SoloSync

SoloSync protects the code that Git has not protected yet. It creates restorable snapshots of the project folder you choose in a local folder or a NAS share you already mounted on your computer.

What the first release does

• Creates a snapshot manually from the Command Palette, Explorer, status bar, or SoloSync sidebar.
• Automatically creates a snapshot after the current Git commit changes.
• Creates an idle snapshot after workspace files stop changing.
• Keeps Git branch, commit, message, and dirty-state context with every snapshot.
• Shows snapshot history inside VS Code.
• Restores a whole snapshot into a new folder without overwriting the current workspace.
• Restores one selected file to a location you choose.
• Verifies every restored snapshot with SHA-256 hashes.
• Backs up only the project folder you explicitly choose, even when VS Code has a broader parent folder open.
• Shows scanning and copying progress with a Cancel button that discards the incomplete snapshot.

SoloSync never synchronizes remote deletions back into your workspace. The first release also never deletes old snapshots automatically.

Start protecting a project

1. Open the SoloSync sidebar and run SoloSync: Setup.
2. Choose the project folder you want SoloSync to protect.
3. Choose a local folder, mounted QNAP share, or another mounted NAS folder for snapshots.
4. Run SoloSync: Back Up Now. The progress notification can cancel an incorrect or unexpectedly large backup.

The sidebar Setup button keeps the two choices separate: Project folder is what SoloSync backs up, while Backup location is where snapshots are stored. Google Drive must already be signed in and synchronized by Google Drive for desktop. A NAS share must already be mounted by your operating system. SoloSync checks that both folders are available and that the backup location is writable. A backup folder inside the selected project is automatically excluded from snapshots.

Setup also opens backup timing and exclusion options. The sidebar shows the selected project, storage type, and destination folder, and provides recovery actions if either location becomes unavailable.

Future snapshots appear in the SoloSync activity bar. Git commit backups are enabled by default. Idle backups default to ten minutes and can be changed in VS Code Settings.

Restoring safely

Open SoloSync → Backup History, then use a snapshot's restore action. Full snapshots always restore into a newly created directory. SoloSync does not overwrite the open workspace.

Use Restore File when only one file is needed. You select the file from the snapshot and then choose its destination.

What is stored

Snapshots use this structure inside your chosen location:

SoloSync/<project-id>/snapshots/<snapshot-id>/
  manifest.json
  files/<workspace-root>/...

The manifest contains relative paths, file sizes, timestamps, SHA-256 hashes, and optional Git context. It does not store the original absolute workspace path.

Defaults and exclusions

SoloSync skips symbolic links and excludes common generated directories including .git, node_modules, dist, build, out, .next, and .cache. You can change exclusions with the solosync.exclude setting.

Review whether secrets such as .env files should be present in your backup. Client-side encryption and native Google Drive/SFTP connections are planned but are not part of this first release.

Storage support

The first release writes to a filesystem directory. This includes:

• A local external disk.
• A QNAP share mounted with SMB or another operating-system-supported protocol.
• A locally synchronized Google Drive directory.

Native Google Drive OAuth, QNAP SFTP, and WebDAV adapters are the next storage milestone. See the product design for the full architecture and roadmap.

Development

npm ci
npm test
npm run package

The packaged VSIX can be installed through Extensions → … → Install from VSIX.

Privacy and security

• Workspace contents are written only to the folder you choose.
• SoloSync does not operate a cloud service or receive your source code.
• Snapshot verification uses SHA-256.
• Full restore is non-destructive by default.

License

MIT