Checkpoint
Also called snapshot or restore point
A snapshot of your project that an AI coding tool saves as it works, so you can rewind the code to an earlier point when a change goes wrong.
Before you try the redesign, commit the current working version with the message "Before redesign" so I can return to it. If the redesign breaks the build, revert to that commit and tell me what went wrong instead of patching on top.
Paste into Layerwise or any AI coding tool.
What is Checkpoint?
Many AI coding tools save a checkpoint around each change. It records the state of your files at that moment, and restoring it puts the code back the way it was. That is handy when a prompt breaks the layout or takes the app in the wrong direction.
Checkpoints are made automatically, are often tied to one conversation, and usually track only the files the AI edited. Side effects such as database changes, installed packages, or commands that ran are not rewound.
Use checkpoints for quick experiments, and make a git commit when something works. Published apps have a similar safety net in releases: Layerwise keeps recent releases ready for instant rollback.
Often confused with
- Git commit
- A git commit is a lasting, named save point that you or the AI create on purpose. A checkpoint is a temporary snapshot the tool takes on its own.
Related terms
All termsGit commit
A saved snapshot of a project in Git with a short message describing the change. Commits form a history you can compare, review, and restore.
Diff
A view of what changed in a file, with removed lines marked in red with a minus sign and added lines in green with a plus sign.
Deploy
Building your app and publishing it to servers so anyone can use it at a public URL. Each deploy puts a new version live.
Vibe coding
A way of building software by describing what you want to an AI model and steering the result in conversation, without writing the code yourself.
Build it with Layerwise
Describe your app, watch it run in a live preview, and publish it with a database, storage, and sign-in built in.