Local fallback
Managed folders can switch to local storage when the external volume becomes unavailable.
THE STORY
Why this exists.
The problem
Using an external drive as primary storage makes a loose cable a real interruption. A folder pointing at an unavailable volume can leave applications with nowhere useful to save.
The approach
Give managed folders a local fallback and make reconnection part of the same workflow. Keep conflicting copies during the merge instead of silently discarding one version.
The useful parts.
What the product brings into one place.
Work comes back with you
Changes made during the disconnect are merged back when the drive returns.
Keep both sides of a conflict
The merge preserves conflicting copies so an unexpected difference does not become a silent overwrite.
A small, inspectable tool
Bash and native macOS hooks keep the setup understandable, with commands for configuration and status.
From start to outcome.
Walk through the product, one step at a time.
STEP 01 OF 04
Choose the folders
Follow the repository’s setup instructions to configure the external volume and folders Limpet will manage.
WHAT THIS GIVES YOUAn explicit set of folders and a fallback path.
Behind the build.
Decisions, boundaries, and the current state of the work.
Limpet started with my own external-SSD setup. The article linked below explains the failure case and how the tool grew around it.