The .folderbase layer
Understand how Folderbase adds database behavior while ordinary files remain authoritative.
A Folderbase is an ordinary directory plus a small protocol layer. The protocol does not import files into a proprietary container.
The two surfaces
| Surface | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ordinary files | The authoritative documents, code, media, spreadsheets, databases, and other work people already use. |
.folderbase/ | Durable identity, versions, transaction records, policy, and other engine-owned protocol state. |
Human and agent entry points such as FOLDERBASE.md, AGENTS.md, and CLAUDE.md explain the workspace without requiring an MCP server.
Structure is additive
Templates can initialize useful files and expand them over time. Folderbase does not treat structure as permission to reorganize silently. Consequential changes are proposed as a plan and applied only after explicit approval.
Local work is complete work
Core works locally without an account. Cloud availability cannot silently evict active local files. The open protocol remains the base layer beneath managed Folderbase App and Cloud products.