Local API overview

The SessionDock Local API is a local-first JSON API served by the desktop app itself. It is designed to automate the same domain concepts that SessionDock’s UI works with every day.

Guardrails

bound only to 127.0.0.1
bearer token required on every request
JSON for both success and error responses
mode-aware writes with read-only and full-automation separation

Endpoint families

Core session resources

Use the sessions endpoints to list, fetch, create, patch, and delete session records. These are the backbone of most integrations.

Session metadata surfaces

Notes and tags are part of the session object model. Dedicated notes and tags endpoints exist for tools that want narrower write access patterns.

Preview and waveform surfaces

Preview metadata, preview audio, waveform peaks, and waveform note markers let external tools build rich listening or review workflows without launching a DAW.

Desktop automation actions

The open and focus actions bridge from data automation back into the desktop app experience.

Import automation

The import endpoint lets external tooling queue large ingestion jobs and attach metadata up front.

Common response envelope patterns

Most success responses are shaped as:

{
  "data": {
    "id": "session_123",
    "title": "Launch cue prep"
  }
}

Errors use a shared envelope:

{
  "error": {
    "status": 403,
    "code": "read_only",
    "message": "Enable Full Automation to create sessions."
  }
}

Where to go next

Authentication for token handling and mode behavior
Sessions Endpoints for the main CRUD surface
Preview Endpoints for playback and waveform workflows
API Reference for endpoint-by-endpoint contract details

Make your creative workflow programmable.

Local API Overview