Local-First Data: Clear-Text DSL Inspired by HCL

00:48:16 — Local-First Data: Clear-Text DSL Inspired by HCL

Michael explains PeopleWork’s data architecture: everything stays on your computer in clear text using a custom DSL inspired by HCL (HashiCorp Configuration Language). They considered Markdown but needed to enforce specific structures for feelings and observations that didn’t fit naturally into Markdown fields. If PeopleWork goes away, users retain full access to their data — it’s not a binary format or encrypted blob, but human-readable text files, echoing the local-first philosophy of tools like Obsidian.