Read-only sourceNo rename, delete or background write
Offline external-drive catalog for macOS
Search the shelf.
Before you plug in.
Catalog an approved external drive once, keep its immutable file snapshot searchable offline, record the physical shelf, and verify what changed when that source returns.
Native for MacmacOS 14+Apple notarization before launch
Native Release buildREAL APP
Search while offlineSnapshots and shelf notes stay local
Identity before diffA matching drive name is never proof
One-time price$35 for one Mac, no subscription
Inside the actual app
A card catalog for drives that spend most of their life unplugged.
The native workspace keeps saved volumes and cross-catalog search on the left, the immutable file index in the center, and physical location, identity evidence, reconnect differences and portable export controls on the right.
Built for the real handoff
One focused app.
Four jobs done.
Creative archives
Find a final export, shoot or audio stem before pulling a case from the media shelf.
Photo and film libraries
Search disconnected scan volumes and keep roll, cabinet and sleeve notes beside each snapshot.
Client handoff drives
Keep a local record of delivered files and produce portable evidence without changing the handoff source.
Rotating backup sets
Locate the right offline disk, then verify observable reconnect differences without trusting its display name.
The result
disk-catalog.csvdisk-catalog.jsonsnapshot-receipt.mdMANIFEST.sha256Private by defaultA clear workflow
From first record
to finished handoff.
Approve one external source
Choose a mounted external volume or folder, add its shelf, container and notes, then catalog observable regular-file metadata. Packages and links are skipped explicitly; originals stay untouched.
Search the unplugged roster
Use a single local search across filenames, relative folders, volume names and physical notes. The saved snapshot remains available even when every cataloged drive is on the shelf.
Reconnect, verify and export
Prove the volume and approved root before comparison. Review added, missing, changed, unchanged and unknown rows, then create a new portable CSV, JSON, Markdown and checksum package.
Focused by design
Useful depth.
No account clutter.
Immutable local snapshots
Save sorted relative paths, byte counts, modification times, scan issues and a deterministic snapshot digest in local app storage.
Physical shelf records
Attach shelf, box or container and freeform notes to the catalog so the search result tells you where the actual drive lives.
Optional bounded hashing
Add SHA-256 evidence for selected document and media classes under a size cap without pretending every large file was content-hashed.
Honest reconnect states
Stable identity and the approved root gate comparison; partial observations preserve unknown instead of making unsupported missing claims.
Portable deterministic evidence
Export a new non-overwriting folder with CSV, JSON, readable receipts and a SHA-256 manifest, without absolute source paths.
Practical guides
Start with the job
you need to finish.
Questions, answered
DiskRoster FAQ
What does DiskRoster catalog?+
DiskRoster recursively records observable regular files inside one external volume or approved folder: relative path, byte count, modification time and optional SHA-256 for selected document and media types. Symbolic links, packages, unsupported items and unreadable paths stay explicit instead of being followed or hidden.
Can I search after the drive is disconnected?+
Yes. Each immutable snapshot is stored locally on your Mac, including shelf, container and notes. Search works across those saved catalogs without mounting the source again.
Does DiskRoster modify my external drive?+
No. The catalog flow reads the source you explicitly approve and never deletes, renames, reorganizes or writes files there. Export is also blocked from destinations inside that approved source.
How does reconnect verification identify a drive?+
DiskRoster compares stable volume identity and the approved root when that evidence is available. A matching display name or capacity is not treated as proof. If stable identity is unavailable, comparison pauses for explicit physical confirmation.
What do added, missing, changed and unknown mean?+
Added and missing compare observed paths between snapshots. Changed uses byte count, modification time and any reproduced optional hash. Unknown is reserved for evidence gaps such as unreadable paths or a hash that cannot be reproduced; DiskRoster does not convert a partial scan into a confident missing claim.
What does a portable export include?+
A new package contains CSV and JSON catalogs, JSON and Markdown snapshot receipts, and a SHA-256 manifest. Portable artifacts use relative paths and omit absolute workstation paths.
How much will DiskRoster cost?+
The price is US$35 as a one-time purchase for one Mac, with no subscription. Secure checkout and DMG delivery are handled by Polar.
DiskRoster for macOS
Search the shelf.
Before you plug in.
A focused local catalog for people with more external drives than open ports—and a shelf that needs a reliable index.
- macOS 14+
- One Mac
- Launch updates included
One-time purchase$35No recurring charge
Signed with Developer ID and notarized by Apple.