SnapBack for VS Code

Your AI safety net. SnapBack watches what breaks, remembers the patterns, and catches the next disaster before it ships.

Every save, SnapBack learns. Day 1: 94% accurate. Day 30: It knows YOUR codebase. Month 3: It catches patterns you didn't know existed.

What It Does

🆓 Always Free

• ✅ Pattern Memory: Learns what AI tools break in YOUR codebase
• ✅ Auto-snapshots: One-click restore to any point—no commands to remember
• ✅ Per-Tool Learning: Learns that Cursor is reckless with configs but careful with tests
• ✅ Secrets Detection: Prevents committing API keys and passwords
• ✅ Works Offline: 100% local, no account required

☁️ Cloud Features (Pro & Team Plans)

Upgrade at snapback.dev to unlock:

• 🔐 Learn from Everyone: Get warnings about patterns that broke in 1,000+ other repos
• 🔐 Cross-Device Sync: Access snapshots on any computer
• 🔐 Team Learning: Share what your team learns about AI safety
• 🔐 Cloud Backup: Snapshots backed up automatically

Installation

1. Install from VS Code Marketplace

   OR via command line:

   code --install-extension snapback.snapback

2. That's it! Extension works immediately - no setup needed.

Quick Start

Protect Your First File

1. Open any file (e.g., .env, database.ts)
2. Right-click → SnapBack: Protect This File
3. Choose protection level:
   • Watched: Monitor for changes
   • Caution: Warn before risky edits
   • Protected: Require confirmation to edit

Create Your First Snapshot

1. Press Cmd+Shift+S (or Ctrl+Shift+S on Windows/Linux)
2. Enter a description (e.g., "Before refactor")
3. Done! Snapshot saved locally

Restore from Snapshot

1. Open Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P)
2. Type "SnapBack: Restore Snapshot"
3. Select snapshot from list
4. Files restored to that point in time

How It Works

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Your Workspace                     │
│  ┌────────────────────────────────┐ │
│  │ .env          [PROTECTED] 🔒   │ │
│  │ auth.ts       [CAUTION]    ⚠️  │ │
│  │ database.ts   [WATCHED]    👁️  │ │
│  └────────────────────────────────┘ │
│                                     │
│  SnapBack monitors edits            │
│  ├─ Detects secrets                 │
│  ├─ Warns on risky changes          │
│  └─ Auto-creates snapshots          │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Commands

| Command | Shortcut | Description | |---------|----------|-------------| | Create Snapshot | Cmd+Shift+S | Create snapshot of current state | | Restore Snapshot | - | View and restore from snapshots | | Protect File | - | Add file to protection list | | View Protected Files | - | See all protected files | | Snapshot Settings | - | Configure auto-snapshot rules |

Protection Levels

🔵 Watched

• Monitors file for changes
• Shows badge in file explorer
• Non-intrusive

Good for: Config files, package.json

🟡 Caution

• Shows warning banner when editing
• Suggests creating snapshot first
• Can still edit freely

Good for: Auth logic, database schemas

🔴 Protected

• Requires explicit confirmation to edit
• Auto-creates snapshot before changes
• Maximum safety

Good for: .env files, private keys, production configs

Configuration

Extension Settings

{
  // Auto-protect common files
  "snapback.autoProtect": true,

  // Protection patterns (glob)
  "snapback.protectionPatterns": [
    "*.env*",
    "**/*.key",
    "**/secrets/**"
  ],

  // Auto-snapshot before risky changes
  "snapback.autoSnapshot": true,

  // Optional: API key for cloud features
  "snapback.apiKey": ""
}

Enable Cloud Sync (Optional)

1. Get free API key: snapback.dev
2. Open Settings (Cmd+,)
3. Search "SnapBack API Key"
4. Paste your key
5. Cloud features enabled!

Feature Comparison

| Feature | Free (Local) | With API Key | |---------|-------------|--------------| | File Protection | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Unlimited | | Local Snapshots | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Unlimited | | Secret Detection | ✅ Basic | ✅ ML-Powered | | Works Offline | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | Cloud Sync | ❌ | ✅ Yes | | Team Sharing | ❌ | ✅ Yes | | Cross-Device | ❌ | ✅ Yes | | Advanced Analytics | ❌ | ✅ Yes |

Privacy & Security

• No telemetry without your consent
• Local-first: All data stored in your workspace by default
• Open source: Audit the code yourself
• No tracking: We don't know what files you protect
• API key optional: Full features work offline

Examples

Protect Critical Files

// .snapbackrc in your workspace root
{
  "protection": {
    "patterns": {
      "*.env*": "protected",
      "src/auth/**": "caution",
      "database/**": "watched"
    }
  }
}

Auto-Snapshot Rules

{
  "snapshots": {
    "autoCreate": {
      "beforeGitCommit": true,
      "beforeRefactor": true,
      "beforeDeploy": true
    }
  }
}

Troubleshooting

Extension not activating

1. Check VS Code version (requires 1.80+)
2. Reload window: Cmd+Shift+P → "Reload Window"
3. Check extension is enabled: Extensions panel

Snapshots not appearing

1. Check storage location: .snapback/ in workspace
2. Verify disk space available
3. Check file permissions

Cloud sync not working

1. Verify API key in settings
2. Check internet connection
3. Look for error notifications

Development

Building from Source

git clone https://github.com/snapback-dev/vscode.git
cd vscode

pnpm install
pnpm build

# Package
pnpm vsce package

# Install locally
code --install-extension snapback-1.0.0.vsix

Testing

# Run tests
pnpm test

# Launch extension development host
pnpm dev

Links

• Documentation: docs.snapback.dev
• Get API Key: snapback.dev
• Report Issues: github.com/snapback-dev/vscode/issues
• Main Repository: Marcelle-Labs/snapback.dev

Related

• @snapback/mcp-server - MCP server for AI tools
• @snapback-oss/sdk - TypeScript SDK

License

This extension is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPLv3). See LICENSE for details.