Your source list stays yours

The entire database is encrypted with AES-256 via SQLCipher. The key is derived fresh from your master password on every unlock using Argon2id — a memory-hard algorithm that makes brute-force attacks expensive. The key is never stored anywhere. If someone seizes your laptop, the database is unreadable without your password.

See the full arc of a project at a glance

Every project has a reverse-chronological timeline of all logged interactions across every source, filterable by priority, theme, organisation, reporter, and date range. A global timeline shows the same feed across all your contacts at once. Print any timeline to a clean black-and-white sheet for team briefings or record-keeping.

Manage sources story by story

Organise contacts into projects — one per investigation or beat. Each contact can belong to multiple projects simultaneously, with its own status, priority, reporter attribution, and interaction log per project. A full status workflow tracks the arc from first approach through interview, decline, or ghosting. Configurable reminders ensure nothing goes cold without you knowing.

Share without a server

Point two Sourcerer installations at the same encrypted database file on a shared drive — Dropbox, OneDrive, or a network folder. Both users work from the same source list, with changes syncing automatically every two minutes. The shared file is encrypted with the same SQLCipher key; anyone who obtains it still can't read it without the password.

Track coverage automatically

Attach RSS feeds to any contact — news alerts, press release feeds, social media aggregators. Sourcerer polls them in the background and surfaces new mentions in a unified alerts view, linked to the relevant contact. Never miss a development on a key source between check-ins.

Research without leaving your browser

The Sourcerer browser extension brings your source database into every tab. Capture full-page screenshots and link them to a contact record, save selected text directly as an email, phone number, or note on an existing contact, or add a new contact without switching apps. A right-click context menu puts all of these actions one step away. Everything goes straight into the encrypted local database — no cloud upload, no third-party storage.

Install from the Chrome Web Store ↗ · Install from Firefox Add-ons ↗

Move data in and out cleanly

Import contacts from CSV or vCard (.vcf) — including multi-contact files exported from Apple Contacts, Google Contacts, or any standard address book. Export to CSV, Excel, or vCard. A sanitised export mode strips notes and interaction logs so you can safely share a contact list without revealing reporter notes or outreach history.