Your Caffeine project's code belongs to you. You can download it at any time as a zip file — useful for backups, external review, or working with the code outside Caffeine. On paid plans, you can also upload a zip file to replace your project's draft code directly.
Who can use this
Uploading code requires an active paid subscription (Starter, Plus, or Pro). Free users who open the Upload Code panel see a prompt to upgrade.
The option only appears for projects that have been deployed at least once.
Downloading your project code
You can download a zip of your project's current source files at any time, regardless of plan.
- Open your project and click the Settings icon (gear icon at the top of the chat panel).
- Click More (the three-dot or overflow menu).
- Select Download files.
Caffeine packages the current draft code — backend and frontend source files — into a zip and downloads it to your device.
Uploading a zip file to replace your project code
On Starter, Plus, and Pro plans, you can upload a zip file to replace your project's draft code. This is useful if you have made changes to the code outside of Caffeine and want to bring them back in.
Requirements:
- An active paid subscription (Starter, Plus, or Pro)
- A
.zipfile of 20 MB or smaller - The ZIP must follow Caffeine's project structure — backend code in
src/backend/and frontend code insrc/frontend/
To upload:
- Open your project and click the Settings icon.
- Click More.
- Select Upload files.
- In the Upload Code screen, click Choose file and select your zip file.
- Caffeine uploads the file and applies it to your draft.
Caffeine uploads the file in the background. You see an Upload received confirmation when upload is started. If you go back to the chat window, you can see a notification that import is running.
If the upload fails, an error message explains what went wrong. You can go back and try again.
What happens next:
The uploaded code becomes a new draft version. You can review it at your project's draft URL before pushing it live. Going live is a separate action — use the Go live button when you are ready.
The upload does not trigger an AI build. The code in your ZIP is committed as-is.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum zip file size?
20 MB. If your zip exceeds this limit, the upload will be rejected with an error message before anything is sent.
Can I upload any ZIP file, or does it need to be a Caffeine project?
The ZIP must contain a valid Caffeine project structure. Specifically, it must include caffeine.toml, mops.toml, and src/backend/caffeine.toml and src/frontend/caffeine.toml. If any of these are missing, the upload is rejected before building begins. The easiest way to start is by downloading your existing project's source code, modifying it, zipping it back up, and uploading it.
Can I upload code to a brand-new project that has never been built?
Yes. You can upload a ZIP file to any project — including one that has never had a build. Open the project settings → More → Upload files and select your ZIP. A new draft is created automatically from the uploaded code.
Is upload available on the free plan?
No. Uploading code requires an active paid subscription (Starter, Plus, or Pro). Free users who open the Upload Code panel see a prompt to upgrade.
What happens to my existing project when I upload a ZIP?
If the build succeeds, a new draft is created containing the uploaded code. Once deployment completes, the draft preview reflects the uploaded version. Your previous drafts and live app are untouched — the upload only adds a new draft version. You can review the result in the draft preview before deciding whether to go live with it.
Does uploading a zip affect my live app?
No. The upload replaces your draft code only. Your live app continues running unchanged until you explicitly publish the draft by clicking Go Live.
Does uploading code cost credits?
No. Uploading a ZIP does not use credits — it is not an AI build operation.
Can I upload while an AI build is running?
No. The upload button is disabled while an AI operation is in progress. Wait for the current build to finish, then upload.
What happens if my ZIP upload fails?
If processing fails after the file has been accepted, Caffeine reports the error in your chat conversation. You can then review the message and try uploading again.
Can I undo an upload?
There is no one-click undo. If you uploaded the wrong file, you can upload a corrected zip to overwrite the draft again, or restore a previous version using the draft restore option in project settings.