A little help getting started.
AlpacaEdit is in development for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 26 or later.
Open your workspace
Use Command-O for files or Command-Option-O for a project folder. Select the folder in the macOS picker to grant access. File permissions are remembered for future sessions. If a file moves or permission expires, choose it again. Finder-mounted network volumes can be selected in the same way.
Everyday commands
- Command-N: new draft. Command-S: save. Command-Shift-S: Save As.
- Command-F: find in the current document. Command-Shift-F: project search.
- Command-Shift-O: Quick Open. Command-Shift-P: command palette.
- Command-D: select the next occurrence. Control-Space: complete a word from this document.
- Command-Shift-J: find a matching symbol in the current document.
- Command-Option-[ and ]: fold a selection or block, and unfold all.
Save, recover, and review
AlpacaEdit checks for external changes before overwriting a file. If a conflict is reported, use Save As to retain your version and compare the files. Tools → Document Backups opens pre-save snapshots as new drafts for review. Project replacements have their own backup batches and original-file manifests. Unsaved drafts are recovered on reopening; save important work regularly.
Set up optional AI
Choose AI in the inspector, choose OpenAI or Claude, and save your own API key to Keychain. Set a model available to your provider account in Settings → AI. Choose the context and confirm the provider disclosure before sending. Responses can be copied, opened as drafts, or reviewed before applying an edit. Your provider handles API usage and billing.
A rate or quota error requires checking your provider account. A model-not-found error requires changing the model ID. An interrupted response is not applied to your document.
Current boundaries
- Files over 64 MB are viewed in read-only 1 MB pages.
- Project search handles UTF-8 files below 64 MB; hidden files, symlinks, and excluded folders are skipped. Results are capped for display.
- HTML preview is optional, limited to 2 MB, and blocks JavaScript and external resources. PHP is highlighted, not executed.
- File comparison handles UTF-8 files below 8 MB; larger comparisons highlight changed regions rather than individual characters.
- Code tools use lexical highlighting, document words, and symbols. Compiler diagnostics, external language servers, direct FTP/SFTP, and shell execution are not included.
Report a problem
Include your Mac model, macOS version, AlpacaEdit version, file type and approximate size, the steps you took, and what you expected. Use a small non-confidential example where possible. Never send API keys or passwords.