Whimbrel for Darktable — Setup & Options
Whimbrel adds Immich as a target in Darktable's export panel. Pick it, export, and your edits upload to your self-hosted Immich in one go — no export-to-folder-then-upload dance. A small menu-bar app holds your server settings and installs the Darktable plugin for you.
Requirements
- macOS 13 Ventura or later
- Darktable for Mac
- A self-hosted Immich server, reachable from your Mac
- An Immich API key (see below)
Get an Immich API key
- In Immich, open Account Settings → API Keys → New API Key.
- Darktable only uploads, so the
asset.uploadpermission is enough (a full-access key also works). - Copy the key.
Set it up
- Download and open Whimbrel for Darktable (drag it to /Applications first).
- Open the window from the menu-bar icon, go to Settings, and under Immich Connection paste your Server URL and API key.
- Click Test Connection to confirm it reaches your server.
- Click Install to install the Darktable plugin.
- Click Save, then restart Darktable so it loads the plugin.
Using it
In Darktable's export panel (lighttable view, right-hand side), choose Immich as the storage / target, then export as usual. Your edits are rendered and uploaded straight to Immich. Watch progress from the menu-bar icon.
Re-exporting the same photo is safe — Immich de-duplicates by checksum.
Options reference
| Section | Option | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Immich Connection | Server URL | Your Immich address. https:// anywhere; plain http:// only on a local network (LAN/localhost). |
| Immich Connection | API key | Stored in your macOS Keychain, never sent anywhere but your server. |
| Immich Connection | Test Connection | Checks the URL + key reach your Immich. |
| Plugin | Install | Installs the Immich storage plugin into Darktable. Restart Darktable afterwards. |
| Plugin | Remove | Deletes the installed plugin (you can reinstall anytime). |
| Visibility | Show in Dock | Show a Dock icon. |
| Visibility | Show in Menu Bar | Show the menu-bar icon. If you turn both off, the menu-bar icon comes back on next launch so the app stays reachable. |
| (footer) | Save | Saves your settings. The window stays open. |
Notes
- The plugin reads the settings you saved in the app — if you change your URL or key, click Save (no need to reinstall the plugin).
- Local networks: plain
http://is allowed forlocalhostand private ranges (192.168.x,10.x,172.16–31.x). Everything else must behttps://. - Recent uploads are listed in the menu-bar popover.
- Updates are included; the app is signed and notarized by Apple.