Core Concepts

Before diving into Eidos Lite, understanding these core concepts will help you effortlessly build personal databases, notes, and workflows.

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1. Space (Your Workspace)

A Space is simply an ordinary local folder on your computer.

• Never proprietary: Eidos Lite does not trap your files inside a locked database. You can open and inspect this folder in your operating system (Finder or File Explorer) at any time.
• Mix and match: In the same Space, you can store .eidos database files, Markdown notes, PDFs, images, and other everyday files side by side.
• Portable: You can move or copy your Space folder to an external SSD, USB drive, or cloud backup, and everything remains completely intact.

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2. Eidos File (.eidos Documents)

An .eidos file is a lightweight, self-contained structured document.

• Single-file portability: Each .eidos file packages your tables, field definitions, records, and view layouts into a single standalone file.
• Offline first, instant response: Open and edit thousands of records locally in milliseconds, with zero network lag and no mandatory sign-in.
• Easy sharing: Just like sharing a regular spreadsheet or text document, you can email or transfer an .eidos file to a colleague, who can open it immediately with all views and layouts preserved.

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3. Multiple Views

Inspect the exact same data from different perspectives.

In traditional tools, creating a board or gallery often requires duplicating data. In Eidos:

• Table Grid: Designed for high-density editing, rapid data entry, and multi-column comparisons.
• Kanban Board: Group records into visual columns by single-select fields (e.g. “To Do”, “In Progress”, “Done”) with drag-and-drop status updates.
• Card Gallery: Feature cover images or attachment thumbnails to build a visual card showcase.
• Calendar: Plot dates and milestones directly onto a clean monthly or weekly calendar.

All views point to the exact same underlying records. Edits made in one view update across all other views in real time, with zero duplicated copies.

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4. Local-First & Data Ownership

Your data stays strictly under your control.

• Always usable offline: You don’t need to create an account or connect to a cloud service for everyday use.
• Built-in version history: Snapshots let you travel back in time to any previous state without needing an account.
• Optional cloud superpowers: When you need to work across multiple laptops, enable Sync. When you want to share a note or form with others, publish it as a live web page with one click.