Usage Reference

Basic Commands

Write clipboard to file (creates backup if exists):

pt myfile.txt

Write with comment:

pt myfile.txt -m "Fixed bug in authentication logic"

Write with check mode (skip if unchanged):

pt myfile.txt -c

Combine check mode with comment:

pt myfile.txt -c -m "Updated configuration"

Append clipboard to file (no backup):

pt + myfile.txt

Append with comment:

pt + myfile.txt -m "Added new log entry"

List all backups with sizes, timestamps, and comments:

pt -l myfile.txt

Restore backup (interactive selection):

pt -r myfile.txt

Restore with comment:

pt -r myfile.txt -m "Rolled back to stable version"

Restore last backup directly:

pt -r myfile.txt --last

Restore last backup with comment:

pt -r myfile.txt --last -m "Emergency rollback"

Show help:

pt --help

Show version:

pt --version

Git-Like Workflow Commands

Check file status (like git status):

pt check

Check single file status:

pt check myfile.txt

Commit all changes (backup all modified files):

pt commit -m "Your commit message"

Advanced Commands

Recursive file search:

pt config.json              # Searches up to 10 levels deep
pt -l utils.go              # List backups (searches recursively)
pt -r main.py               # Restore (searches recursively)

Diff operations:

pt -d myfile.txt            # Interactive: choose which backup to compare
pt -d myfile.txt --last     # Quick: compare with most recent backup
pt --diff script.py         # Alternative syntax
pt -d <file> -z             # Diff clipboard with file (no backup)

Directory tree:

pt -t                       # Show tree of current directory
pt -t /path/to/dir          # Show tree of specific directory
pt -t -e node_modules,.git  # Tree with exceptions (exclude folders)

Safe delete:

pt -rm old_file.txt         # Backup, delete, create empty placeholder
pt -rm old_file.txt -m "Deprecated old implementation"

Configuration:

pt config init              # Creates pt.yml in current directory
pt config init ~/.pt.yml    # Create in custom location
pt config show              # Show current configuration
pt config path              # Show config file location

View clipboard content:

pt -z                       # Show clipboard in less
pt -z --lexer python        # Show with syntax highlighting

Command Reference Table

PT Commands

Command	Description	Example
pt <file>	Save clipboard to file	pt notes.txt
pt <file> -m "msg"	Save with comment	pt code.go -m "Fix bug"
pt <file> -c	Save only if changed	pt data.json -c
pt + <file>	Append to file	pt + log.txt
pt -l <file>	List backups	pt -l script.py
pt -r <file>	Restore backup	pt -r config.json
pt -d <file>	Diff with backup	pt -d main.go --last
pt -t	Show directory tree	pt -t -e node_modules
pt -rm <file>	Safe delete file	pt -rm old.py
pt check	Show all file statuses	pt check
pt commit -m "msg"	Backup all changes	pt commit -m "Updates"
pt config show	Show configuration	pt config show
pt -z	View clipboard	pt -z --lexer yaml