Checkpoints and Rollbacks

With Replit, you never have to worry about losing your work. Replit’s checkpoint and rollback system provides comprehensive version control and state management for your entire development environment. When you use Replit Agent or Assistant, checkpoints automatically capture your complete project state. This includes not just your code changes, but workspace contents, AI conversation context, and connected databases.

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What are checkpoints?

A checkpoint is a complete snapshot of your Replit App state created automatically by Agent and Assistant at key development milestones. Unlike traditional version control that only tracks code changes, Replit checkpoints capture your entire development context. Think of checkpoints as save points in a video game - you can always go back to a working version of your app.

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Complete state capture

Each checkpoint preserves:

• Workspace contents: All files, directories, installed packages, and project configuration
• AI conversation context: The complete conversation history and context that led to current state
• Environment configuration: Runtime settings and publishing configurations
• Agent memory: The AI’s understanding of your project architecture, preferences, and patterns
• Database contents: The data and schema of your database at the time of checkpoint creation

This comprehensive approach means you can confidently experiment with changes, knowing you can restore not just your code, but your entire development context.

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How rollbacks work

Rollback functionality allows you to restore your Replit App to any previous checkpoint state with a single click. This is far more powerful than traditional Git revert operations. Rollbacks are designed to be safe and predictable:

• Non-destructive preview: Some interfaces allow you to preview checkpoint states before rolling back
• Clear boundaries: Each checkpoint represents a logical development milestone
• Conversation continuity: AI context is preserved, so you can continue building from the restored state
• Immediate effect: Rollbacks apply instantly across your entire development environment

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Rolling back

When you roll back to a previous checkpoint, your project returns to that earlier state, including:

1. Complete workspace state: All files in your workspace return to their exact state at the selected checkpoint
2. AI conversation context: Agent and Assistant conversations are restored to the point of the checkpoint, maintaining context continuity
3. Project configuration: Dependencies, packages, and runtime configurations
4. Development environment: Tool configurations and workspace settings
5. Database contents (optional): When selected, your database will be restored to the state it was at the time of the checkpoint

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Rolling forward

Checkpoints in Replit work bidirectionally—you can move both backward and forward through your project’s history. This gives you complete flexibility to navigate your development timeline without fear of losing work. If you’ve rolled back too far or want to recover changes from a later checkpoint, you can roll forward to move ahead in your checkpoint history. This allows you to navigate freely through your project’s timeline without losing work. To roll forward, access the history view in the Agent tab by clicking the history icon , then select a checkpoint that occurs after your current position. This bidirectional navigation gives you complete control over your project’s timeline, ensuring your work is always recoverable.

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Checkpoint creation

Checkpoints are created automatically by Replit’s AI tools at strategic moments during development.

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Agent checkpoints

Replit Agent creates checkpoints when:

• Feature completion: After successfully implementing a requested feature or functionality
• Major milestones: When significant progress is made on complex tasks
• Stable states: After testing and validation of implemented changes
• Error recovery: Before attempting fixes for critical issues

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Assistant checkpoints

Replit Assistant creates checkpoints when:

• Edit requests: After applying approved changes to your codebase
• Multi-file modifications: When changes span multiple files or components
• Package updates: After installing or updating dependencies
• Configuration changes: When modifying project settings or structure

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Checkpoint characteristics

Every checkpoint includes:

• AI-generated descriptions: Clear, descriptive summaries of what was accomplished
• Timestamp information: Precise creation time for easy identification
• Change scope: Indication of files, features, or systems modified
• Billing information: For Agent, transparent cost tracking per checkpoint

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Using checkpoints and rollbacks

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Finding checkpoints

Checkpoints appear in multiple locations throughout your Replit workspace: Agent tab: View all Agent-created checkpoints with descriptions and rollback options Assistant tab: Access Assistant-generated checkpoints and undo/restore functionality Git pane: See checkpoints as Git commits with full version control integration History view: In Agent chat, click the history icon to access a complete timeline of all checkpoints and their progression

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Performing rollbacks

The rollback process varies slightly depending on where you initiate it:

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From Agent tab

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From Assistant tab

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Best practices

Use checkpoints strategically:

• Test your app after each major checkpoint to ensure stability
• Create manual Git commits for long-term version tracking alongside automatic checkpoints
• Review checkpoint descriptions to understand what changed

Rollback considerations:

• Always verify the scope of changes before rolling back
• Consider the impact on your database and external integrations
• Communicate rollbacks to collaborators to maintain team awareness

Iterative development:

• Build incrementally to take advantage of frequent checkpoints
• Use rollbacks to explore different implementation approaches safely
• Leverage AI context preservation to continue conversations after rollbacks

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Integration with version control

Checkpoints work seamlessly with Replit’s broader version control ecosystem:

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Git integration

• Git commit generation: Each checkpoint creates a corresponding Git commit
• Branch compatibility: Checkpoints respect branch structure and merging workflows
• Remote sync: GitHub integration maintains checkpoint synchronization
• Command line access: Full Git functionality remains available alongside checkpoints

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Collaboration features

• Team visibility: Checkpoints are visible to all project collaborators
• Merge conflict prevention: Checkpoint timing reduces likelihood of conflicts
• Shared context: AI conversation context helps team members understand changes
• Real-time updates: Collaborators see checkpoint creation in real-time

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Advanced features

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Checkpoint previews

Some interfaces support checkpoint preview functionality:

• Visual comparison: See your app’s appearance at different checkpoint states
• Non-destructive exploration: Preview without actually rolling back
• Progress tracking: Understand how your app evolved over time
• Iteration comparison: Compare different implementation approaches

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Cross-session rollbacks

For advanced builders and team administrators:

• Extended history: Access checkpoints across multiple development sessions
• Administrative control: Team admins can perform rollbacks across user sessions
• Audit trails: Complete history of checkpoint creation and rollback actions

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Use cases

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Experimental development

Checkpoints enable fearless experimentation:

• Try new features knowing you can easily revert
• Test different architectural approaches
• Explore alternative UI designs or user flows
• Implement complex integrations with safety nets

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Debugging and recovery

When issues arise, checkpoints provide reliable recovery:

• Roll back to working states when bugs are introduced
• Isolate problems by comparing checkpoint states
• Restore database integrity after data corruption
• Recover from accidental deletions or modifications

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Learning and iteration

Checkpoints support educational development:

• Compare different implementation strategies
• Learn from AI decision-making process through checkpoint progression
• Build understanding by exploring how features evolved
• Practice new techniques with rollback safety

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Next steps

To learn more about related Replit features, explore:

• Replit Agent: Learn about AI-powered app development and checkpoint creation
• Replit Assistant: Discover targeted editing capabilities and Assistant checkpoints
• Version Control: Understand Git integration and broader version control options
• File History: Explore granular file-level change tracking
• Effective Prompting: Master techniques for checkpoint-driven development