Atlas Documentation

Atlas is a local-first file lineage engine. It watches directories you choose, hashes file contents with BLAKE3, and builds a graph of how your files relate — tracking every version, copy, reference, and origin across your filesystem. Atlas answers two questions no other tool can: where did this file come from? and what did this file become?

Getting Started

New to Atlas? Start here.

Core

Learn how Atlas works and how to use its features.

  • Core Concepts — Content-based identity, entities, forks, lifecycle
  • Watching Files — Watch paths, namespaces, daemon control, boot persistence
  • Querying — Find files, search history, compare directories, explore activity
  • Edges & Lineage — Inputs, outputs, impact analysis, lineage tracing
  • Ignore Patterns — Default and custom patterns for skipping files
  • Managing Data — Forget, rebuild, verify, scan, export, backups
  • Configuration — Config file, settings, shell completions
  • Privacy & Security — Local-first design, consent, data safety
  • JSON Output — Machine-readable output for scripting and automation

Connect

Expose Atlas to AI agents and external tools.

  • Overview — What Atlas Connect is, design philosophy, capabilities
  • Setup & Reference — MCP server, agent setup, tools, aggregate queries, audit logging

Extractors

Atlas discovers structural references between files using extractor packs.

Atlas Audio

Extractors for audio production workflows.

  • Reaper — DAW project files (.rpp), plugins, audio sources, render outputs
  • Kontakt — Instrument files (.nki), libraries, samples
  • Plugin Formats — VST, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP plugin metadata
  • WAV Metadata — Render provenance from BWF/BEXT metadata (.wav)