SEED — the LEAF reader backend

LEAF reads targeted .raw, .mzml, and .mzml.gz inputs through SEED on macOS and Linux (the rust backend in leaf --backend). On Windows, targeted .raw files default to Thermo's dotnet reader while mzML-family files use SEED.

SEED is a separate project with its own user manual:

→ SEED — Overview → Command line · Changelog

When the backend choice matters

• macOS / Linux — auto routes targeted inputs through SEED.
• Windows — auto uses dotnet for targeted .raw files and SEED for mzML-family files. Override to rust (--backend rust or Settings → Advanced) when SEED parsing is preferred for .raw; override to dotnet for Thermo files SEED cannot decode.

Reporting RAW files SEED cannot read

1. Confirm Thermo's Xcalibur opens the file.
2. On Windows, retry with --backend dotnet.
3. If neither works, open a LEAF issue with the LEAF version, the instrument model, and the firmware version.