Sync Conf + InstantDB × Expo Meetup - SF Developer Vlog

Takes you through my visit to San Francisco for the Sync Conference and the InstantDB × Expo meetup. I share my experience with local-first app development, demo a shopping list app built with Expo and Instant, and explore the Instant team’s office and philosophy.

If you’re interested in mobile development, local-first apps, or using Instant as a backend with Expo, this vlog offers insights, demos, and a behind-the-scenes look at the Instant team and their tools.

What's inside

• Arrival and first impressions of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge
• Demo prep and working on a local-first shopping list app with Expo and Instant
• Touring Instant’s San Francisco office and meeting the founders
• What Instant is: a batteries-included backend framework for apps
• How to get started with Instant using the CLI and Expo
• My presentation on local-first apps with Expo and Instant at the meetup
• Reflections on the Sync Conference and the local-first movement
• Gifted books and wisdom from Instant founders, including Paul Graham essays

Arrival and first impressions of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge

I arrived in San Francisco excited to explore the city and attend the Sync Conference. Despite cloudy weather, I made it to the south side of the Golden Gate Bridge, enjoying coffee at a recommended spot called Round Table Coffee. The views were inspiring, and I took the opportunity to work on my demo app in this iconic setting.

San Francisco’s vibe and scenery energized me for the busy days ahead. I captures some moments of the city, the bridge, and a huge ship passing by, highlighting why I consider it the best city in the US.

Demo prep and working on a local-first shopping list app with Expo and Instant

Before the meetup, I finalized my demo app: a shopping list built as a local-first application using Expo and Instant. The app supports dark mode and real-time updates. I worked on it at the coffee shop, making sure it ran smoothly on Android.

During the meetup, I demonstrated live coding with Expo’s MCP and Instant MCP to build and update the app in real time. Although the AI assistant took longer than expected to generate code, I showed the final product, which synced updates instantly across devices.

Touring Instant’s San Francisco office and meeting the founders

I got a personal tour of Instant’s office from Stopa, one of the founders. The space is modern and inspiring, with amenities like electric bikes for commuting and a pull-up bar challenge for visitors. The team’s culture is visible in their book collection, featuring classics like Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs and fun reads like Don Quixote.

Stopa shared how Instant moved from New York to San Francisco to be closer to their user base. Meeting the founders and team gave me a deeper appreciation for the company’s mission and energy.

What Instant is: a batteries-included backend framework for apps

Instant is a framework that provides a complete backend solution for your app, designed to make data persistence as easy as managing state. It handles syncing, storage, and real-time updates without requiring you to build or maintain your own backend infrastructure.

The founders emphasized Instant’s simplicity: you can add a backend to any frontend app with minimal setup, focusing on your app’s logic instead of backend complexity.

How to get started with Instant using the CLI and Expo

To start with Instant, you run the command:

• npx create-instant-app

This launches a terminal wizard where you choose your stack: Expo, Next.js, or vanilla JavaScript. It bootstraps a basic app ready to connect with Instant’s backend and AI assistant Claude.

This CLI makes it easy to get up and running quickly, whether you want to build a mobile app with Expo or a web app with Next.js.

My presentation on local-first apps with Expo and Instant at the meetup

At the meetup, I presented on building local-first mobile apps using Expo and Instant. I showcased my shopping list app and demonstrated live coding with Expo MCP and Instant MCP.

The presentation was lively but a bit nerve-wracking - I forgot a few points and had to cut the live coding short due to AI response times. Still, attendees engaged by scanning QR codes and posting questions, and the real-time sync impressed many.

Reflections on the Sync Conference and the local-first movement

After the conference, I reflected on the local-first and sync movements. I noticed some divergence in approaches and trade-offs companies are making around syncing and offline-first data.

The talk touched on challenges like distributed transaction commits and multi-exabyte storage systems, referencing Dropbox’s design. These insights help frame the evolving landscape of local-first app development.

Gifted books and wisdom from Instant founders, including Paul Graham essays

Stopa gifted me a set of five custom-printed Paul Graham essays and a collection of books that inspire the Instant team. Among them is Founders at Work, which profiles startup founders and their journeys.

These books are a treasure trove of wisdom on programming, startups, and entrepreneurship. I’m excited to dive into them and share insights with you in future videos.

Resources

CourseReact Native course

Fundamentals through shipping: the concepts behind the prompts, with lifetime access.