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Auto-version rules
Last updated May 15, 2026 · 4 min read
Slima creates versions in the background — not randomly, but by meaningful rules. This article spells out when auto-versions fire and why those moments specifically.
Four moments that trigger an auto-version
| Moment | What |
|---|---|
| After you stop editing for a while | Pause and stay idle for a bit, and Slima leaves a version (not a fixed every-N-minutes clock) |
| Before the AI writes | The Coach or AI analysis snapshots before it modifies a file |
| Before syncing to the cloud | Right before your changes are pushed up, a local version is kept |
| Before you leave or close the editor | Switching tabs / closing the page snapshots first, so nothing is missed |
The logic: leave a restorable point whenever you might regret something — or content is about to be changed or shipped off.
Design principle: tied to key moments, not a dumb timer
Naive version-control tools use a dumb timer — "snapshot every N minutes." Slima doesn't — it ties versions to moments that actually matter to you:
- You pause for a while (idle) → a version (usually the end of a passage)
- Before the AI edits your file → a version first (so you can roll back if the AI gets it wrong)
- Before syncing to cloud / before leaving the page → a version each (capturing the point right before you leave the current state)
- You're typing fast → no version (it would break your flow, and the text isn't stable yet)
You can also make a named version yourself any time — see Create a manual version and name it.
See the auto-versions
In the version history panel, you'll see two kinds of dots:
- Big dot — a named version (you made it)
- Small dot — an auto-version (the system made it)
The panel has a "Show / hide auto snapshots" toggle.
See: Browse version history & diff
Do auto-versions eat a lot of space?
No. Slima versions store diffs — just "what changed since the previous version", not full copies of the book each time. A hundred auto-versions together are usually smaller than the plain text of one book.
Can I turn auto-versions off?
No. Auto-versions are always on and can't currently be turned off — they cost you nothing and save you everything.
Can I bulk-delete auto-versions?
Not (yet). Slima treats versions as a timeline — deleting a section would break the diff chain. You can "hide auto snapshots" for visual cleanup, but not delete.
We're evaluating "compress a date range of auto-versions" for the future.