work-checkpoints

Work Checkpoints

Save and restore work snapshots using a shadow Git repository. Perfect for experimenting with code changes without committing to your main repository.

Works with VSCode, Claude Code, and OpenCode.

Features

• Save Snapshots: Capture your current work state at any time
• Restore Snapshots: Revert to a previous snapshot with one click
• Commit Diff Mode: Compare changes between consecutive snapshots
• Favorites: Mark important snapshots as favorites to protect them from auto-deletion
• Auto-Cleanup: Automatically delete old snapshots based on retention period
• File-level Operations: View diffs, restore, or delete individual files
• Folder Operations: Restore or delete entire folders
• Tree/List View Toggle: Switch between tree and flat file display
• Rename Snapshots: Give meaningful names to your checkpoints
• Branch Grouping: Organize snapshots by branch for better management
• File History: Browse checkpoint history for individual files with diff comparison
• Claude Snapshot Management: Toggle visibility and delete Claude-created snapshots individually
• Activity Bar Integration: Quick access from the sidebar
• Command Palette Support: All commands available via Cmd+Shift+P

Usage

Save a Snapshot

1. Click the + button in the Work Checkpoints view, or
2. Run Work Checkpoints: Save Snapshot from the Command Palette

Restore a Snapshot

1. Hover over a snapshot and click the Restore button, or
2. Run Work Checkpoints: Restore Snapshot from the Command Palette

View File Diff

Click on any file within a snapshot to see the diff between the snapshot version and your current file.

Use the Show Commit Changes / Compare with Current toggle in the Snapshots or File History panel toolbar to switch between:

• Compare with Current (default): Diff between the snapshot and your current working state
• Commit Diff Mode: Diff between consecutive snapshots, showing what changed in each snapshot

The toggle applies to file diffs in both panels.

File/Folder Operations

Hover over a file or folder in a snapshot to restore or delete it.

Rename a Snapshot

Right-click on a snapshot and select Rename to give it a meaningful name.

Organize by Branch

Use the Group by Branch command to organize snapshots by branch. Switch back to flat list view with Flat List command.

Mark Favorites

Click the star icon on a snapshot to mark it as a favorite. Favorite snapshots are:

• Displayed at the top of the list
• Protected from auto-deletion
• Clearly indicated with a filled star icon

Manage Claude Snapshots

• Use Show/Hide Claude Snapshots to toggle visibility of Claude-created snapshots
• Use Delete Claude Snapshots to remove all Claude-created snapshots (renamed snapshots are protected)

Commands

Command Palette

Command	Description
Work Checkpoints: Save Snapshot	Save current work state
Work Checkpoints: Save Snapshot with Description	Save current work state with a custom description
Work Checkpoints: Restore Snapshot	Restore from a snapshot
Work Checkpoints: Delete Snapshots	Delete one or more snapshots
Work Checkpoints: Show File History	Show checkpoint history for the current file

Toolbar Actions

These actions are available from the panel toolbar buttons, not the Command Palette.

Action	Description
Group by Branch	Organize snapshots by branch
Flat List	Display snapshots in a flat list
Show Claude Snapshots	Show Claude-created snapshots
Hide Claude Snapshots	Hide Claude-created snapshots
Delete Claude Snapshots	Delete all Claude-created snapshots
Delete All Snapshots	Delete all snapshots
Show Commit Changes	Switch to commit diff mode
Compare with Current	Switch to diff-with-current mode

Settings

Setting	Default	Description
work-checkpoints.messageFormat	${branch} @ ${date}	Snapshot message format. Variables: ${branch}, ${date}
work-checkpoints.dateFormat	yyyy/MM/dd HH:mm:ss	Date format. Tokens: yyyy, MM, dd, HH, mm, ss
work-checkpoints.showDeleteAllButton	true	Show "Delete All" button in snapshot input panel
work-checkpoints.ignorePatterns	[]	Additional patterns to ignore when creating snapshots (gitignore format)
work-checkpoints.showSettingsButton	false	Show "Open Settings" button in Snapshots panel toolbar
work-checkpoints.retentionDays	0	Number of days to keep snapshots before auto-deletion. Set to 0 to disable auto-deletion. Favorites are always excluded.

Examples