/install diff4
diff4 - Encrypted Diff & File Sharing
diff4 encrypts diffs and files client-side (AES-256-GCM) before uploading. The server never sees plaintext. Recipients need the passphrase to decrypt.
Prerequisites
diff4must be installed and available on PATH. Usenpm i -g @diff4/clito install.- A passphrase must be configured (see setup below)
Commands
Share the latest commit diff
diff4 git-latest
Runs git diff HEAD~1, encrypts the result, and uploads. Use when the user says "preview my last commit" or "send the latest diff."
Share staged changes
diff4 git-staged
Runs git diff --staged, encrypts, and uploads. Use when the user says "preview my staged changes" or "send what's about to be committed."
Share arbitrary files
diff4 files path/to/file1.ts path/to/file2.ts
Reads each file (UTF-8 text only), bundles them as JSON, encrypts, and uploads. Supports any number of paths (relative or absolute).
Key management
diff4 key-gen [key]- Generate or set the encryption passphrasediff4 key-get- Print the current passphrase
Options
All upload commands (git-latest, git-staged, files) accept:
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
-s, --server \x3Curl> |
Override the diff4 server URL. Default: https://diff4.com (or DIFF4_SERVER env var) |
-p, --passphrase \x3Ckey> |
Override the passphrase for this command only. Default: DIFF4_PASSPHRASE env var |
Gotchas
- Empty diffs fail gracefully.
git-latestandgit-stagedwill error if there is nothing to share. - Binary files are not supported.
diff4 filesreads files as UTF-8 text. - Server is configurable. Self-hosted instances can be set via
DIFF4_SERVERenv var or-sflag. - The passphrase must be shared out-of-band. diff4 only encrypts — recipients need the same passphrase to decrypt.
- key-gen updates existing keys. If
DIFF4_PASSPHRASEalready exists in the shell config, key-gen replaces it in-place.
Typical workflow
- User asks to see a diff or files
- Verify setup: run
diff4 key-get(if it fails, rundiff4 key-genand tell user to source their rc file) - Run the appropriate command (
git-latest,git-staged, orfiles \x3Cpaths>) - Return the URL from the response to the user
- Remind the user that recipients need the passphrase to decrypt
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install diff4 - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/diff4 - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
What is diff4?
Preview git diffs and files using the diff4 CLI. Use when the user wants to see code changes, review files content securely via diff4. It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 72 downloads so far.
How do I install diff4?
Run "/install diff4" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is diff4 free?
Yes, diff4 is completely free, licensed under MIT-0. You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does diff4 support?
diff4 is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created diff4?
It is built and maintained by Randy (@djyde); the current version is v1.0.0.