FAQ

Is my data locked in?

No — the opposite is the point. The vault is a folder of readable markdown files (Obsidian-compatible) plus standard GEDCOM export with a no-data-loss policy. If StemmaFiles disappeared tomorrow, you would lose nothing.

Do I need Obsidian?

No. StemmaFiles is a standalone desktop app. The vault merely follows Obsidian's conventions — so if you use Obsidian (including on a phone), it opens the same files.

Does it work offline?

Fully. The world basemap and a place-name index are embedded; online geocoding is opt-in only. No telemetry, no account.

Windows says it "protected your PC"

Early builds are not yet code-signed, so SmartScreen warns on first run. Click More info → Run anyway. Code signing is planned before the public release.

Which platforms?

Windows first; the app is cross-platform Rust, and Linux (.deb/AppImage) + macOS (.dmg) installers are on the roadmap.

What will it cost?

Free during alpha. A paid license is planned for the stable release — priced like a tool, not a subscription that holds your data hostage. Your files stay plain files either way.

How big a tree can it handle?

The data pipeline imports, writes and reloads a 30,000-person GEDCOM in under a second. Whole-vault visualizations are capped on very large vaults (person-focused views remain instant at any size).

I found a bug / I have an idea

Write to contact@stemmafiles.com — during alpha every report directly shapes the roadmap.