Preventing Lovable from Overwriting Manual Code Edits

 
Creating a Separate File for Manual Edits
 

To prevent your manually added code from being overwritten by Lovable’s automated updates, place those changes in a separate file that will never be touched by the auto-generator. Create a new file named customizations.py and put all your manual edits there.

customizations.py
This file contains your custom functions and manual code edits.
def custom\_logic():
    # Add your manual changes here.
    print("Manual edit executed successfully!")

In this file you can add more functions or custom settings. Save this file outside any folder that Lovable uses for auto-generated code.

 
Importing Manual Edits Into Your Main Application
 

Now you need to update your main Lovable code so that it uses your manual customizations. Open your main application file (for example, lovable\_app.py) and add an import statement to load your custom functions. Then, call these functions once Lovable’s default routines are complete.

lovable\_app.py
Make sure that this file remains the auto-generated part.
At the beginning, check and install required dependencies if they are missing.

try:
    import some_dependency
except ImportError:
    # Since Lovable doesn't have a terminal, we include code to install dependencies.
    # Note: This may require that your environment supports runtime pip installation.
    import pip
    pip.main(['install', 'some_dependency'])
    import some_dependency
Import your manual customizations.
from customizations import custom_logic
def lovable_init():
    # Existing Lovable initialization logic.
    print("Lovable initialization complete.")
if name == "main":
    # Execute the default Lovable code.
    lovable_init()
    # Then, execute your custom manual edits.
    custom_logic()

Placing your manual code in customizations.py keeps it safe from being overwritten because Lovable only auto-updates the main application file.

 
Configuring Lovable to Respect Manual Files
 

In some cases, Lovable might support a configuration file that tells it which files not to override. Create or update a configuration file (for example, lovable\_config.py) in your project’s root directory to list your protected files.

lovable\_config.py
List files which should not be overwritten by Lovable's auto-update process.
PROTECTED\_FILES = [
    "customizations.py"
]

Ensure your Lovable setup reads this configuration and skips the listed files during auto-generation. If Lovable does not already support this, keeping your manual file outside of the auto-generated folder generally offers a good safeguard.

 
Summary of the Changes
 

• Create a separate file (customizations.py) to hold all your manual edits.
• Import and call your manual customizations from your main application file (lovable\_app.py).
• If your application uses dependencies that may not be installed because Lovable lacks a terminal, include inline dependency installation code in your main file.
• If available, use a configuration file (lovable\_config.py) to inform Lovable which files to protect from overwriting.

These steps help ensure that your manual updates remain intact even when Lovable regenerates core files.

 
Separating Auto-Generated Code from Manual Edits
 

One best practice is to keep your manual code separate from the code that Lovable generates automatically. This avoids accidental overwrites when the auto-generated content is refreshed.

Create a dedicated file for manual edits. For example, if your main application file is core.lov, create a new file called manual\_edits.lov and place all your manual customizations there.

// manual\_edits.lov
// This file contains all manual edits and custom code.
// Do not remove or change the markers below.
// --- BEGIN MANUAL EDITS ---

// Write your custom configuration, functions, or overrides here.
function customFunction() {
    console.log("This is a manual edit that will not be overwritten.");
}
// --- END MANUAL EDITS ---

In your main file (core.lov), include a reference to manual\_edits.lov so it is loaded every time your application runs. Insert the following code snippet at the point where your manual customizations should be applied:

// core.lov
// Load auto-generated content

// At the appropriate section, include your manual edits:
include("manual_edits.lov");
// Continue with the rest of the core application code

 
Embedding Version Control Markers within Your Code
 

Since Lovable lacks a built-in terminal for version control, you can embed versioning markers directly into your files. This helps you note when changes occur. Use simple comments to mark revisions.

At the top of your manual edit file, include a block comment that details the version history and date. For example:

// manual\_edits.lov

// VERSION HISTORY:
// [2023-10-05]: Initial manual customization added.
// [2023-11-01]: Updated customFunction to include more logging.
// --- BEGIN MANUAL EDITS ---

This documentation assists both you and collaborators in tracking changes, even if a formal versioning system is not available.

 
Implementing Automatic Backups of Manual Edits
 

It is wise to create automatic backups of your manual edit file so you can recover changes in case of a mistake. Since Lovable does not offer a terminal for running backup commands, insert code that writes a backup to a separate file during important events or on a schedule.

Place the following snippet in a common initialization area of your application. This code checks and writes a backup of your manual edits:

/_ backupmanualedits function: call this at startup or on a specific event _/
function backupManualEdits() {
    // Read the manual edits file content
    var editsContent = readFile("manual\_edits.lov");
    
// Define backup filename with timestamp
var timestamp = new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.]/g, "-");
var backupFilename = "manual_edits_backup\_" + timestamp + ".lov";

// Write the content to a backup file
writeFile(backupFilename, editsContent);

console.log("Backup created: " + backupFilename);

}
// Call backupManualEdits at a suitable point in your app lifecycle.
backupManualEdits();

Ensure the functions readFile and writeFile are part of Lovable's library or implemented elsewhere by following its documentation. This code snippet should be inserted in an initialization or configuration file where application startup routines are handled.

 
Protecting Critical Sections with Markers and Comments
 

To avoid accidental editing of important manual changes, use descriptive comments and markers. This is especially useful if multiple users access or update the file.

For example, enclose critical sections with start and end markers:

// --- CRITICAL CONFIG START ---
var criticalSetting = true;
applyCriticalSetting(criticalSetting);
// --- CRITICAL CONFIG END ---

Users will then be advised not to modify the content between these markers. This convention provides a visual cue and helps maintain the integrity of essential logic.

 
Handling Dependency Installation Within Code
 

Since Lovable does not let you run a terminal command to install dependencies, include inline code to simulate dependency checks. For example, if you depend on an external module, add a snippet that tries to import it and, if missing, instructs the system to load an alternative.

Insert the following code near the top of your main file:

try {
    // Try to load the dependency module
    var dependencyModule = require("dependencyModule");
} catch (error) {
    // If missing, dynamically load or simulate installation
    console.log("dependencyModule is missing. Attempting to load fallback version.");
    // Fallback: include the file manually or use an alternative
    include("fallback\_dependencyModule.lov");
}

This snippet ensures that if the dependency is not automatically present, your code will load a backup version. Replace "dependencyModule" and "fallback\_dependencyModule.lov" with the actual names needed by your project.

 
Documenting Your Manual Edits
 

Maintain thorough documentation within your code and in a separate documentation file. Brief comments before each manual edit segment help remind users why changes were made.

Consider creating a file named MANUAL_EDIT_README.txt near your manual edits file that explains:

// In MANUAL_EDIT_README.txt

Manual Edits Documentation
This document explains the manual customizations applied in manual_edits.lov.
Each section is annotated with dates, reasons for changes, and instructions for future updates.
Please do not modify critical sections marked with 'CRITICAL CONFIG' without expert advice.

Link this documentation file in your project’s main documentation resources to ensure everyone is aware of the importance of protecting manual changes.