Cloud-based services are just fine until you have connection problems.
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I find the concept of cloud based work or files abhorrent! Why do people want to do that?
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generally forgotten that the “cloud” is someone’s else computer 
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For most of what is described here a cloud is not even needed. just have a “main”-pc (or server) on which kicad is running and all files are stored. then use remote access from all other machines you want to use the same kicad instance to this “main” to achieve multi-machine-access.
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Exactly and very right! Finally, there is a design software that you control. That’s exactly why we started using it, when it becomes cloud-based, at some point or hopefully never, we will stop using it there…
Short answer? Convenience.
Long answer? Convenience and cost savings. Until the cloud provider traps you and starts price gouging you, that is.
Cloud services have their place and are a great fit for some software, not so much for others. Market will sort it out eventually.
I use git nowadays to also maintain my PCB designs. I also work from 2 computers. However sometimes I forget to push a commit and I cannot continu to work on my other PC on the same project. Slight inconvenience. Since I work alone I fear no merge conflicts.
I was thinking about moving my git repositiories to my dropbox folders. I would still have the git features like commits, branches and version control n such. I just would no longer have to keep pushing and pulling my repo’s continously because I work on two platforms. I can just push occassionally to github for deploying releases as well as safe keeping purposes.
If you would see my commits, you will see some useless entries like: “Commit for push” which I sometimes make when I am halfway a change or so.
I have all source not only locally on two computers but also on github and dropbox. So even if both PCs and dropbox all die on the same day… I am still good.
Regards,
Bas
Actually that’s not necessarily true. Cloud based doesn’t have to mean the data is elsewhere. Take for example the online markdown editor dillinger.io. Your documents are saved in the browser’s local storage.
The problem with getting just the app from the cloud and working with your own data is that the app is sandboxed because it comes from another domain. It’s assumed that you have verified the app and trust the publishers, just like you trust the KiCad packages. So there will be strict controls over what can be accessed. For a complex app like KiCad that uses many resources this is problematic. Database libraries can allievate some of that, but web apps are constrained to the browser’s part of the filesystem.
And even when you have overcome all of that, you essentially have to make the software cater for another platform. I don’t see that happening soon.
Android tried instant apps for a while but now it’s back to installing apps first. So I think you will be installing KiCad packages for a while yet, tempting though it might be to be able to approach a fresh browser and start designing.
This is also an appropriate solution I agree with you…just on Dropbox or OneDrive and/or on similar don’t forget to use this for example: Boxcryptor Security for Your Cloud
Having worked for AWS as sysadmin for tons of years, I know what you can see from an open (not encrypted) S3, say… a lot 
Unfortunately, in our case yes, pls.
name one PCB/Curciut design system where this is not the case…
they are still on my desk, but why do I only use KiCAD? 
My sympathies. Fortunately I don’t have to work with anything but KiCad for ECAD. 
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Having the files on your device only part of you control your data
Being able to use said data again is the other half of it
Dillinger works fine because it’s markdown and the entire world has reimplemented markdown and fragmented it a billion times now.
KiCad is very niche in the broader world, sure there can be another kicad_pcb, kicad_sch supporting editor and there are right now ones that support it, but perhaps not always will be. Who knows what the future holds.
At least with KiCad you get this nice binary that’ll work until the end of human civilization on the OS+machine it originally did.
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Sure, and of course you’d want the cloud based app to be open source like KiCad is, with an appropriate license that prevents hoarding enhancements, which was why the Affero GPL came about. If it’s derived from KiCad then it would have to be open source too.
Wait, this just came in on my crystal ball from the forum in year 2032: Hi, I’m still using KiCad 14, must I upgrade to KiCad 16? I like how it works and don’t want to change my habits.
We actually once had a AGPL dependency that caused corporate donors to KiCad to balk because it meant they couldn’t use it themselves. Meaning we can’t go the AGPL route unless we want to start charging for KiCad to fund instead.
The other thing from experience, cloud/server apps are still not ideal here. A desktop app will just run out of the box after you install it. The user doesn’t need to be technically skilled. Self-hosting a cloud/server based app means you now need that skillset. Sure maybe someone takes up the task for hosting it for others but depending on the goodwill of others, not to mention IP protection concerns among others isn’t that good there.
Sure, the pendulum swings back and forth. Some might remember the hoopla over running Java apps everywhere but in the end it ended up as server side technology. So the browser as universal client dream has been scaled back to more interactivity and now there’s a distinct app for every task on your phone. So apps for desktops will be with us for a long time.
If it wasn’t already clear I don’t see a case for a cloud based KiCad in my lifetime but then I won’t live forever.
My experience using VDI’s for other software has always been less than pleasant. Clunky, barely works, etc. granted, it has been probably 3 years since I tried so maybe the tech is way better now.
But if cloud based were made an option, not a requirement, then how would it affect you? Just don’t turn it on, and use KiCad like you always do.
I don’t think anyone is suggesting that it be a cloud-only thing. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.
I totally understand the $$ aspect. Makes sense that it wouldn’t be a viable thing to implement because of financial concerns.
What I’m not understanding is it seems some of the comments are assuming that the question I posed (as the OP) somehow implied that hypothetically developing a cloud based KiCad would make its use instantly be mandatory. As I replied to another poster, if it were ever something that was developed, couldn’t it simply be an option? If someone is appalled by cloud based software, they could just keep that option turned off and continue using it like they always have.
Technically? Yes
Realistically? No, why would someone put all that effort in and then maintain two different versions, the cloud version and the non-cloud version? Someone would need to be paying a lot of money for that to ever happen…