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Config Diff

Compare config files semantically, highlight differences, and

Installable skillMITBy modbenderUpdated Oct 31, 2026
INTENDED FOROpenClawInstall in a listed agent.

instructions.md

---
name: config-diff-5f243fb251c6
description: Compare config files semantically, highlight differences, and
  suggest merge strategies.
---


# Config Diff

Semantically compare and merge configuration files (YAML, JSON, TOML, INI, .env).

## Instructions

1. **Detect format** from file extension or content
2. **Semantic diff** β€” parse structure, don't just compare text:
   ```bash
   # JSON: normalize and diff
   jq -S . a.json > /tmp/a.json && jq -S . b.json > /tmp/b.json
   diff --unified /tmp/a.json /tmp/b.json

   # YAML: convert to sorted JSON first
   yq -o=json -S '.' a.yml | diff - <(yq -o=json -S '.' b.yml)

   # .env files
   diff <(sort a.env) <(sort b.env)
   ```
3. **Classify changes**:
   - 🟒 **Added**: New keys in target
   - πŸ”΄ **Removed**: Keys missing from target
   - 🟑 **Changed**: Same key, different value
   - βšͺ **Unchanged**: Same key and value
4. **Report format**:
   ```
   πŸ“‹ Config Diff: config.yml vs config.prod.yml
   | Key Path | Source | Target | Change |
   |----------|--------|--------|--------|
   | db.host  | localhost | db.prod.internal | 🟑 Changed |
   | db.pool  | β€”      | 20     | 🟒 Added |
   | debug    | true   | β€”      | πŸ”΄ Removed |
   ```
5. **Merge suggestions**: For conflicts, recommend which value to keep based on environment context

## Security

- Flag sensitive values (passwords, tokens, keys) β€” never display in full; mask as `****`
- Warn if secrets differ between environments (may indicate misconfiguration)

## Edge Cases

- **Comments**: Text diff preserves comments; semantic diff ignores them β€” note this
- **Key ordering**: Semantic diff ignores order; flag if order matters (INI sections)
- **Nested objects**: Flatten key paths with dot notation for clear reporting

## Requirements

- `diff` (pre-installed)
- Optional: `jq` (JSON), `yq` (YAML)
- No API keys needed

Platform guidance

Imported from the listed AgentSkill.sh category. Complete supplied package files and notices are retained. Required external tools and credentials are not installed. No bundled code was executed during import. Individual agent task behavior has not been tested.