Checkpoints
Checkpoints let you save and restore the state of your workspace during agent sessions. They act as safety nets — experiment freely and roll back if something goes wrong.
How Checkpoints Work
Before the agent executes any file write, patch, or delete operation in Edit or Agent mode, NexusIDE automatically creates a checkpoint of the affected files. This happens transparently — you don't need to do anything.
Checkpoints are stored locally in .nexuscore/checkpoints/ and do not count against sync storage quotas.
Automatic Checkpoints
Every time the agent modifies your workspace, a checkpoint is created automatically. You'll see checkpoint markers in the editor gutter (left margin) on lines that were modified by the agent. Hover over a marker to see the checkpoint timestamp.
Manual Checkpoints
Create a checkpoint at any time:
- Click the checkpoint icon in the Agent Panel toolbar
- Or open the command palette and run NexusCore: Create Checkpoint
Manual checkpoints are useful before you start a risky operation or want to mark a known-good state.
Viewing Checkpoints
Open the Checkpoints panel from the sidebar or command palette (NexusCore: Open Checkpoints). Each checkpoint shows:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Timestamp | When the checkpoint was created |
| Description | Auto-generated from the agent's task (e.g., "Refactored auth module") |
| Files affected | Number of files captured in the checkpoint |
Restoring a Checkpoint
- Open the Checkpoints panel
- Find the checkpoint you want to restore
- Click Restore
- All affected files revert to their state at that checkpoint
- A confirmation message appears
You can also use the command palette: NexusCore: Rollback to Last Checkpoint
WARNING
Restoring a checkpoint overwrites the current state of the affected files. Make sure you've saved any changes you want to keep, or create a new checkpoint first.
Use Cases
- Experiment safely — Try different approaches and roll back if the result isn't what you wanted
- Compare before/after — Review what the agent changed by comparing the current state with a checkpoint
- Recover from mistakes — If the agent makes an unintended change, restore the previous state instantly
- Iterative development — Create checkpoints at key milestones during a long agent session
Storage
Checkpoints are stored in .nexuscore/checkpoints/ in your home directory. They contain only the files that were modified, not the entire workspace.
Checkpoints are local-only and are not included in encrypted sync, so they don't count against your Pro or Studio storage quota.