Atlas Desktop stores its preferences in ~/.atlas/desktop/settings.json. Everything here can be changed in Settings (⌘,), which also has a search box that jumps to a setting by what it does. Edit the file by hand when you want to script or share a configuration; the app re-reads it and drops values that are the wrong type or out of range, using the default instead, so a bad edit never breaks the app.
Editor, interface and terminal preferences use Zed’s setting names.
Editor and interface#
| Key | Default | Notes |
|---|
buffer_font_family | ui-monospace, "SF Mono", SFMono-Regular, Menlo, monospace | code editor font |
buffer_font_size | 12.5 | 6–48 |
buffer_line_height | 1.55 | 1–3 |
ui_font_family | -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "SF Pro Text", sans-serif | interface font |
ui_font_size | 13 | 9–24 |
project_panel.dock | "left" | left or right: which side the file panel sits on |
project_panel.file_icons | true | Material Icon Theme file icons |
project_panel.folder_icons | true | |
project_panel.indent_size | 12 | 4–40 px |
active_pane_modifiers.border_size | 0 | 0–8 px border around the active pane |
active_pane_modifiers.inactive_opacity | 1 | 0.2–1; lower dims inactive panes |
Terminal#
| Key | Default | Notes |
|---|
terminal.font_family | SF Mono, Menlo, ui-monospace, monospace | xterm.js terminals only; the GPU terminal bundles JetBrains Mono |
terminal.font_size | 12.5 | 6–48; applies live |
terminal.cursor_shape | "block" | block, bar, underline or hollow |
terminal.blinking | false | |
terminal.max_scroll_history_lines | 10000 | 0–100000 |
terminal.osc52 | "ask" | what happens when a program writes your clipboard: allow, ask or deny. Reading the clipboard is always denied |
terminal.ligatures | true | GPU terminal |
terminal.minimum_contrast | 1 | 1–21; WCAG ratio text is lifted to, 1 = off. GPU terminal |
terminal.copy_on_select | true | GPU terminal |
terminal.option_as_alt | "both" | both, left, right or none. GPU terminal |
terminal.click_to_move | true | a click on the prompt moves the cursor (needs shell integration). GPU terminal |
The GPU terminal itself is switched with Settings → Appearance → Terminal → Fast terminal (GPU).
Theme and shortcuts#
| Key | Notes |
|---|
theme | { "mode": "system", "light": "Atlas Light", "dark": "Atlas Dark" }: mode is system, light or dark; light and dark name the theme used for each appearance. Zed theme files (v0.2.0 format) from ~/.atlas/desktop/themes/ are picked up automatically. Bundled: Atlas Dark/Light, One Dark/Light |
keymap | rebind or unbind shortcuts, Zed syntax, null unbinds. See below |
{
"keymap": {
"cmd-j": null,
"cmd-shift-j": "workspace::ToggleBottomDock"
}
}
Every shortcut is a named command (workspace::ToggleLeftDock, pane::SplitRight, atlas::NewWorktree…). ⌘⇧P lists every command with its current key, and Settings → Keyboard shortcuts rebinds them with a recorder. Modifiers are ctrl, alt, shift and cmd, joined with -: cmd-shift-p, ctrl-tab, alt-cmd-left. ⌘Z, ⇧⌘Z and ⌘A are fixed by the app menu and cannot be rebound. The defaults are listed in Desktop app › Keyboard.
Workspaces and agents#
| Key | Notes |
|---|
workspaceDir | folder for new worktrees (default ~/.atlas/worktrees) |
branchPrefix | "git-username" (default: your git config user.name, slugified), "none" or "custom"; the prefix of branches Atlas creates |
branchPrefixCustom | the prefix used when branchPrefix is "custom" |
nestWorkspaces | "false" flattens worktree folders instead of <repo>/<name> |
defaultAgent | agent started by default in a new worktree: "omp" (default), "claude" or "codex" |
agentPermissions | "manual" (default, the agent asks before running commands or editing files) or "yolo" (never asks; use only in disposable worktrees) |
agentArgs | extra command-line arguments per agent |
notifications | { "enabled": true, "sound": true, "suppressWhenFocused": true }: native notifications for agents that finished or need you |
quickCommands | commands you can send to an agent with one click |
openServicesIn | system opens service URLs in your browser instead of the Atlas browser |
Shell, updates and onboarding#
| Key | Notes |
|---|
shell | the shell whose environment is used for your projects, e.g. "/opt/homebrew/bin/fish". Unset = your account’s login shell. See Desktop app › Shell environment |
updates | auto-check switch, skipped version and what you have seen. Managed by the app |
onboarding | progress of the first-run tour and the checklist. Managed by the app |
| File | Content |
|---|
projects.json | the projects you added |
workspace.json | tabs, panes and docks per worktree |
themes/ | your Zed theme files |
hook-endpoint.env | loopback endpoint and token for agent hooks (new token per run) |
