Local Changes are being Overridden By Remote Versions of Files

[pwintz]

Describe the bug

I am using Overlead-Workshop by opening a project locally. When I make changes to the local file and save, this alert pops up in the bottom-right corner and all the changes I made disappear:

How To Reproduce

I'm not sure how my system got into this state. If I figure out reproduction steps, I'll post an update.

Environment

• Overleaf Workshop Extension version: v0.13.2
• VS Code version: Version: 1.92.2
• Overleaf Edition: Official (Professional Subscription)

[Optional] Developer Logs

Here are the logs when I modify the file /biblio.bib:

[Extension Host] 8/17/2024, 4:18:53 PM [push] update "/biblio.bib"
console.ts:137 [Extension Host] 8/17/2024, 4:18:56 PM [push] update "/biblio.bib"
console.ts:137 [Extension Host] 8/17/2024, 4:19:00 PM [push] update "/biblio.bib"
console.ts:137 [Extension Host] Disconnected
console.ts:137 [Extension Host] SocketIOAPI: connected

[iamhyc]

This is a force overwritten process starts every time when the extension connects to the overleaf server.

From the developer logs, it can see that you suffered from an unstable connection (the push action failed), and it reconnected itself.

[pwintz]

Deleting my edits without confirmation is scary behavior! Would it be possible to modify the extension so that it either asks the user to confirm, backs up the local changes, or opens a "merge" window to allow users to reconcile the differences?

[iamhyc]

Deleting my edits without confirmation is scary behavior! Would it be possible to modify the extension so that it either asks the user to confirm, backs up the local changes, or opens a "merge" window to allow users to reconcile the differences?

Cause it is not designed to "delete" but to "force sync", following the server version.

The current design is flaw, but an additional confirmation would also be annoying. Currently, I suggest you use a local version control system (like git) to save your temporary edits.

I will keep this issue open and see if there are better ideas.

[pwintz]

Cause it is not designed to "delete" but to "force sync", following the server version.

That makes sense that it wasn't designed to delete a user's edits, but the practical effects are the same. I've lost now lost a significant number of edits twice.

Currently, I suggest you use a local version control system (like git) to save your temporary edits.

Both times I lost data, I didn't even have a chance to use git to save my edits. My changes just disappeared in a puff of smoke the next time my laptop connected to the internet.