A lightweight, elegant reference manager. Organize your library, extract annotations from PDFs, One-click web import, and export BibTeX or RIS — your data stays locally.
Lattice is a minimalist, local-first research manager designed exclusively for macOS.
Whether you are a researcher, academic, or student, Lattice helps you break free from the bloat of traditional tools, managing your papers and e-books in the most efficient and elegant way possible.
Built with a native-first philosophy and zero third-party dependencies, Lattice is exceptionally lightweight and fast. Unlike other software that forces your files into a "black box" database, Lattice respects your local file system, ensuring you remain in full control of your data.
【CORE HIGHLIGHTS】
Pure Local Experience
• Zero Dependencies: Built entirely in Swift with no redundant code. Experience lightning-fast cold starts and peak performance.
• Lattice File Library: Transparent file storage with a location you choose for your references, plus intelligent PDF organization and renaming. No black-box database—just a more transparent, effortless way to manage your files.
Minimalist & Elegant Design
• Modern macOS Interface: A beautiful, adaptive three-pane layout that blends perfectly with Dark Mode.
• Typography that Breathes: Custom font hierarchies make browsing abstracts and metadata as enjoyable as reading a premium magazine.
Instant Import & Smart Metadata
• One-Click Migration: Drag and drop entire folders with complex subdirectories. Lattice recursively scans and bulk-imports all PDFs, making "old library" transitions frictionless.
• Zotero Integration: Import your entire Zotero database—entries, metadata, and collections—in one click to pick up exactly where you left off.
• Powerful PDF Parsing: Simply drop a PDF, and Lattice intelligently extracts titles, authors, DOIs, or ISBNs locally.
• Automated Web Scraping: Seamlessly complete missing metadata by connecting to major academic databases for journal names, years, and abstracts.
Lattice File Library
• Auto-Renaming: Say goodbye to cryptic filenames. Use custom templates (e.g., `{year} - {author} - {title}`) to keep your library organized instantly.
• Automatic Organization: Set the Lattice File Library location, organization rules, and automatic renaming. When you change these settings, Lattice asks whether to apply them to existing PDFs—no manual batch organization required.
Annotation Extraction & Ecosystem
• Powerful Insight Extraction: Automatically pull highlights, underlines, text notes, and even shapes from your PDFs.
• Open Export: Quickly export paper details and annotations to highly customizable Markdown or TextBundle formats—perfect for Obsidian or Notion workflows.
• Native BibTeX & RIS Support: Customize Citekey formats and export .bib or .ris files with ease—perfect for LaTeX, EndNote, and other major research tools.
• Apple Shortcuts & Local API: Deep integration with Shortcuts allows you to copy metadata to your clipboard or trigger personal automations with one click.
Lattice believes knowledge management should be light and joyful. Download Lattice now and build your cleanest, most powerful local research library!
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A True Gem for Researchers & Students
Man.Osm
Honestly, this app has completely changed how I organize my research. In the education sector, we need fast, reliable tools, and Lattice delivers that without any bloat. Extracting PDF annotations and managing citations takes seconds, especially with BibTeX support and Zotero integration. It’s lightweight, fast, and respects my local files without forcing weird rules. Highly recommend for any academic or student who wants to focus on content, not organization.
Developer Response
Thank you for the review! 'Focus on content, not organization' perfectly captures exactly why I built Lattice. I'm thrilled to hear that the lightweight design and local file management are making a real difference in your workflow. Your support is a huge motivation for me to keep improving the app. ◡̈
Excellent developer response!
theBiilz
I had difficulty importing my Zotero library into Lattice. I reached out to the developer with my problem and within a day they had found what was wrong. They fixed the problem and a couple of days later pushed out a new version correcting it.Well done!
Developer Response
Thank you for your kindly feedback! Quick fixes are my top priority. If you ever have more feedback or feature ideas, feel free to reach me anytime at stringer_fan@qq.com. ◡̈
A new concept: the Lattice File Library—a single, rule-based home for your PDFs. PDFs imported from Zotero, your browser, or directly into Lattice are organized by the same rules in the Lattice File Library, instead of being scattered across separately configured locations.
• Set your library location, organization rules, and automatic renaming in one place.
• When you change the library location, organization, or renaming settings, Lattice automatically asks whether to apply them to existing items—no need to select and organize them manually.
• Improved sidebar and paper-detail interactions, plus more reliable imports, file moves, and cleanup when something goes wrong.
Version 2.6.0
The developer, 毅 范, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More