Lassie is a simple retrieval client for Filecoin, built for developers and technically confident users who want to fetch stored files from the decentralized network without complicated tooling. It is free, open source and written in Go, and its code is released under the MIT and Apache-2.0 licenses. It is also described as a minimal universal retrieval library that covers both IPFS and Filecoin.
On Windows, Lassie installs through the Scoop package manager with one command. Its latest release is 0.25.0, and the code was last updated on May 11, 2026, so the project is active rather than abandoned. The sections below explain how it works, how to install and use it, and how it compares with similar tools.
How Does Filecoin Retrieval Work?
Filecoin is a decentralized storage network where clients pay storage providers to hold their files. Storing data and getting it back are separate steps, and retrieval is the second one. When you request content, a retrieval client finds providers that can serve it and asks for the bytes over a protocol they support.
Content on IPFS and Filecoin is usually addressed by a content identifier, or CID, derived from the content itself rather than from a server address. The same identifier leads to the same file no matter which provider serves it, and the client can check that what it received matches the identifier. Lassie handles the search and transfer so you only need the identifier.
Speed and reliability depend on which providers are online and which protocols they offer. A good client tries the available options instead of stopping at the first failure, which is why protocol choice matters.
Who Lassie Is For
Lassie suits people who are comfortable working in a terminal and want a focused tool rather than a full platform. Developers building applications that read files from Filecoin or IPFS are the clearest audience, because they can script retrieval and process the results in their own code.
It is also useful for technical users who want to confirm that a piece of content can be retrieved before depending on it. Someone who stored a dataset through a storage service can use its identifier to test whether the file comes back intact. That spot check is quicker in a command-line tool than in a full node setup.
If you are new to decentralized storage, treat Lassie as a second step. Learn what a CID is and how storage deals work first, then use Lassie to see the retrieval side in practice.
Practical Use Cases for a Retrieval Client
A common scenario is verification. Suppose a research team publishes a dataset with its CID. Anyone who wants to check the published copy can retrieve it and compare it with their own records, without relying on a single web host.
Another case is integration testing. A developer building a service on Filecoin can run retrieval from a script as part of a test suite, confirming that content the application stored can still be fetched. Because Lassie is also a library, the same logic can move into the codebase later.
A third use is recovery. If you saved an archive years ago and kept its identifier, a retrieval client gives you a direct route to the file, as long as the content remains available on the network. Keep identifiers in a safe place, since without them the file is much harder to locate.
Key features
Retrieval over the best available protocols
Minimal, focused design
Library for IPFS and Filecoin
Open source under MIT and Apache-2.0
Supported coins
The project's documentation centers on Filecoin, the decentralized storage network it was built for, and its scope also covers IPFS content. Because Lassie is a retrieval tool rather than a wallet or exchange client, it does not manage balances or send payments.
How to install Lassie on Windows
PS> scoop install lassie- 1
Install Scoop
If you do not already have Scoop, the command-line package manager for Windows, install it first by following its official instructions. Scoop handles downloads and makes installed commands available in your terminal.
- 2
Install Lassie
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run scoop install lassie. Scoop downloads the program and adds the command to your path so you can call it from any folder.
- 3
Confirm the installation
Open a new terminal window and check that the lassie command runs. If Windows cannot find it, close and reopen the terminal so the updated path loads.
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Download only from trusted sources
Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page at github.com/filecoin-project/lassie. If you install a release file manually, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the value the project publishes before running it.
System requirements
- Windows with the Scoop package manager installed, for the install method described on this page
- Network access so the program can reach the Filecoin network when retrieving content
How to use Lassie
Lassie runs from a terminal, so the workflow takes only a few steps once it is installed. You give it the identifier of the content you want, and it searches for that content and fetches it over the best available retrieval protocol.
- Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal in the folder where you want the retrieved file saved.
- Make sure you have the content identifier (CID) for the item you want.
- Run lassie with the command-line options that match your request. The project's README on GitHub describes the current syntax.
- Wait for the retrieval to finish and locate the output file.
- Check that the file matches what you expected, for example by comparing it with a known hash or a copy you already have.
If retrieval fails, the cause is often that no reachable provider currently serves the content. Trying again later can help, and so can confirming that the identifier was copied correctly.
Pros & cons
- Free to use and open source
- Dual MIT and Apache-2.0 licensing allows flexible reuse
- Focused scope keeps the tool easy to understand
- Recently updated, with a code update in May 2026
- Installs with a single Scoop command on Windows
- Works as both a command-line client and a library
- Narrow scope: it retrieves content and does not replace a full storage node
- Version 0.25.0 is still below 1.0, so interfaces may change between releases
- Terminal-based workflow is less approachable for non-technical users
- You need the identifier of the content before you can fetch it
Is Lassie safe?
Lassie is open source and actively maintained, with its last code update on May 11, 2026, so it is not deprecated or abandoned. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page at github.com/filecoin-project/lassie, and avoid mirrors or repackaged installers. When you download a release file manually, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the value published by the project, and verify a signature if one is provided. Review the Scoop package source if you want extra assurance. Never enter a seed phrase on any third-party website. Keep Windows security software running, and check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/filecoin-project/lassie. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Lassie occupies a narrow slot. Kubo is the reference IPFS node, a broader program that runs a full node on the wider IPFS network. IPFS Desktop places an IPFS node in the Windows tray for people who prefer a more visual setup. Storj focuses on storing and serving files as decentralized cloud storage, so its purpose differs from retrieving Filecoin content. Pinner CLI handles pinning content to IPFS, and Peergos is built around end-to-end encrypted file sharing. If your goal is retrieval from Filecoin specifically, Lassie is the most targeted choice among these.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT|Apache-2.0
- Latest version
- 0.25.0
- Last update
- 11 May 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (available via Scoop)
- Source code
- github.com/filecoin-project/lassie
- Install command
- scoop install lassie
Frequently asked questions
Lassie is used to fetch content from the Filecoin network. You give it the identifier of the item you want, and it retrieves the data over the best available protocol. Its library side also covers IPFS, so developers can use it in broader projects.
Yes, Lassie is free to download and use. It is open source under the MIT and Apache-2.0 licenses, so you can read the code, modify it and reuse it within the terms of those licenses. You can install it through Scoop or from the official source without any purchase step.
Lassie is safe to install when you get it from the official source. Use the Scoop package or the GitHub Releases page for the filecoin-project repository, and verify checksums where available. The project was updated in May 2026, which signals active maintenance. The safety section above lists the full checklist.
Install Scoop first, then run scoop install lassie in PowerShell or Windows Terminal. Scoop downloads the program and adds the command to your path. Open a new terminal window afterward to confirm that the lassie command runs.
Yes, Lassie is described as a universal retrieval library for both IPFS and Filecoin. Its primary focus is Filecoin, so Filecoin retrieval is the clearest use case. If your main goal is running an IPFS node, a tool such as Kubo may suit you better.
Lassie is released under MIT and Apache-2.0, two permissive open-source licenses. You can choose the license that fits your project. Both allow reuse and modification, but each has its own conditions, such as keeping copyright notices. Read the license files in the repository before using the code commercially.
Yes, Lassie was maintained as of its latest code update on May 11, 2026, and its current version is 0.25.0. Active updates matter because retrieval depends on network protocols that change over time. Newer releases appear in the project's GitHub repository.
Verdict
Lassie suits developers and technically confident users who need a free, focused tool for retrieving content from Filecoin, with IPFS support in its library. It is open source, recently updated and easy to install on Windows through Scoop. It is not a full storage node, so if you want a point-and-click experience or a complete network node, consider alternatives such as Kubo or IPFS Desktop. Test it with non-critical content first to see how it fits your workflow.