Related recovery problems.
If you are comparing cli-continues because a coding chat died or limits cut you off, these are the matching ShardStitch problem pages: no handoff was written, rate limit mid-refactor, and switching AI coding tools.
cli-continues vs ShardStitch: which handoff can the next AI trust?
cli-continues is a focused, free CLI utility for AI session handoffs. ShardStitch extends recovery across project structure, memory, automation, desktop, editor, and MCP surfaces.
Quick answer: Choose cli-continues for a free terminal-first handoff. Choose ShardStitch when you need a packet with git state, project memory, dependency risk, verification labels, MCP guardrails, and a cleaner handoff for the next AI coding tool.
The closest free recovery alternative.
cli-continues reads native session stores from 16 AI coding agents and can resume or translate sessions. If transcript transfer is all you need, the free MIT tool is the rational choice.
The limitation is scope: it transfers session evidence. ShardStitch adds current git state, dependency risk, persistent project memory, verified-vs-inferred labels, automation, desktop and editor surfaces, and 49 MCP tools.
Source: official cli-continues repository and documentation.
The scope difference.
cli-continues is optimized around finding and translating native agent sessions. ShardStitch treats the session as one part of a wider project recovery packet: live git state, dependency impact, dangerous files, project memory, decisions, intent, and the next safe action.
cli-continues is a useful session-transfer CLI. ShardStitch is a recovery system around the session and the codebase.
How they compare.
| Capability | cli-continues | ShardStitch |
|---|---|---|
| Trust-labeled packet | No verified-vs-inferred guardrail; moves supported session evidence | Yes - labels disk facts separately from inferred claims so the next AI re-checks unverified work |
| Primary job | CLI session resume and handoff | Trust-labeled project handoff across tools |
| Tool coverage | 16 agents | 31 AI handoff targets across native and web-chat handoff |
| Conversation history | Native parsing with verbosity presets | Structured recovery with project intent |
| Git context | Session file activity | Live diff, branch, commits, and changed files |
| Dependency graph | Not documented | Impact radius and god-node detection |
| Persistent memory | Not documented | Decisions, conventions, bugs, and notes |
| Interfaces | CLI and TUI | Dashboard, CLI, editor extension, MCP, installer |
| Autosave / audit | Not documented | Watch mode and hash-chained audit log |
| Pricing | Free, MIT | $49 one-time lifetime license |
Which should you choose?
Choose cli-continues if
You live in the terminal, your tools are supported, and you want a free, focused way to resume or translate native session history.
Choose ShardStitch if
You need dependency risk, persistent memory, automation, desktop and editor surfaces, MCP, selective handoffs, or a workflow beyond the terminal.
Failure verdict.
cli-continues can move the conversation. ShardStitch reconstructs the project-level continuation packet. Pay only if that larger safety boundary matters.
· cli-continues is an independent open-source project. This comparison reflects publicly documented behavior.