diff-server

A lightweight Go web server that displays git diffs from the current directory and all git repositories in subdirectories. It provides a clean, real-time web interface for viewing uncommitted changes across multiple repositories in your workspace.

Like jq, it is a single tiny binary without dependencies, making it easy to install and use anywhere.

Installation

Supported Platforms

Binaries are available for:

• Linux: 386, amd64, arm64
• macOS: amd64 (Intel), arm64 (Apple Silicon)

Download and Install

Download the binary for your platform from the release page.

Linux

For Linux (amd64):

sudo curl -fsL -o /usr/local/bin/diff-server https://github.com/kitproj/diff-server/releases/download/v0.0.3/diff-server_v0.0.3_linux_amd64
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/diff-server

For Linux (arm64):

sudo curl -fsL -o /usr/local/bin/diff-server https://github.com/kitproj/diff-server/releases/download/v0.0.3/diff-server_v0.0.3_linux_arm64
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/diff-server

For Linux (386):

sudo curl -fsL -o /usr/local/bin/diff-server https://github.com/kitproj/diff-server/releases/download/v0.0.3/diff-server_v0.0.3_linux_386
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/diff-server

macOS

For macOS (Apple Silicon/arm64):

sudo curl -fsL -o /usr/local/bin/diff-server https://github.com/kitproj/diff-server/releases/download/v0.0.3/diff-server_v0.0.3_darwin_arm64
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/diff-server

For macOS (Intel/amd64):

sudo curl -fsL -o /usr/local/bin/diff-server https://github.com/kitproj/diff-server/releases/download/v0.0.3/diff-server_v0.0.3_darwin_amd64
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/diff-server

Verify Installation

After installing, verify the installation works:

diff-server -h

Build from Source

If you prefer to build from source:

git clone https://github.com/kitproj/diff-server.git
cd diff-server
go build -o diff-server .

Usage

Starting the Server

Run with default settings (port 3844, current directory):

diff-server

Run on a custom port:

diff-server -p 9000

Scan a different directory:

diff-server -C /path/to/workspace

Combine options:

diff-server -p 8080 -C ~/projects

Viewing Diffs

After starting the server, open your web browser and navigate to:

http://localhost:3844

The web interface will automatically:

• Display all uncommitted changes in the current directory (if it's a git repository)
• Recursively scan subdirectories for git repositories
• Show diffs from all discovered repositories
• Auto-refresh every 10 seconds to show new changes

Command-Line Options

Usage of diff-server:
  -C string
    	Directory to scan for git repositories (default ".")
  -p string
    	Port to listen on (default "3844")

Features

• Multi-repository support: Automatically discovers and displays diffs from all git repositories in subdirectories
• Real-time updates: The web interface polls for changes every 10 seconds
• Clean UI: Uses Diff2Html for a beautiful, syntax-highlighted diff view
• Untracked files: Shows new files that haven't been added to git yet
• Lightweight: Single binary with no runtime dependencies
• Fast: Efficient scanning and rendering of diffs

Use Cases

• Code review: Quickly review all changes across multiple projects before committing
• Workspace monitoring: Keep an eye on what's changed in your development workspace
• Pair programming: Share a link to show your current work to teammates
• CI/CD: Run in a pipeline to visualize changes before deployment

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Cannot connect" or server not accessible

• Verify the server is running: check the terminal for the startup message
• Ensure the port is not already in use by another application
• Try a different port: diff-server -p 8080

No diffs showing

• Ensure you're in a directory that contains git repositories
• Check that you have uncommitted changes: git status
• Verify the directory path if using -C flag

Large diffs not fully displayed

• The server limits output to 5MB per request to prevent memory issues
• Consider committing some changes or viewing specific repositories separately

Permission denied when installing

• Use sudo when installing to /usr/local/bin
• Alternatively, install to a user-owned directory like ~/bin and add it to your PATH

Getting Help

• Report issues: https://github.com/kitproj/diff-server/issues
• Check existing issues for solutions and workarounds