Spacedrive is an open-source, cross-platform file manager built on a Virtual Distributed Filesystem (VDFS) written in Rust. It reimagines file management for a multi-device world by treating files as content-addressed objects rather than path-based entities. Unlike traditional file explorers that assume data resides on a single machine, Spacedrive enables seamless access to files across laptops, NAS, cloud storage (S3, Dropbox, Google Drive), and mobile devices—all while keeping your data under your control. This is not a cloud sync tool; it’s a local-first, peer-to-peer system that eliminates vendor lock-in and prioritizes data sovereignty. With semantic tagging, smart deduplication, and transactional operations, Spacedrive bridges the gap between familiarity of traditional file browsers and the power of distributed systems.
The project is a complete ground-up rewrite (v2.0.0-alpha.1) focused on scalability, privacy, and extensibility. It’s designed for developers, power users, and teams who want full control over their data without sacrificing convenience. The architecture supports WASM-based extensions, headless server deployment via Docker, and even mobile apps in development—making it a future-proof foundation for local-first computing in the age of AI and decentralized infrastructure.
What You Get
- Virtual Distributed Filesystem (VDFS) - Files are indexed by content identity (BLAKE3 hashes) rather than paths, enabling universal addressing across devices. This allows you to reference a file by its content, not location—enabling true cross-device access without duplication.
- Content-aware Deduplication - Automatically identifies identical files across all connected devices and storage volumes (including cloud services), reducing redundancy and saving space without moving data.
- Peer-to-Peer Sync (Iroh + QUIC) - Direct device-to-device synchronization with NAT traversal, eliminating reliance on central servers. Files stay where they are; Spacedrive just makes them discoverable and accessible.
- Transactional File Operations - Preview the impact of copy, move, or delete operations before execution—including space savings, conflicts, and estimated duration. Operations are durable and resume after interruptions.
- Cloud Volume Integration - Index S3 buckets, Google Drive, and Dropbox as first-class volumes. Access cloud files without downloading them locally—query metadata and content directly from the VDFS.
- Semantic Tagging System - Create hierarchical, alias-aware tags that persist across devices. Tags are graph-based and contextually disambiguated, enabling rich organization beyond folders.
- Offline-First Design - Full file management functionality works without internet. Changes sync automatically when devices reconnect, with conflict resolution handled by HLC-ordered logs.
- WASM-Based Extension System - Extend functionality with secure, sandboxed plugins (e.g., Photos, Chronicle, Ledger). Extensions run in a WASM runtime and can integrate with the VDFS for AI-powered analysis.
- Headless Server Daemon - Run Spacedrive as a background service on Linux/macOS or in Docker. Use the CLI to manage libraries, start the server, and expose the web interface for remote access.
- Cross-Platform Support - Native desktop apps (macOS, Linux, Windows in alpha.2), web interface, and upcoming mobile apps (iOS/Android) with shared UI components.
Common Use Cases
- Building a multi-device media library - A photographer with files on MacBook, external SSD, and NAS uses Spacedrive to tag photos by location and event. The system deduplicates duplicates across devices and enables semantic search: ‘Show all photos of my dog taken in 2023’—even if some copies are on an iPhone not currently connected.
- Creating a private, cloud-free backup system - A developer backs up critical code repos and documents from three laptops to a home server. Spacedrive’s P2P sync ensures redundancy without uploading to cloud providers, and the Guardian extension alerts when no copies exist on any device.
- Problem: Losing track of files across devices → Solution: Content-addressed indexing - You remember a document’s content but not where you saved it. Spacedrive lets you search by text or metadata across all indexed volumes (including cloud) and shows you every location where that file exists, with size and modification info.
- Team workflow: Shared project assets across remote engineers - A design team shares Figma files, videos, and PDFs via a shared Spacedrive library hosted on a local server. Team members connect directly over LAN, access files without uploading to Dropbox, and tag assets for reuse—reducing duplication and improving version control.
Under The Hood
Spacedrive is a local-first, AI-native file management platform designed to unify distributed file operations across desktop, mobile, and web environments. It adopts a modular architecture that enables shared core logic while supporting diverse platform-specific UIs and experiences.
Architecture
Spacedrive follows a layered, multi-platform architecture with distinct modules for different functionalities. It emphasizes clear separation of concerns and uses command handling and event-driven communication as core design patterns.
- Modular structure with well-defined boundaries between backend and frontend components
- Layered approach supporting cross-platform deployment without compromising core logic
- Command-based system for handling file operations and user interactions
- Event-driven communication to synchronize state across client and daemon components
Tech Stack
Built primarily with Rust for backend logic and TypeScript/JavaScript for frontend experiences, leveraging modern cross-platform frameworks.
- Rust as the core language for performance and safety in backend operations
- TypeScript and React Native for mobile and web interfaces with Expo integration
- Comprehensive use of React ecosystem tools including react-navigation and @tanstack/react-query
- Development tools such as Bun, Metro bundler, and GitHub Actions for CI/CD pipelines
Code Quality
Spacedrive demonstrates a mature software engineering approach with extensive test coverage and consistent architectural patterns.
- Strong component architecture and multi-language support show clear separation of concerns
- Error handling follows structured patterns with appropriate use of try/catch and error propagation
- Code linting is configured, and CI/CD pipelines are in place for automated validation
- Some technical debt remains in the form of @ts-nocheck annotations and mixed code styles
What Makes It Unique
Spacedrive introduces a unique blend of local-first design and AI-native features that distinguish it from traditional file managers.
- Daemon-client architecture enables seamless local-first file operations with distributed capabilities
- AI-native integration allows intelligent file organization and search powered by machine learning
- Unified approach to managing distributed file systems across multiple platforms
- Emphasis on local data control while supporting cloud-like experiences through abstraction