Features

Built for cautious power users.

No "magic AI" guessing what you meant. Just clear rules, complete previews, and loud warnings when something looks off.

Preview-first pipeline

Stack rename steps and review the final result before anything touches the disk. If it looks wrong, nothing is applied.

Filters that make sense

Contains, starts with, ends with, or extension — combined with Match ALL (AND) or Match ANY (OR), plus a case-sensitive toggle.

Safety checks

Invalid characters, duplicate targets, and "file already exists" issues are all flagged before you hit Apply.

Readable previews

Long filenames wrap properly. Pagination at 10 per page lets you actually review the changes calmly, not in a blur.

Undo via CSV

Optionally export an undo log when you apply. The companion revert tool restores filenames if anything looks off later.

Deterministic by design

Same inputs produce the same outputs, every time. RenForge won't get creative when you just want consistency.

Quick start

Up and running in under a minute.

Grab a prebuilt binary from GitHub Releases, or build from source with Go. RenForge runs natively on macOS, Windows, and Linux.

              
              
              
              
            

# Download the latest macOS release
$ curl -LO https://github.com/blackarck/renforge/releases/latest/download/renforge-macos.zip
$ unzip renforge-macos.zip
$ xattr -d com.apple.quarantine RenForge.app
$ open RenForge.app
              

# Download the latest Linux release
$ curl -LO https://github.com/blackarck/renforge/releases/latest/download/renforge-linux.tar.gz
$ tar -xzf renforge-linux.tar.gz
$ chmod +x renforge
$ ./renforge
              

# Download the latest Windows release
PS> Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://github.com/blackarck/renforge/releases/latest/download/renforge-windows.zip -OutFile renforge.zip
PS> Expand-Archive renforge.zip
PS> .\renforge\RenForge.exe
              

# Requires Go 1.21+ and Fyne dependencies
$ git clone https://github.com/blackarck/renforge.git
$ cd renforge
$ go build -o renforge .
$ ./renforge
              

What you get

A single, self-contained desktop app. No services running in the background, no telemetry, no account needed.

Cross-platform. Native binaries for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Open source. Audit the code, file issues, send PRs — it's all on GitHub.
Built with Go + Fyne. Lightweight, fast, and easy to build from source.
Offline-first. No network calls. Your filenames stay on your machine.

Screenshots

A look inside RenForge.

Click any image to see it full-size.

Preview pipeline

Chain rename steps and see every result before applying.

Filters

Combine match conditions with AND / OR and case-sensitivity.

Safety checks

Duplicate targets and invalid names are flagged up front.

Apply workflow

Switch between Dry Run and Apply, with an optional undo log.

How it works

Six steps, zero surprises.

RenForge follows one principle: preview first, rename second.

Select a folder

Pick a single target directory. Scanning is non-recursive by design — fewer accidents.

Add filters

Narrow the file list with contains / starts / ends / extension rules. Combine with AND or OR.

Build a rename pipeline

Stack steps: remove text, replace, insert before extension, append, prepend, change extension.

Review conflicts

Duplicates, invalid characters, and existing-target collisions are highlighted before Apply.

Dry run, then apply

Stay in Dry Run while you tune the pipeline. Switch to Apply only when the preview looks right.

Export an undo CSV

Optional, but recommended. The undo log lets the revert tool roll changes back if needed.

Pro tip: if anything in the preview makes you pause, stay in Dry Run until the result is boringly correct. Boring is the goal.

FAQ

Common questions.

What makes RenForge "safe"?

It's preview-first and deterministic. Before applying, RenForge runs checks for invalid names, duplicate targets, and existing files. You see the full plan, then you decide.

Does it rename files recursively?

Not in v1. Non-recursive scanning is intentional — it keeps the blast radius small while you're getting comfortable with a rename pipeline.

Can I undo changes?

Yes. Export the undo CSV at apply time, then use the companion revert tool to roll back. Think of it as a paper trail for your future self.

Where do I download binaries?

The Download button at the top jumps to the latest GitHub release. You'll find prebuilt binaries for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Is RenForge free? What's the license?

RenForge is free and open source. Check the GitHub repository for the current license and contribution guidelines.

Does it send any data anywhere?

No. RenForge is a local desktop app with no telemetry, no analytics, and no network calls during rename operations. Your filenames stay on your machine.

Ready to rename without the regret?

Download RenForge, run a dry run on a test folder, and see the preview-first workflow for yourself.

Download latest release View on GitHub