Belay is a free, open-source CLI tool that automatically captures every file change between git commits. It provides instant recovery for AI-assisted coding workflows, so when an AI agent goes sideways, you can restore any file to any previous state in one command.

Belay uses filesystem watching (fsnotify) to journal every file write the instant it happens. Changes are stored in a content-addressable SHA-256 store with session attribution, so you can see exactly which AI session made each change and restore any version instantly.

Yes, Belay is completely free and open source. All data stays local on your machine. No cloud accounts, no subscriptions, no usage limits.

What AI coding tools does Belay work with?

Belay currently supports Claude Code with built-in hook-based session detection. Support for Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and Windsurf is in progress. Belay works passively alongside any tool. It never modifies your AI tools or their settings.

How is Belay different from git?

Git captures snapshots when you commit. Belay captures every file change continuously between commits. When an AI agent makes dozens of edits before you commit, git can't help you recover intermediate states, but Belay can restore any file to any point in time.

Never lose code to an AI session again.
Belay tracks every change between git commits.

AI moves fast, and a good state can disappear in just a few prompts. Belay captures every change, attributes it to the AI session that made it, and gives you a complete, recoverable history between commits.

Free, local, and open source.

Get "On Belay!" View on GitHub

Never lose code to an AI session again.Belay tracks every change between git commits.

Never lose code to an AI session again.
Belay tracks every change between git commits.