About

About

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The story, design philosophy, and business model behind PhotoStructure

Why should I use PhotoStructure?

Why should I use PhotoStructure?

Why PhotoStructure? You own your photos, it runs anywhere, respects your privacy, and is built to last decades.
Introducing: PhotoStructure!

Introducing: PhotoStructure!

Why I built PhotoStructure: organizing decades of photos scattered across old hard drives, with automatic deduplication and no cloud lock-in.
Serendipity, or how I stopped being bored with my own photos

Serendipity, or how I stopped being bored with my own photos

I built PhotoStructure to organize my hard drives, then got bored by my own front page. The fix took an embedded-database failure, a Web 2.0 detour, and a big realization about metadata.
Install

Install

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PhotoStructure installation instructions for all editions and platforms

Install PhotoStructure

Install PhotoStructure

Download and install PhotoStructure for Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, or Node.js.
Docker Compose Wizard

Docker Compose Wizard

Generate a compose.yaml for PhotoStructure. Covers bind mounts, PUID/PGID, and platform-specific defaults for Synology and UnRAID.
PhotoStructure for Node

PhotoStructure for Node

Advanced installation instructions for running PhotoStructure directly with Node.js on Ubuntu, Fedora, macOS, and Windows, including prerequisites and system service setup.
PhotoStructure for Docker

PhotoStructure for Docker

Docker reference for PhotoStructure: system requirements, bind mounts, PUID/PGID, networking, Synology, Portainer, and more.
Photo and video import tools

Photo and video import tools

Manual setup reference for the extra tools PhotoStructure uses to import videos and some phone photos.
PhotoStructure for systemd

PhotoStructure for systemd

Generate a systemd unit file for PhotoStructure. Covers Node.js version managers, library directory, security hardening, and watchdog monitoring.
Getting Started

Getting Started

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Guides and tutorials for new PhotoStructure users

PhotoStructure user guide

PhotoStructure user guide

User guide and documentation roadmap for PhotoStructure, providing organized links to installation guides, setup instructions, and advanced configuration topics.
What is a “PhotoStructure library”?

What is a “PhotoStructure library”?

Guide to PhotoStructure libraries, including what they contain, disk space requirements, and how to use them across multiple computers.
Add PhotoStructure to your home screen

Add PhotoStructure to your home screen

Learn how to add PhotoStructure to your home screen on iOS and Android for a native app experience.
How do I prevent a directory from being imported into my library?

How do I prevent a directory from being imported into my library?

Guide to preventing directories from being imported using NoMedia files, dotfiles, and hidden file attributes across different operating systems.
Using environment variables with PhotoStructure

Using environment variables with PhotoStructure

Complete guide to configuring PhotoStructure settings using environment variables, including format examples, platform-specific instructions, and .env file support.
PhotoStructure tools

PhotoStructure tools

Guide to PhotoStructure's command-line tools including info, sync, logcat, list, and other utilities for managing and troubleshooting your PhotoStructure library.
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Release notes

Release notes

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PhotoStructure version releases, change logs, and feature announcements

PhotoStructure vNext

PhotoStructure vNext

Unreleased changes for the next version of PhotoStructure.
PhotoStructure v2026.4

PhotoStructure v2026.4

Desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Cross-platform server support. Mobile-friendly overlay viewer with swipe navigation.
PhotoStructure v2026.2

PhotoStructure v2026.2

New Sync Activity page, tag rename tools, and improved sync reliability.
PhotoStructure v2026.1

PhotoStructure v2026.1

Major release featuring dramatically faster video transcoding, database schema v3, new maintenance tools, and improved tag navigation.
2026 PhotoStructure release notes

2026 PhotoStructure release notes

Index of PhotoStructure 2026 release notes.
2025 PhotoStructure release notes

2025 PhotoStructure release notes

No PhotoStructure releases were made in 2025. See the 2026 release notes for the latest updates.
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Guides

Guides

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Detailed guides covering PhotoStructure concepts, features, and how-to instructions

Photo by Tim W
Malformed EXIF text

Malformed EXIF text

Configure malformed EXIF filtering and MacRoman or Windows-1252 recovery.
How do I access my PhotoStructure library on other computers?

How do I access my PhotoStructure library on other computers?

Learn how to reach PhotoStructure from another computer without confusing network exposure with authentication.
Library users, sign-in, and permissions

Library users, sign-in, and permissions

PhotoStructure will add built-in sign-in and permissions without making the first person who visits your server its owner.
Single sign-on (SSO / OIDC)

Single sign-on (SSO / OIDC)

PhotoStructure will use OpenID Connect to prove identity while keeping library access and roles under the owner's control.
How does PhotoStructure populate the Where tag?

How does PhotoStructure populate the Where tag?

PhotoStructure reverse-geocodes GPS coordinates found in your media's metadata.
How does PhotoStructure populate the Who tag?

How does PhotoStructure populate the Who tag?

PhotoStructure builds the "Who" tag from face metadata written by your camera, photo editor, and other tools.
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FAQ

FAQ

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PhotoStructure’s Frequently Asked Questions about installation, features, usage, and troubleshooting

PhotoStructure user guide

PhotoStructure user guide

User guide and documentation roadmap for PhotoStructure, providing organized links to installation guides, setup instructions, and advanced configuration topics.
PhotoStructure's advanced settings

PhotoStructure's advanced settings

PhotoStructure has extensive configuration options split between system and library settings files, allowing customization of imports, performance, and behavior.
What keyboard shortcuts does PhotoStructure have?

What keyboard shortcuts does PhotoStructure have?

PhotoStructure provides keyboard shortcuts for navigation, viewing, and controlling photos, helping users navigate their library more efficiently.
How do I fix Windows to support worldwide languages?

How do I fix Windows to support worldwide languages?

How to configure Windows 10 to support UTF-8 filenames.
Where should I install PhotoStructure?

Where should I install PhotoStructure?

System requirements and recommendations for installing PhotoStructure for Desktop on Mac, Windows, or Ubuntu systems.
What metadata is inside your photos?

What metadata is inside your photos?

What metadata do cameras and smartphones record in your photos and videos?
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PhotoStructure for Servers

PhotoStructure for Servers

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Content related to running PhotoStructure on servers, including installation, configuration, and server-specific features

PhotoStructure for Servers

PhotoStructure for Servers

Choose the right PhotoStructure server edition: Docker for NAS and container setups, npx for quick installs, or Node for full control.
Docker Compose Wizard

Docker Compose Wizard

Generate a compose.yaml for PhotoStructure. Covers bind mounts, PUID/PGID, and platform-specific defaults for Synology and UnRAID.
PhotoStructure for Node

PhotoStructure for Node

Advanced installation instructions for running PhotoStructure directly with Node.js on Ubuntu, Fedora, macOS, and Windows, including prerequisites and system service setup.
PhotoStructure for Docker

PhotoStructure for Docker

Docker reference for PhotoStructure: system requirements, bind mounts, PUID/PGID, networking, Synology, Portainer, and more.
PhotoStructure for systemd

PhotoStructure for systemd

Generate a systemd unit file for PhotoStructure. Covers Node.js version managers, library directory, security hardening, and watchdog monitoring.
PhotoStructure on Raspberry Pi

PhotoStructure on Raspberry Pi

Installation guide and performance considerations for running PhotoStructure on Raspberry Pi 4 and 5, including quick sync mode optimizations.
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Coding

Coding

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Technical articles and programming notes

Photo by Ramiro Mendes
Commit like a librarian.

Commit like a librarian.

Coding agents leave working trees full of interleaved changes, and `git add -A` turns them into megacommits nobody can review, bisect, or blame. Three small shell scripts (`git addgrep`, `git restage`, `git post-fmt`) and two agent skills make focused, coherent commits the path of least resistance.
Claude Code has amnesia. So do PRs, changelogs, and your future self.

Claude Code has amnesia. So do PRs, changelogs, and your future self.

Technical Project Plans (TPPs) are living docs that brief four readers: the next session (when context runs out), the PR reviewer (who needs the why), the changelog writer at release time, and the engineer who inherits this code years from now. Works with Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini.
Claude picks the first idea that works. Make it pick the best one.

Claude picks the first idea that works. Make it pick the best one.

Coding agents plan by picking the first reasonable approach and running with it. Replan is a skill that forces iterative critique-and-refine cycles, surfacing better designs before a line of code is written. Works with Claude Code and Codex.
Most AI code reviews are noise. Here's how to fix that.

Most AI code reviews are noise. Here's how to fix that.

AI code review defaults to a wall of style nitpicks and speculative concerns. A skill that demands proof before reporting turns it into something worth reading. Works with Claude Code and Codex.
The LLM sycophancy antidote

The LLM sycophancy antidote

A dead-simple trick to make LLMs actually push back on your ideas instead of cheerfully agreeing with everything you say.
Serve AI-readable Markdown from Hugo

Serve AI-readable Markdown from Hugo

Hugo's custom output formats publish a clean Markdown version of every page and a /llms.txt index, with no HTML for LLMs to wade through.
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Legal

Legal

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Legal documentation including privacy policy, terms of service, and security policies for PhotoStructure

PhotoStructure Contributor Agreement

PhotoStructure Contributor Agreement

Legal agreement outlining copyright and patent licensing terms for contributors submitting code or documentation to PhotoStructure.
PhotoStructure Subscription and Cancellation Terms

PhotoStructure Subscription and Cancellation Terms

Detailed terms for PhotoStructure subscriptions including billing cycles, trial periods, cancellation policies, and fee change procedures.
PhotoStructure’s Privacy Policy

PhotoStructure’s Privacy Policy

PhotoStructure's privacy policy explaining how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when using our website and products.
PhotoStructure Terms of Service

PhotoStructure Terms of Service

Complete terms of service governing the use of PhotoStructure's web services, including user obligations, content policies, and legal disclaimers.
PhotoStructure's responsible disclosure security policy

PhotoStructure's responsible disclosure security policy

PhotoStructure's security policy for responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities and contact information for security issues.
PhotoStructure End-User License Agreement

PhotoStructure End-User License Agreement

PhotoStructure's End-User License Agreement outlining software usage rights, copyright protection, liability limitations, privacy policies, and terms of use.