File based foundation
Worktable is file-backed: the app, agents, and exports all operate on one portable workspace model. Docs are Markdown or rich text, records are YAML, HTML docs are ordinary HTML plus YAML metadata and state, and conversations and annotations are stored alongside the content they belong to.
What “file-backed” means by deployment
Section titled “What “file-backed” means by deployment”- Desktop and local installs keep the workspace in a folder you choose or accept during setup. You can open, back up, diff, or version those files with normal tools.
- Self-hosted installs keep the same workspace folder on the server you run.
- Worktable Cloud manages the live storage for you. Export a
.wtbpackage whenever you need a complete portable copy or want to move deployments.
Desktop, Cloud, and self-hosted Worktable use the same portable content format.
A .wtb package can move between them; it is a snapshot handoff, not continuous
sync or merge.
Portable workspace versus machine state
Section titled “Portable workspace versus machine state”Worktable deliberately separates content you own from installation state:
| Kind | Examples | Portable |
|---|---|---|
| Workspace content | Spaces, docs, HTML docs, records, annotations, threads, versions | Yes |
| Installation state | Credentials, sessions, service logs, caches, release files, delivery state | No |
Copying or exporting a workspace does not copy credentials or reconnect agents. That boundary makes the content portable without turning an archive into a credential backup. Review content for secrets before sharing or committing it, just as you would any project folder.
The complete on-disk layout is in workspace files, and the portable archive format is in workspace packages.
What this means for agents
Section titled “What this means for agents”Agents work with the same kinds of content regardless of deployment, subject to the access granted to their connection. Their durable output enters the same workspace a human reviews in the app. See how agents fit.