Update Atlas is a free native macOS app for understanding the software installed on your Mac: applications, games, command-line tools and the components their managers own.
What it tells you
See installed versions, update ownership and evidence from supported release sources. Keep an application separate from the packages, plugins or games managed beneath it.
When a reliable comparison is unavailable, the app says so. An unknown version or a failed source check is not proof that software is up to date.
Checking and updating
Scans report versions and update ownership. In the current development version, eligible apps can be updated after your confirmation through Sparkle, Homebrew or Microsoft AutoUpdate. App Store apps open their store page. Installation support is still being tested; pip and uv packages are not updated by the app.
Optional interval checks and notifications can run from the menu bar while the main window is closed. Update checks may contact vendor feeds, registries and configured release sources.
Command-line inventory
The CLI exports versioned JSON, shows progress in terminals and supports settings and catalog management. scan --offline reads local application metadata and Homebrew/npm installation records without launching package managers or querying release sources. Other package environments and Docker connections are explicitly skipped; missing evidence stays unverified.
Optional catalog updates
Built-in rules work without a remote catalog. You can opt in to the official HTTPS catalog in Settings or choose a trusted custom source. Catalog data identifies update sources; it cannot prescribe installation commands.
License
Update Atlas is free to use. Its source code is proprietary and the repository is private. Third-party components retain their own licenses.
Availability
The app is currently in private testing for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later. There is no public download yet. English and Turkish are supported. Free direct distribution is planned.
Support development
Supporting development is optional. It does not unlock features or change scan results. Read about supporting Update Atlas, or visit my Buy Me a Coffee page.