ref: Manage references for large writing projects

By Andrew Stewart (https://andrewinfosec.com)

ref is a CLI tool for managing references in large writing projects. The program uses the filesystem as a database, with one directory per reference number.

NB: This program assumes macOS.

Workflow

Set the location of the database with $ ref loc. The location of the database is stored in ~/.ref. This step does not have to be repeated.

During the writing process, when the time comes to add a new reference, use $ ref add. This creates a reference number, copies it to the clipboard, and opens the corresponding directory. You can then copy the files associated with the reference into the directory, and command+v the reference number into your manuscript.

Reference numbers increase monotonically, so reference number 1 is followed by reference number 2, and so on. Reference numbers are never reused.

To view the files associated with a reference number us $ ref <number>. This will open the *.html and *.pdf files from the directory associated with the reference number.