Config File

Synti keeps its non-secret application state in a single JSON file inside your config directory. This is where your LLM connections, workspaces, and interface preferences live. Secrets like API keys are never written here — they go into an encrypted store instead (see Credentials). You rarely need to touch this file by hand. Almost everything in it can be changed from the app’s Settings screen or the status bar. Editing it directly is useful for scripting, backups, or recovering from a bad state.

Location

~/.synti/config.json

The parent directory can be relocated with the SYNTI_CONFIG_DIR environment variable — see Environment Variables. Everything else in this reference assumes the default path.

The file must contain valid JSON. If it becomes malformed, Synti will refuse to start. Restore a backup or fix the syntax before relaunching.

Top-level structure

config.json

{
  "llmConnections": [ /* ... */ ],
  "defaultLlmConnection": "anthropic-default",
  "workspaces": [ /* ... */ ],
  "activeWorkspaceId": "ws_home",
  "activeSessionId": null,
  "notificationsEnabled": true,
  "colorTheme": "default",
  "networkProxy": { /* ... */ },
  "dismissedUpdateVersion": null,
  "pendingUpdate": null
}

Key	Type	Purpose
`llmConnections`	array	Configured model providers. See LLM Connections.
`defaultLlmConnection`	string	Slug of the connection used when a session doesn’t pick one.
`workspaces`	array	Registered workspaces and their root directories.
`activeWorkspaceId`	string \| null	Workspace shown on launch.
`activeSessionId`	string \| null	Session restored on launch, if any.
`notificationsEnabled`	boolean	Desktop notifications toggle. Defaults to `true`.
`colorTheme`	string	Active theme preset. See Preferences.
`networkProxy`	object	Proxy settings. See Network Proxy.
`dismissedUpdateVersion`	string \| null	Version of an update the user chose to skip.
`pendingUpdate`	object \| null	Downloaded-but-not-installed update metadata.

LLM connections

Each entry in llmConnections describes one provider configuration. Credentials are referenced by slug, not embedded.

{
  "slug": "anthropic-default",
  "name": "Anthropic",
  "providerType": "anthropic",
  "authType": "api_key",
  "defaultModel": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
  "createdAt": 1731000000000
}

Full field definitions, provider types, and auth modes are documented in LLM Connections.

Workspaces

A workspace pairs a display name with a directory on disk and optional integration settings.

Field	Required	Description
`id`	yes	Stable unique identifier.
`name`	yes	Display name shown in the switcher.
`rootPath`	yes	Absolute path to the workspace’s working directory.
`createdAt`	yes	Creation time in Unix milliseconds.
`lastAccessedAt`	no	Used to order recently used workspaces.
`iconUrl`	no	Custom icon for the workspace.
`mcpUrl`	no	Default MCP server endpoint for this workspace.
`mcpAuthType`	no	Authentication method for the MCP endpoint.

{
  "id": "ws_home",
  "name": "Home",
  "rootPath": "/Users/you/projects/app",
  "createdAt": 1731000000000,
  "lastAccessedAt": 1731600000000
}

Backups and recovery

Synti writes a dated backup of config.json on a daily basis and keeps the most recent few. Backups live alongside the config in ~/.synti. Restoring is manual — stop the app, copy a backup over config.json, and relaunch.

Quit Synti

Fully close the app so it isn’t holding the file open.

Copy a backup over the config

cp ~/.synti/config.json.bak-2026-07-15 ~/.synti/config.json

Relaunch

Reopen Synti and confirm your workspaces and connections are back.

Editing config.json by hand? Quit Synti first. The app rewrites this file on changes and may overwrite edits made while it’s running.

Credentials

Where API keys and tokens are stored, encrypted.

LLM Connections

Add and switch between model providers.

Preferences

Personal details and appearance settings.

Environment Variables

Override paths and behavior at launch.

CLI

Configuration

Server

Location

Top-level structure

LLM connections

Workspaces

Backups and recovery

Credentials

LLM Connections

Preferences

Environment Variables

​Location

​Top-level structure

​LLM connections

​Workspaces

​Backups and recovery

​Related

Credentials

LLM Connections

Preferences

Environment Variables

Location

Top-level structure

LLM connections

Workspaces

Backups and recovery

Related