Install devonthink with Homebrew Cask

Project links

• Homepage
• Package manager page

Commands and aliases

No executable aliases were found in the local package database.

Project history

DEVONtechnologies' founders released DEVONthink 1.0 in April 2002 for knowledge and information workers. Later editions added multiple databases, OCR, email archiving, and an integrated web server.

The product grew into a wider Mac and mobile ecosystem with DEVONthink To Go, flexible synchronization, browser capture, automation, and multiple editions. DEVONthink 4 added generative-AI integrations, automatic versioning, revision-proof databases, expanded automation, and a refined web interface while retaining local-first document storage.

Adoption history

DEVONthink began as a single-database Personal Edition and was extended with Pro and Pro Office editions for multiple databases, OCR, email archiving, and web access. DEVONthink To Go brought the system to iPhone and iPad in 2010, and a redesigned synchronization system completed the cross-device ecosystem in 2016.

Its long life and emphasis on local storage have made it a durable Mac application for researchers, writers, legal and office users, and personal-knowledge-management enthusiasts who want large searchable document collections without placing their primary data on a vendor server.

How it is used

Users create databases for documents, notes, email, web captures, scans, and other files, then organize them with groups, tags, metadata, links, smart groups, and smart rules. OCR, search, browser capture, synchronization, scripting, and external-editor integration support research and archival workflows.

Database locations are user-selected; DEVONtechnologies recommends a home-directory folder such as ~/Databases. The Global Inbox is stored at ~/Library/Application Support/DEVONthink Pro 3/Inbox.dtBase2, but these are user-data locations rather than a documented application configuration file.

Why package nerds care

DEVONthink is a veteran, Mac-native information manager with deep automation, AppleScript integration, smart rules, OCR, tagging, item links, and local database storage. Package enthusiasts value it as a power-user application whose databases remain user-controlled and can participate in scripted research and archival workflows.

Timeline

• 2002: DEVONthink 1.0 was released to the Mac community.
• 2010: DEVONthink To Go extended the product to iPhone and iPad.
• 2016: A modern synchronization system completed the Mac-and-mobile ecosystem.
• 2022: DEVONthink marked its twentieth anniversary.
• 2025: DEVONthink 4 introduced a new generation with AI integration, versioning, and revision-proof databases.

Related projects

• DEVONthink To Go is the companion iPhone and iPad application.
• DEVONagent is DEVONtechnologies' research assistant and can send collected material into DEVONthink.
• DEVONthink Server adds browser-based access and team workflows around DEVONthink databases.

Sources

• https://www.devontechnologies.com/apps/devonthink
• https://www.devontechnologies.com/apps/devonthink/new
• https://www.devontechnologies.com/apps/devonthink/security
• https://www.devontechnologies.com/press/archive/devonthink-20-years-promotion
• https://www.devontechnologies.com/support/faq/where-are-my-databases