Why Local Files Matter: The Real Power

Yes, you can use claude.ai on mobile. Yes, it syncs across devices. But for real work, local files unlock something fundamentally different.

The File System Advantage

Real persistence:

• Web artifacts can disappear if the service changes

• Local files are YOURS - copy them, back them up, they work forever

• No internet needed once built (except to deploy)

Professional workflows:

• Git history tracks every change you make

• Can use VS Code, Sublime, any editor you want

• Terminal commands work (npm, git, custom scripts)

• Integrate with tools like Photoshop, Figma exports, databases

Actual deployment:

• Files on your Mac can be deployed to real hosting (GitHub Pages, Vercel, your own server)

• Web artifacts need export/recreation to go live seriously

• Local means you own the deployment pipeline

Multi-file projects:

• Organize code into folders (/components, /utils, /assets)

• Import/export between files properly

• Build tools work (bundlers, compilers, preprocessors)

• Can have hundreds of files - web artifacts get unwieldy past 3-5

Iteration speed (surprisingly):

• Claude Code sees ALL your files at once

• Can refactor across multiple files in one go

• Doesn’t lose context when you close the browser

• Can run the code locally to test immediately

The Mobile/Web Use Case (Still Valid!)

Use claude.ai web when:

• You’re on your phone/iPad

• Quick throwaway prototypes

• Sharing a demo link immediately

• Learning/exploration without commitment

• You don’t want to set anything up

Use Claude Code (local) when:

• Building something you’ll actually use/deploy

• Multi-file projects

• Need version control

• Want to learn professional workflows

• Integration with other tools matters

• The project will live beyond this week

The “Sandbox” Isn’t a Limitation - It’s a Feature

Yes, Claude Code works in your current folder (sandbox). But that’s the POINT:

The file system enables:

your-project/
  ├── src/              ← Source code
  ├── assets/           ← Images, fonts
  ├── tests/            ← Test files
  ├── docs/             ← Documentation
  ├── .git/             ← Version history
  ├── node_modules/     ← Dependencies
  └── package.json      ← Project config

This structure means:

• Other developers can understand your project immediately (conventions)

• Build tools know where to find things

• You can have separate development and production configurations

• CI/CD pipelines can automate deployment

• It’s how real software is built

The Bottom Line

Mobile/web is great for ideas. Local files are for building.

• Sketch on mobile → Refine locally → Deploy to web

• That’s the real workflow for anything serious

Even if you only ever build one real project, going through the local files process teaches you how software actually works. And that knowledge transfers to EVERYTHING.

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