Put file tools back in Finder.
A small native macOS app for creating, processing and organizing files and images.
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Swift + AppKit + SwiftUI · Offline file creation
Creating a file should not require opening an editor, choosing Save As and finding your folder again.
FileMint puts the action back in Finder: right-click, choose a type and your file is there. Use this native macOS Finder extension for right-click file creation, reusable templates, batch rename, SHA-256 checksums, image compression and OCR.
Batch Rename previews rules or pasted names before execution and supports undoing the most recent successful operation. File Info adds SHA-256, SHA-512, SHA-1 and MD5 calculation, copying and comparison. Both tools start off; enable them under File & Folder Tools when needed. Existing templates, grants and settings are retained, with both DMG and ZIP update archives available. The stable installer supports M-series Macs on macOS 13+.
- Batch Rename: Preview and rename 2–1,000 items in one directory on local, writable APFS, with undo, interrupted-operation recovery and no overwriting of existing items.
- File Info and checksums: Inspect one ordinary file, explicitly calculate four supported digests, and copy or compare results.
- Copy and preview templates: Start with a copy of an existing template and optionally inspect text output or an Office preview supported by the system.
- Import and export templates: Back up, move or share templates in
.filemint-templatespackages, reviewing conflicts before import. - Create and Open: Continue in an app chosen for the template or this creation; opening failures preserve the saved file.
- New File from Clipboard: Explicitly read one plain-text item, then review the name, destination and content before creating a file.
- Open with App: Add your go-to apps to Finder and open selected items or the current folder with them.
- Paste Image as File: Preview and name a copied screenshot or image, then save it as PNG.
- Multiple templates per format: Keep separate content and filenames for one format, with a configurable default template.
- Word / Excel templates: Create blank
.docxand.xlsxfiles from built-in templates, or import your own documents and create independent copies with their formatting and content intact. - Themes and settings: General now offers Follow System, Light and Dark, with consistent control alignment and interaction styles.
| What matters | How FileMint approaches it |
|---|---|
| Native experience | Swift + AppKit + SwiftUI; native menus, windows and editing without an embedded web runtime. |
| Small and focused | Small footprint, no account, no subscription and no background folder crawl. |
| Local performance boundary | File creation, image processing and OCR run on your Mac instead of a remote service. |
| Finder context | Right-click the desktop or an authorized folder; the current location is the destination context. |
| Opt-in extensions | File Tools and Resource Tools start off and never disturb the existing New File menu. |
This is a real installed-build Finder example. With longmao.navigator.png selected, New File, File & Folder Tools and Resource Tools remain distinct, with color icons for quick scanning.
Set the full filename, suffix, destination and starter content before creation. Enter project-kickoff.md, paste the first Markdown lines and create it without an empty-file detour.
The creation panel supports:
⌘↩to create andEscto cancel; Return inserts a newline in the editor.- A full filename and synchronized extension selector; custom suffixes remain UTF-8 text.
- Automatic numbering for quick creation and confirmation before custom replacement.
- Literal multiline text, Unicode, spaces and template-looking tokens.
Select an image in Finder and open Resource Tools, or choose a local image explicitly from the app:
- Convert Image: JPEG, PNG, HEIC and TIFF.
- Compress Image: MozJPEG for JPEG, lossless PNG / TIFF encoding and the system HEIC encoder. Keep originals and dimensions, save successful results and show actual sizes.
- Resize Image: preserve proportions, batch resize and never enlarge the source.
- Generate Icons: ICNS, ICO and PNG size sets.
- Stitch Images: horizontal or vertical layouts with preview and ordering.
- Extract Text: system OCR with editable, copyable and savable results.
- Remove Private Metadata: Clear GPS, capture time and device metadata, then verify and save a separate copy while preserving the original.
The resource example uses longmao.navigator.png; preview, destination and original preservation are visible in the panel.
The module starts off. Once enabled, each action can live directly in Finder's main menu or inside File & Folder Tools:
- Copy File / Folder Names and Paths: one line per selected item; Copy Paths also accepts an in-scope folder background. The clipboard changes only when you choose the command.
- Move File / Folder: capture sources first, then confirm at the target folder background. Nothing moves silently.
- Delete Permanently: confirmation by default, bypasses Trash and never follows a selected symlink.
- AirDrop: opens macOS's native recipient UI; it never sends automatically.
- Send Alias to Desktop: creates native Finder aliases, preserves originals and numbers conflicts.
The persistent sidebar groups settings by job:
- File Creation: Templates & Types, Creation.
- Extensions: File & Folder Tools, Resource Tools, Open with App.
- Preferences: General, Finder & Folders, About.
Each page has a clear responsibility, optional modules can be disabled independently, and arrow keys move between pages. General → Appearance offers Follow System, Light and Dark; Follow System is the default.
Finder menu icons offer Colored and System Monochrome styles. Supported menus and templates also let you search system symbols, change colors or reset to the default. Monochrome preserves saved colors for when you switch back to Colored.
Quick creation: Finder desktop or folder background → New File → choose a type.
Custom creation: New File… → enter the full filename → choose the suffix → paste optional content → Create.
Resource Tools: Settings → Extensions → Resource Tools; enable it, then choose images in the app or from Finder.
File & Folder Tools: Settings → Extensions → File & Folder Tools; enable the module, then choose actions and menu locations.
The FileMint app and menu bar also offer New File… without Finder integration.
- Filenames, paths, content, images and OCR results are never uploaded.
- FileMint does not crawl folders, enumerate files, monitor the clipboard or keep image-processing history.
- Finder actions operate only on the current local selection inside an authorized scope.
- Creation and image processing work offline. The main app reaches GitHub only for update checks or downloads; the Finder extension stays offline.
- Finder enablement, folder authorization and Full Disk Access are separate macOS capabilities. FileMint guides you, but never changes system permissions silently.
Read the complete privacy policy.
The 0.8.0 stable installer supports M-series Macs on macOS 13+ only. Intel Macs cannot install or update to this version. Published installers through 0.5.10 keep their original compatibility.
Stable installers from 0.5.9 onward are Developer ID signed, Apple notarized and stapled. First use still follows macOS prompts for Finder enablement and folder authorization.
- Download the latest DMG and drag FileMint into Applications.
- Launch it, enable the Finder extension and authorize your working folders.
- Return to Finder and start creating or processing images.
For a fresh installation, the official FileMint Homebrew tap
provides brew install --cask filemintapp/tap/filemint. Migration from a manual
installation and Finder behavior after upgrade or removal still need isolated native acceptance; read the tap instructions first.
After installing 0.5.9, use About → Check for Updates → Update and Restart for later releases. Finish creating or editing first; macOS may request administrator authorization.
When upgrading from 0.5.7/0.5.8, manually install 0.5.9 or later once: quit FileMint, replace it in Applications, eject the installer volume and reopen it. Those older updaters cannot repair their own signed permissions.
For full installation limitations, update notes and provenance, read the installation guide.
These are unfinished directions only; the list changes with real use and feedback.
- Filename rules — Build names from dates, project names and other fields, with a preview of the result.
- Project folder templates — Create a familiar folder structure and starter files in one action.
- Shortcuts and launcher integrations — Open a prefilled creation panel from Shortcuts, Raycast or Alfred.
- Template groups and favorites — Group templates by purpose, pin favorites and find them through search.
- First-file walkthrough — Follow clear steps from enabling the extension and authorizing a folder to creating your first file.
- Troubleshooting and compatibility notes — Get specific help when menus or creation fail, with verified cloud-folder and external-drive notes.
- Homebrew installation — The official FileMint tap is public for fresh downloads; upgrade, migration and removal still need isolated native acceptance.
Implementation notes and completion criteria live in the implementation roadmap (Chinese). Share recurring file-creation needs through Issues, or contribute templates, translations and reproduction steps.
Thank you to 阿逼 (@bibinocode) for helping with FileMint's Developer ID signing and Apple notarization submission.
Optional donations are welcome if FileMint saves you a few interruptions. Personal and non-commercial use is free; features do not depend on donations. A donation does not purchase commercial rights.
Copyright: XiaoDaiGua-Ray. Developers: XiaoDaiGua-Ray and GPT-Astra.
Personal and non-commercial use is free. Commercial use requires prior written authorization or a separately issued paid commercial license.
| Use | Permission |
|---|---|
| Personal, educational and research use without commercial purpose | Free |
| Non-commercial forks, modifications and redistribution | Free; retain license and copyright notices |
| Business workflows, client work and paid services | Separate written authorization or paid commercial license |
| Commercial derivatives, paid distribution or product integration | Separate written authorization or paid commercial license |
FileMint uses its own Non-Commercial Source License, not MIT. Source availability does not grant unrestricted commercial rights. See commercial licensing. Contributors can start with development, the SPEC and acceptance evidence.