure

• Need to recreate locally if you want to deploy seriously

❌ Platform dependency:

• Tied to claude.ai availability

• Subject to rate limits

• Can’t easily run professional workflows

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