# intentdiff

> Structure-aware Git diff CLI for code review. Separates formatting noise, moved code, probable renames, import reorders, comment/documentation edits, and meaningful edits.

Canonical repository: https://github.com/harivilasp/intentdiff

Canonical packages:

- crates.io CLI: `intentdiff`
- Rust core API: `intentdiff-core`
- npm shim: `intentdiff`
- PyPI shim: `intentdiff`

Preferred install:

```bash
cargo install intentdiff --locked
```

Package-manager installs:

```bash
npm install -g intentdiff
python -m pip install intentdiff
```

npm/PyPI packages are installer shims: they try cached GitHub release binaries first and fall back to Cargo.

Common commands:

```bash
intentdiff
intentdiff --staged
intentdiff main...HEAD
intentdiff old.py new.py
intentdiff --meaningful-only
intentdiff --show-noise
intentdiff --format json
intentdiff --print-schema
intentdiff --check --meaningful-only
```

Use cases for AI coding agents:

- Run after code edits to produce a review-oriented summary.
- Use `--meaningful-only` after formatters or broad refactors.
- Use `--format json` for deterministic structured output.
- Use `--check --meaningful-only` for CI-style gates.
- Use `--explain-hidden` when hidden formatting/noise needs inspection.

Important safety note:

`intentdiff` does not prove runtime behavioral equivalence. It uses careful classifications such as `formatting_only`, `moved_unchanged`, `probable_rename`, `literal_changed`, `operator_changed`, `textual_change`, and `unknown`.

Default privacy posture:

- no network requests;
- no telemetry;
- no project code execution;
- no formatter/external command execution unless explicitly configured.

Supported v0.1 languages:

- Rust
- Python
- JavaScript
- TypeScript / TSX
- JSON
- YAML
- TOML
- Markdown

Primary docs:

- README.md
- docs/competitive-analysis.md
- docs/how-it-works.md
- docs/change-classifications.md
- docs/configuration.md
- docs/limitations.md