What local-first bookmarks mean for your data

Know which copy you are relying on

Whiskrs stores saved links, collections, spaces, project destinations and preferences in the current browser profile. Core organization works without a Whiskrs account. Another browser profile does not automatically receive that library.

This is useful when you want to organize references without setting up a service, but it changes your responsibilities. Removing an extension or losing a browser profile can remove its local data. A second copy on a different drive or backup system protects against a different set of failures than an undo button.

Use export and recovery for different jobs

Whiskrs offers JSON export for a portable copy of your library. Its local recovery view keeps bounded snapshots with a restore preview and retains the current library before a restore. Recovery is helpful for an editing mistake; an exported file is useful when moving browsers or protecting against profile loss.

1. Export a JSON backup before a large import, cleanup or restore.
2. Keep dated copies somewhere covered by your normal device backup.
3. Import into a separate test profile when you want to verify a critical backup.
4. Keep the old copy until you have checked collections, notes and project destinations.

Local-first does not mean every feature is offline

Opening a saved website naturally contacts that website. Optional Repository pulse reads public GitHub activity when you set it up or refresh it. Public sharing sends the space you choose to the sharing server you configure. An optional AI usage companion communicates with a separately started local service.

These boundaries matter more than a broad “private” label. Read the current privacy policy and the browser permission prompt for the feature you are enabling. Whiskrs does not automatically synchronize your whole library to a cloud account. Publishing a space is an explicit sharing action, not a backup routine.

Keep sensitive material out of portable files

A bookmark URL can itself contain private information, such as an internal hostname, a search query or an access token. Review exported and published links before sending them to someone else. A local bookmark collection should not be used as a password manager.

Whiskrs excludes connection credentials and transient activity from portable library exports. That does not make every saved URL safe to distribute. Before a profile migration, check the file locally, verify the import and keep the original browser profile until you know the new copy is complete.