Grok Build CLI: The Evolution (Power-User Version History)

Grok Build moves fast. If you have been away for a few versions, or you just want to understand why something changed, this is the power-user history from the 0.1.20x foundations to the 0.2.x systems rewrite. It doubles as a list of the breaking changes worth knowing.

New to the series? Start with Grok Build CLI: Zero to Hero (Start Here).

The 0.1.20x foundations

The features you rely on daily landed here. 0.1.202 was the big one: the --allow and --deny permission flags, the /memory system, /usage, and /rewind with its live snapshot preview. 0.1.204 made worktrees user-facing with grok -w. 0.1.205 added self-verification through /check-work and /best-of-n, and 0.1.208 brought AI shell-command suggestions.

The 0.1.21x tools era

0.1.210 shipped headless --output-format json for CI. 0.1.213 was packed: backend web search on by default, a new settings pane, the image_edit tool, and Goal mode's doom-loop auto-pause. 0.1.217 added the grok plugin commands and /export for transcripts. 0.1.220 moved release notes to the network and added [alpha] and [stable] labels to --version.

The 0.2.x rewrite

0.2.2 is the headline of the series: a systems-level rewrite to SQLite WAL persistence for crash-safe history, a subagent IPC message bus, PTY multiplexing up to eight terminals, and an isolated git worktree per session. 0.2.3 added /remember and the /config-agents modal. 0.2.8 brought the /login slash command for re-auth without quitting. 0.2.14 added the background tasks panel and let --permission-mode override config. 0.2.18 routed all image and video generation through api.x.ai, shipped image-to-video tools, and made the official xAI plugin marketplace appear automatically.

Breaking changes worth knowing

A few changes will trip up muscle memory or old scripts:

• 0.1.219: the newline chord moved from Shift+Enter to Alt+Enter on VTE terminals like GNOME Terminal.
• 0.1.212: subagents stopped inheriting parent conversation history. Brief them in the prompt.
• 0.1.213: the --budget flag was removed from Goal mode, and web search defaults to server-side.
• 0.2.10: /check was renamed to /check-work. The old name still works during the transition.
• 0.2.18: subagents now default to the parent session's model.

Run /release-notes in any version to see what changed, and grok inspect to see exactly which skills, MCP servers, hooks, and rules are loaded and where they came from.

Continue the series

The full series

1. Grok Build CLI: Zero to Hero (Start Here)
2. Grok Build CLI: Sessions, Rewind and Compaction
3. Grok Build CLI: Slash Commands and Keyboard Mastery
4. Grok Build CLI: Teaching Grok Your Project (AGENTS.md)
5. Grok Build CLI: Models and Custom Endpoints
6. Grok Build CLI: Extending Grok with MCP, Skills, Plugins and Hooks
7. Grok Build CLI: Cross-Session Memory
8. Grok Build CLI: Subagents, Plan Mode and Background Work
9. Grok Build CLI: Headless Mode and Automation
10. Grok Build CLI: Sandbox and Permissions
11. Grok Build CLI: IDE Integration with ACP
12. Grok Build CLI: The Evolution (Power-User Version History) (you are here)