AI History Export
Automatically exports AI chat sessions into a HISTORY/ folder as Markdown files — so every conversation is saved, searchable, and resumable.
Works with Claude Code (automatic on session end) and GitHub Copilot (manual export command). Designed to be extended to other AI providers.
How it works
When an AI chat session ends, the extension triggers a bundled script that reads the transcript and writes a Markdown file to HISTORY/ in your workspace. Each session gets its own file, and re-running the same session updates it instead of creating a duplicate.
The exported file includes:
- Full conversation transcript (USER / ASSISTANT turns)
- Session metadata (ID, timestamp, workspace, transcript source)
- Diagnostics and raw fallback when parsing is incomplete
- A handoff section for notes and next steps
Supported Providers
| Provider |
Mode |
Mechanism |
| Claude Code |
Automatic |
Installs a Stop hook in .claude/settings.json |
| GitHub Copilot |
Manual |
Run "AI History Export: Save current Copilot chat" |
More providers (Cursor, Continue, Windsurf) can be added as modules — the provider interface is already in place.
Commands
| Command |
Description |
AI History Export: Enable for Workspace |
Install hook and create HISTORY/ |
AI History Export: Disable for Workspace |
Remove hook (your HISTORY/ folder is untouched) |
AI History Export: Open HISTORY Folder |
Open the export folder in the Explorer |
AI History Export: Repair Configuration |
Re-apply hook with current settings (useful after extension updates) |
AI History Export: Validate Installation |
Check Node.js, exporter script, and hook status |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
aiHistoryExport.provider |
auto |
AI provider: auto, claude-code, or copilot |
aiHistoryExport.hookScope |
project |
Install hook at project or user level |
aiHistoryExport.historyFolderName |
HISTORY |
Export folder name |
aiHistoryExport.includeDiagnostics |
true |
Include diagnostics and raw fallback sections |
aiHistoryExport.overwriteSessionFile |
true |
Update the existing file for the same session |
aiHistoryExport.nodePath |
(empty) |
Full path to node executable — leave empty to use node from PATH |
Requirements
- Node.js 18+ available on PATH (or set via
aiHistoryExport.nodePath)
- Claude Code or GitHub Copilot installed in VS Code
How the hook works
For Claude Code, the extension merges a Stop hook entry into .claude/settings.json:
{
"hooks": {
"Stop": [
{
"matcher": "",
"hooks": [
{
"type": "command",
"command": "node \"/path/to/extension/assets/export-chat-history.js\"",
"timeout": 60
}
]
}
]
}
}
The entry is tagged with _installedBy: "ai-history-export" so Disable removes only this extension's hook, leaving any other hooks untouched.
After an extension update the hook path may change. The extension detects this on activation and silently re-writes the hook. You can also run Repair Configuration manually.
Privacy
All exports are local files only. No data is sent to any remote service. Transcript content never leaves your machine.
License
MIT
