Distill provides a local REST API on port 43821 (configurable). In the DMG build it is enabled by default; in the App Store version it is opt-in under Settings → APIfor Apple guideline reasons. Optional token authentication. An interactive Swagger UI is available at /v1/docs, the OpenAPI spec at /v1/openapi.json.
System
Method
Endpoint
Description
GET
/v1/health
Server status
GET
/v1/version
App version
GET
/v1/docs
Swagger UI
GET
/v1/openapi.json
OpenAPI spec
Renaming
Method
Endpoint
Description
POST
/v1/suggest
Generate suggestions (creates jobs)
POST
/v1/rename
Suggest + apply in one step
POST
/v1/revert
Revert a rename
POST
/v1/analyze
Extract metadata without renaming
Jobs (interactive workflow)
Workflow: POST /v1/suggest creates jobs → edit or approve each job → POST /v1/jobs/apply.
Method
Endpoint
Description
GET
/v1/jobs
Fetch current suggestions
PUT
/v1/jobs/{id}
Edit/approve a job
POST
/v1/jobs/apply
Apply approved jobs
DELETE
/v1/jobs
Discard all jobs
History
Method
Endpoint
Description
GET
/v1/history
History (filters: search, provider, from, to, limit)
GET
/v1/history/{id}
Single entry
DELETE
/v1/history/{id}
Delete entry
DELETE
/v1/history
Clear the entire history
Queue (batch)
Method
Endpoint
Description
GET
/v1/queue
Status + pending files
POST
/v1/queue
Enqueue files
POST
/v1/queue/pause
Pause queue
POST
/v1/queue/resume
Resume queue
DELETE
/v1/queue
Clear queue
Configuration
Method
Endpoint
Description
GET / POST
/v1/providers
Read / switch provider
GET / POST
/v1/settings
Read / write settings
GET / POST
/v1/rules
Read / write rules
GET / POST
/v1/templates
List / create templates
PUT / DELETE
/v1/templates/{name}
Update / delete template
GET / POST
/v1/watch
Manage folder watching
PUT / DELETE
/v1/watch/{id}
Update / remove watched folder
GET / POST
/v1/pcs
Configure PCS integration
POST
/v1/pcs/check
Check PCS connection
UI control
Method
Endpoint
Description
GET
/v1/ui/state
Current UI view
POST
/v1/ui/navigate
Switch tab
GET
/v1/ui/screenshot
Screenshot as PNG
MCP Server
The MCP server (distill-mcp-server) enables AI assistants like Claude to control Distill. In the DMG build it ships inside the app bundle and communicates with the app via REST. Configuration via env vars DISTILL_API_PORT and DISTILL_API_TOKEN.
The FinderSync extension adds a “Rename with Distill” entry to the Finder context menu. Selected files are passed directly to Distill. The extension must be enabled in System Settings under Extensions.