DeadVault

Snapshot-based version history for any folder. No Git required on the watched folder.

Watches project folders in the background, creates snapshots on file change, and stores them in a hidden internal Git repo. Includes an MCP server so AI tools can create versions, query diffs, and roll back with full attribution metadata.

Components

Features

• Auto-snapshot on file change (configurable debounce)
• Manual snapshot with version bump (patch / minor / major / dev / custom)
• One-click restore with automatic pre-restore backup
• Diff view per commit with per-file line counts
• Attribution tracking: human vs AI per snapshot and per file
• dvwm1- watermark written to .deadvault.attribution.json per changed text file
• Query snapshots by author kind (human, ai, mixed)
• MCP server with full tool surface for AI clients

Requirements

• Windows
• .NET 9 SDK

Build and run

# build everything
.\scripts\build.ps1

# run the desktop UI
dotnet run --project src\DeadVault.UI\DeadVault.UI.csproj

# run the background watcher separately
dotnet run --project src\DeadVault.Agent\DeadVault.Agent.csproj

# run the MCP server
dotnet run --project src\DeadVault.McpServer\DeadVault.McpServer.csproj

Quick start

1. Open DeadVault, click Add Project, pick a folder.
2. Edit files in the folder. DeadVault snapshots automatically.
3. Click Create Version to tag a snapshot manually.
4. Open Timeline to diff, restore, or export.

MCP setup (Claude Desktop)

Add to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "deadvault": {
      "command": "C:\\path\\to\\DeadVault\\artifacts\\publish\\DeadVault.McpServer\\DeadVault.McpServer.exe"
    }
  }
}

Or using dotnet run (slower startup, no build required):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "deadvault": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--project",
        "C:\\path\\to\\DeadVault\\src\\DeadVault.McpServer\\DeadVault.McpServer.csproj"
      ]
    }
  }
}

MCP tools

Attribution metadata on create_version

authorKind      "ai" | "human" | "mixed"
model           model name string (e.g. "claude-opus-4-5")
modelFamily     "claude" | "gpt" | "gemini" | "cursor" | etc.
clientName      MCP client identifier

DeadVault writes these into the Git commit trailer and the attribution manifest. Query later with query_changes(author: "ai").

Attribution

Snapshots default to human when created from the UI. MCP clients should pass explicit author metadata. Changed text files get a SHA256 watermark stored in .deadvault.attribution.json.

Publish a release

.\scripts\publish-release.ps1

Outputs to artifacts\publish\DeadVault.UI, DeadVault.Agent, and DeadVault.McpServer.

Verify

dotnet build DeadVault.sln -m:1 -p:BuildInParallel=false
dotnet test DeadVault.sln -m:1 -p:BuildInParallel=false

Roadmap

v1.1

• VS Code extension with timeline sidebar
• CLI: dvault snapshot, dvault diff, dvault restore
• Cursor integration

v1.2

• Per-line human/AI attribution in diff view

v1.3

• Linux and macOS support
• Web dashboard

v2.0

• Multi-user shared server
• GitHub/GitLab sync

License

MIT. See LICENSE.