kilocode/packages/kilo-docs/docs/getting-started/devcontainer-persistence.md

---

title: Dev Container Persistence

description: How to preserve Kilo Code threads and settings in dev containers

Dev Container Persistence

When using Kilo Code in development containers (VS Code Dev Containers, GitHub Codespaces, etc.), your threads and settings can persist across container rebuilds by properly configuring volume mounts.

Why Persistence Matters

Dev containers are ephemeral by default - when you rebuild the container, all data is lost unless explicitly persisted. Kilo Code stores important data including:

• Conversation threads: Your ongoing discussions with Kilo Code
• Settings: API configurations, custom modes, and preferences
• Cache: Vector store for code indexing and browser tool data

Required Configuration

The Kilo Code dev container is pre-configured with named volumes to preserve your data. If you're setting up your own dev container, add these mounts to your devcontainer.json:

{
  "name": "Your Project",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:ubuntu",
  "mounts": [
    {
      "source": "kilocode-global-storage",
      "target": "/root/.vscode-remote/data/User/globalStorage/kilocode.kilo-code",
      "type": "volume"
    },
    {
      "source": "kilocode-settings",
      "target": "/root/.vscode-remote/data/User/settings",
      "type": "volume"
    }
  ]
}

Storage Locations

Data Type	Container Path
Threads	/root/.vscode-remote/data/User/globalStorage/kilocode.kilo-code/tasks/
Settings	/root/.vscode-remote/data/User/settings/
Cache	/root/.vscode-remote/data/User/globalStorage/kilocode.kilo-code/cache/
Vector Store	/root/.vscode-remote/data/User/globalStorage/kilocode.kilo-code/vector/

Troubleshooting

Threads Don't Appear After Rebuild

1. Check volume attachment: Ensure the dev container has the volumes attached
2. Verify volume contents: Check that the volume contains your data
3. Rebuild with volumes: Use devcontainer rebuild instead of devcontainer up --rebuild

Volumes Lost

If named volumes are accidentally deleted:

1. Threads cannot be automatically recovered
2. Start new conversations with Kilo Code
3. Consider implementing a backup strategy for important threads

Manual Backup

To manually back up your threads:

# Copy thread data from the container
docker cp <container-name>:/root/.vscode-remote/data/User/globalStorage/kilocode.kilo-code ./kilocode-backup

Custom Storage Path

For advanced configurations, you can specify a custom storage path:

1. Add a bind mount to your devcontainer.json:

   "mounts": [
   {
   "source": "${localWorkspaceFolder}/.kilocode-data",
   "target": "/home/vscode/kilocode-data",
   "type": "bind"
   }
   ]
   

2. Set the custom storage path in VS Code settings:

   • Open Settings (Ctrl+, or Cmd+,)
   • Search for "Kilo Code: Custom Storage Path"
   • Enter: /home/vscode/kilocode-data

Best Practices

1. Use named volumes for automatic persistence
2. Back up important threads before major container changes
3. Avoid deleting volumes during cleanup
4. Test persistence by rebuilding and verifying threads remain

GitHub Codespaces

GitHub Codespaces automatically persists your VS Code settings and extensions. For Kilo Code threads, the pre-configured dev container includes the necessary volume mounts.

If using a custom Codespace configuration, ensure the mounts from the Required Configuration section are included.