COMMITREEL

Time travel for checkpoints.

One file. Replay any moment. Zero config.

Install • Powered by MV2 • Quick start • Commands • Notes

Time travel for checkpoints. Record a single MV2 tape, scrub a timeline, and run any moment on demand.

Powered by MV2

CommitReel stores everything in a single .mv2 file (Memvid's portable format for embeddings + metadata). That means your entire timeline is one file you can move, archive, or share - no database required.

What it does

• Records git checkpoints (or file snapshots if git is missing).
• Renders a video-editor style timeline in the web UI.
• Lets you Run This Moment to boot a checkpoint in an isolated worktree.
• Streams logs and highlights likely blame when a run fails.
• Stores everything in one portable tape file.

Install

Global install:

npm install -g commitreel

Or run without installing:

npx commitreel start --web

Quick start

commitreel start --web

This will:

• create commitreel.tape.mv2
• watch for git checkpoints
• launch the web UI at http://0.0.0.0:23404 (falls back to 23405 if busy)

Record a different folder:

npx commitreel start --web --cwd /path/to/project

Open an existing tape:

npx commitreel web --out /path/to/commitreel.tape.mv2

Works with Replit, Cursor, and local repos

CommitReel is not Replit-only. It works anywhere you have a git repo and a terminal:

• Replit: uses the git commits created by Agent checkpoints.
• Cursor: run the CLI in your local repo and it behaves the same.
• Local projects: any git repo works.

Run This Moment requires a detectable run command. CommitReel checks, in order:

1. .replit with run = "..."
2. package.json scripts (dev, start, preview)
3. fallback files (index.js, server.js, main.py, app.py)

If your stack is different, add a minimal .replit file with a run command.

You can also override the run command and mode:

npx commitreel start --web --run "python app.py" --run-mode web

The web UI

The Time-Travel Lab is built to feel like a replay tool:

• Timeline reel with a playhead and checkpoint markers
• Checkpoint inspector with diff stats and metadata
• Live run logs
• Blame panel when a checkpoint fails
• Optional per-checkpoint AI chat

How Run This Moment works

1. Creates a git worktree at the checkpoint commit
2. Detects the run command from .replit or package.json
3. Runs it on a fresh port in a temp directory
4. Streams logs to the UI
5. Cleans up on stop

Your main workspace is never modified.

Commands

commitreel start [--out commitreel.tape.mv2] [--web] [--port 23404]
commitreel checkpoint "message" [--out commitreel.tape.mv2]
commitreel web [--out commitreel.tape.mv2] [--port 23404]

Options

• --out PATH Tape file path (default: commitreel.tape.mv2)
• --cwd PATH Working directory (default: current directory)
• --web Start web UI
• --port NUM Web UI port (default: 23404, falls back to 23405 if busy)
• --interval SECONDS Git poll interval (default: 5)
• --debounce MS File checkpoint debounce (default: 4000)
• --capture-files Store changed file snapshots in MV2
• --watch-files Watch files even when git is available
• --no-seed Skip baseline checkpoint on start
• --run CMD Override run command used for checkpoints
• --run-mode MODE Run mode: auto, web, cli (default: auto)
• --verbose Verbose logs

AI chat (optional)

Per-checkpoint AI chat is supported. Provide a key:

npx commitreel start --web --api-key YOUR_KEY --model openai

Environment variables:

• COMMITREEL_API_KEY
• OPENAI_API_KEY or ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
• COMMITREEL_MODEL (openai or anthropic)

Notes and limits

• Best experience when git checkpoints exist.
• File snapshots work without git, but Run This Moment requires git.
• Non-web projects still run; the UI shows logs without a preview URL.
• If a project is misdetected, use --run-mode cli or --run-mode web to override.
• Database snapshots are not captured in v1.

License

Apache-2.0