LocalFileFinder

Turn plain English into local bash find commands, keeping private files off the cloud.

Problem

Developers don't want to burn cloud LLM credits or leak sensitive file paths just to locate a few files on their Mac. A Hacker News post describes training a local 1.5B model specifically to convert natural language into bash find commands, proving the demand. But current solutions require users to set up models and scripts themselves, which is too much friction.

Solution

A lightweight Mac menu bar or CLI tool with a built-in small local model. Users type requests like 'all .env files modified last week' and it generates and runs safe find/mdfind commands. The command is previewed before execution, highlighting paths and results to prevent mistakes. Fully offline, optionally using the user's own local model.

Users

Privacy-conscious developers, sysadmins, security engineers, and Mac users who frequently search for sensitive local files without wanting to send data to the cloud.

MVP

Menu bar entry + natural language input; local small model or rule-based parser to find command; command preview and confirmation before execution; result list with one-click reveal in Finder; fully local, no network requests.

Revenue

One-time purchase $9.99–$19.99, or $2/month subscription for multi-model switching and advanced filters; team on-prem license available.

Why now

Small local models (1.5B class) now run smoothly on Apple Silicon, while cloud LLM quota and privacy costs are rising, making this a perfect lightweight wrapper for an indie developer.