Open Checkpoint Changed File

A VS Code extension that adds an "Open File" button to chat checkpoint diff editors in VS Code Copilot.

In the screenshot above: clicking the "Open File" button in the snapshot diff editor's title bar opens the actual file, bridging the gap left by VS Code's built-in git.openFile.

Why This Extension?

When using VS Code Copilot with chat.checkpoints.showFileChanges enabled, you can see file changes in chat checkpoints. However, VS Code's built-in git.openFile command doesn't handle the chat-editing-snapshot-text-model URI scheme used by these checkpoint diff editors.

This extension fills that gap by providing a dedicated command to open files from chat checkpoint diff editors.

Requirements

The file changes view is controlled by the chat.checkpoints.showFileChanges setting, which is disabled by default. This extension only works when it is enabled:

Enable chat.checkpoints.showFileChanges

If the setting is disabled, the extension shows a notification with an "Open Settings" button — on activation, and every time you run its command or click the "Open File" button — which jumps directly to the setting.

Features

• Open File Button: Adds an "Open File" button to the editor title bar for chat checkpoint diff editors
• Smart Command: open-checkpoint-changed-file.openCheckpointOrGitFile - intelligently handles both chat checkpoint files and git files
• Setting Check: Detects a disabled chat.checkpoints.showFileChanges and notifies you with a one-click "Open Settings" action

Installation

1. Download the .vsix file from releases
2. Install via VS Code: code --install-extension open-checkpoint-changed-file-0.0.1.vsix
3. Or install via VS Code Insider: code-insiders --install-extension open-checkpoint-changed-file-0.0.1.vsix

Usage

Manual Usage

1. Open a chat checkpoint diff editor in VS Code Copilot
2. Click the "Open File" button in the editor title bar
3. The file will open in a new tab

Command Palette

• Cmd+Shift+P → "Open Checkpoint Changed or Git File"

Vim Integration

For users with VSCodeVim, you can bind the command to a leader key sequence:

{
  "before": ["<leader>", "g", "o"],
  "commands": ["open-checkpoint-changed-file.openCheckpointOrGitFile"]
}

Example Configuration

// In your VSCodeVim settings (keybindings.json or settings.json)
{
  "vim.normalModeKeyBindingsNonRecursive": [
    // ... other bindings ...
    {
      // Open file from chat checkpoint changes
      "before": ["<leader>", "g", "o"],
      "commands": ["open-checkpoint-changed-file.openCheckpointOrGitFile"],
    },
  ],
}

Background

VS Code Copilot's chat checkpoint feature (enabled via chat.checkpoints.showFileChanges) allows you to see file changes made during a chat session. These changes are displayed in diff editors using a special URI scheme: chat-editing-snapshot-text-model.

The built-in git.openFile command doesn't recognize this scheme, so clicking "Open File" in these diff editors doesn't work. This extension provides a solution by registering a custom command that properly handles this URI scheme.

Development

# Install dependencies
pnpm install

# Compile
pnpm run compile

# Package
vsce package --allow-missing-repository

License

MIT