Aftershoot
Run local duplicate detection and transparent culling heuristics over a photo folder
A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Aftershoot, run local duplicate detection and transparent culling heuristics over a photo folder. The hard boundary is proprietary culling and editing models, photographer training data, speed, and workflow, plus image pipeline quality, models, and workflow polish.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- proprietary culling and editing models, photographer training data, speed, and workflow
- proprietary raw-processing quality
- cloud sync and sharing
- large AI models
- camera and print ecosystem
Why people still pay
People still pay for Aftershoot because photographers pay because image quality, catalog safety, and fast handling of huge libraries matter more than cloning sliders. The recurring cost buys raw codecs, color management, metadata, previews, face models, GPU support, storage, backups, sync, and export fidelity, not just the visible interface.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- desktop computer
- local photo library
- sufficient disk space
- optional GPU for AI features
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Project rule, data: Index selected folders without moving or rewriting originals and store only catalog data in SQLite.
Project rule, behavior: Generate thumbnails and previews, read EXIF, detect duplicates by hash, and monitor file changes.
Project rule, recovery: Keep the original media file untouched when decoding or rendering fails; show the failing job and allow retry.
Implementation plan
Phase 1, architecture and data
Use Tauri 2, React, TypeScript, Rust image libraries, SQLite, and local filesystem access. Index selected folders without moving or rewriting originals and store only catalog data in SQLite.
Phase 2, implement
Generate thumbnails and previews, read EXIF, detect duplicates by hash, and monitor file changes.
Phase 3, implement
Store edits as reversible parameters for crop, rotate, exposure, contrast, white balance, and saturation.
Phase 4, review and output
Render exports to a new folder with explicit color space, quality, size, and metadata choices.
Phase 5, recovery and acceptance
Keep the original media file untouched when decoding or rendering fails; show the failing job and allow retry. Verify this invariant with a saved fixture: Original file hashes must remain unchanged; an interrupted render must leave no final file that looks complete. State the practical limit: proprietary culling and editing models, photographer training data, speed, and workflow.
Build me a focused photo organization, culling and editing workflow for the personal core of Aftershoot. Requirements: - Use Tauri 2, React, TypeScript, Rust image libraries, SQLite, and local filesystem access. Index selected folders without moving or rewriting originals and store only catalog data in SQLite. - Paid product context: Run local duplicate detection and transparent culling heuristics over a photo folder. Build only this DIY scope: Catalog local photos, run duplicate detection and transparent culling heuristics over a folder, generate previews, and export the selected originals or rendered copies. - Generate thumbnails and previews, read EXIF, detect duplicates by hash, and monitor file changes. - Store edits as reversible parameters for crop, rotate, exposure, contrast, white balance, and saturation. - Render exports to a new folder with explicit color space, quality, size, and metadata choices. Add catalog backup, missing-file repair, integrity scan, and a clear original-safety guarantee. - Use a desktop window with source import, a work list, and result export. Required input or access: desktop computer; local photo library. - Recovery: Keep the original media file untouched when decoding or rendering fails; show the failing job and allow retry. - Acceptance: with one labelled sample, show the input, saved intermediate state, and exported result; verify this invariant: Original file hashes must remain unchanged; an interrupted render must leave no final file that looks complete. - Out of scope: proprietary culling and editing models, photographer training data, speed, and workflow; proprietary raw-processing quality. Keep this a personal, inspectable workflow. - Include a README with setup, a sample input, required keys or permissions, data location, and the supported scope.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy AGENTS.md · generated from this app's build plan
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Alternatives to building your own
all 3 free alternatives to Aftershoot →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Aftershoot pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| select | $15/user | $10/user | Unlimited photo culling; 1 user.Annual plan is $120 prepaid. |
| edit | $35/user | $30/user | Unlimited photo editing; 1 user.Annual plan is $360 prepaid. |
| retouch | $25/user | $20/user | Unlimited supported retouching; 1 user.Annual plan is $240 prepaid. |
| select + edit | $50/user | $40/user | Unlimited culling and editing; 1 user.Annual plan is $480 prepaid. |
| select + retouch | $40/user | $30/user | Unlimited culling and supported retouching; 1 user.Annual plan is $360 prepaid. |
| edit + retouch | $60/user | $50/user | Unlimited editing and supported retouching; 1 user.Annual plan is $600 prepaid. |
| complete | $55/user | $45/user | Unlimited culling, editing and supported retouching; 1 user.Annual plan is $540 prepaid. |
free tierno free tier; 30-day full-access trial with no card required
billingmonthly + annual; subscriptions auto-renew
hidden costsAn additional custom AI profile is $7/month or $70/year; keeping custom profiles after canceling Edit/Retouch costs $4/month; a subscription can be paused only once per year for up to 3 months.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-14 · pricing source ↗
Questions about Aftershoot
Can you build your own Aftershoot with AI?
A full replacement is not the recommended project. A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Aftershoot, run local duplicate detection and transparent culling heuristics over a photo folder. The hard boundary is proprietary culling and editing models, photographer training data, speed, and workflow, plus image pipeline quality, models, and workflow polish.
What does the Aftershoot build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Catalog local photos, run duplicate detection and transparent culling heuristics over a folder, generate previews, and export the selected originals or rendered copies. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: proprietary culling and editing models, photographer training data, speed, and workflow; proprietary raw-processing quality; cloud sync and sharing. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the Aftershoot prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this Aftershoot project take?
The catalogue estimate is closest consolation build: one sitting for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing Aftershoot?
proprietary culling and editing models, photographer training data, speed, and workflow; proprietary raw-processing quality; cloud sync and sharing; large AI models; camera and print ecosystem. People still pay for Aftershoot because photographers pay because image quality, catalog safety, and fast handling of huge libraries matter more than cloning sliders. The recurring cost buys raw codecs, color management, metadata, previews, face models, GPU support, storage, backups, sync, and export fidelity, not just the visible interface.
What price is this guide comparing against?
The recorded Select plan is $15/mo per seat (monthly per user), checked 2026-08-14. Check the linked pricing source before buying. Building your own also has hosting, API and maintenance costs; the recorded amount is not a guaranteed saving.
What can I use instead of building Aftershoot?
RapidRAW: Imports folders, groups duplicates, flags blur, supports ratings, and hands the keepers into a RAW workflow without a subscription. digiKam: Duplicate search, similarity tools, aesthetic detection, pick labels, and metadata export in a mature desktop catalog; setup is less friendly. Selekt: A packaged local culler with RAW previews, duplicate and burst grouping, explainable scores, ratings, and XMP export; still labelled beta. Compare all listed options at https://howtovibecodeit.dev/aftershoot/alternatives. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.