Storage and backups

Where workbooks live

The browser app keeps workbooks in storage for this browser profile and this site origin. Another device, browser, or origin does not automatically get your data. The app loads code and its runtime over the network, then performs workbook operations locally. It provides no account synchronization or server copy of your workbook.

The header shows Opening locally…, Waiting to save…, Saving…, Saved in this browser, or Not saved. Wait for saving to complete before closing the tab. Not saved means the current operation is not confirmed persisted; see saving failures.

Browser storage can be cleared or evicted. Private browsing may discard it when the session ends. Storage availability and capacity vary. A rendered workbook preview during startup is not confirmation that the runtime has opened and saved your work.

Independent browser tabs

Each tab opens an independent workbook session using the latest completed snapshot available at startup. Edits publish snapshots for subsequently opened tabs; already-open tabs do not live-sync. Avoid editing the same work in several tabs: their independent writes can publish different snapshots. Close older tabs before restoring a backup or continuing in a newly opened tab.

Download a full backup

1. Wait for Saved in this browser.
2. Open the header's download icon (Export).
3. Choose Download full workbook backup.
4. Keep the downloaded hugtab-backup.duckdb somewhere outside browser storage.

This is a full database copy containing stored Hugtab workbooks, imported datasets, formatting, and command history. It differs from CSV/XLSX export of one sheet's values. Keep a backup before clearing site data, moving to another device, or switching the app's domain. A backup contains your data; store it as carefully as your source files.

Restore a full backup

Restore replaces the workbooks stored for this browser site. It does not merge them.

1. Download a current full backup first, and close other Hugtab tabs.
2. Open Export, then Restore full workbook backup.
3. Choose your .duckdb backup.
4. Read the replacement confirmation. Cancel if you did not intend to replace stored workbooks.
5. Confirm and wait for the restored workbook to load. Check its sheets and important values.

To move devices or origins, download from the old location and restore in the new one. Restore only a backup you intended to use.

Desktop persistence and recovery

Desktop shows Saved locally and stores its database on your device. New installations use ~/.hugtab/hugtab.duckdb; existing installations may retain ~/.minisheet/minisheet.duckdb. The service creates checkpoints and rotating database backups, and can recover a corrupt primary database from a usable backup.

The header's full-backup download/restore actions are browser-only. For an independent desktop database copy, quit the app completely before copying its data directory. Keep the whole directory so existing database and recovery files stay together. Automatic local backups do not protect against losing the device or its disk. Desktop signing/update availability depends on the published release; check downloads.