Does Barnacles upload my code anywhere?
No. Barnacles runs entirely on your local machine and never uploads any code or data. Your projects, code, and metadata never leave your computer.
An app for developers
Make your life a little easier with Barnacles, a free open source desktop app that helps you manage your local development projects
Download currently available for macOS only
Everything You Need to Manage Your Projects
Stop searching. Start building. Barnacles brings order to your development workflow with instant project discovery, real-time insights, and one-click access to your tools.
Instant Project Discovery
Stop digging through nested folders. Barnacles automatically scans your file system and catalogs all your development projects in one searchable interface.
Automatic detection of JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Rust, Go, Java projects
Recognizes any Git repository
Non-intrusive, read-only scanning
Powerful fuzzy search to find any project instantly
Real-Time Project Insights
Get instant visibility into every project's status. See lines of code, language breakdown, Git branch information, and last modified dates—all without opening a single file.
Automatic Git status tracking
Lines of code and file statistics
Language breakdown and technology detection
Repository status and last modified tracking
Quick Actions
Stop the ceremony of navigating to folders and launching tools. Open projects in your IDE, start terminals in the right directory, or manage project processes—all with a single click.
Open in VS Code, Cursor, WebStorm, or any preferred IDE
Integrated terminal that opens in project directory
Start and stop project processes with saved configurations
Favorite marking for quick access
Smart Filtering & Organization
Working on React projects today? Python tomorrow? Filter your entire project catalog by technology, language, or framework. Sort by last modified to jump back into recent work.
Filter by technology, language, or framework
Sort by last modified, name, or creation date
Favorites system for frequently accessed projects
Technology detection and tagging
Full Command-Line Interface
Prefer the terminal? Barnacles includes a full-featured CLI that brings all the power of the GUI to your command line. Browse projects interactively and launch tools—all from your favorite terminal.
$ barnacles projectsInteractive project browser
Full feature parity with GUI
Status commands and app launcher
Work your way with beautiful desktop app or powerful CLI
Privacy-First Architecture
Barnacles runs entirely on your local machine. No cloud syncing, no data uploads, no tracking. Your projects, code, and metadata never leave your computer.
Your code stays yours. Always.
Local SQLite database
No internet connection required
No telemetry or tracking
Read-only file system access
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? We've got answers.
What types of projects does it recognize?
Barnacles automatically detects JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, PHP, Rust, Go, Java projects, and any Git repository. More languages coming soon.
Do I need an internet connection?
No. Barnacles works completely offline. All data is stored locally in a SQLite database on your machine.
Can I use it from the command line?
Yes! Barnacles includes a full-featured CLI alongside the desktop app. You can browse projects interactively, check status, and launch tools—all from your terminal.
How does scanning work?
Barnacles scans your chosen directories with read-only access. It's non-intrusive and doesn't modify your files. You can configure the scan depth and which directories to include.
What happens to my data?
All project metadata is stored in a local SQLite database on your machine. Nothing is uploaded anywhere. You have complete control over your data.
Ready to Organize Your Projects?
Download Barnacles and bring order to your development workflow.
Download currently available for macOS only
Free & Open Source • macOS Available Now • Windows & Linux Coming Soon