rtk-ai/rtk

Feature Request: Diff-based output for repeated command responses

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#1,245 opened on Apr 12, 2026

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 (2 comments) (0 reactions) (0 assignees)Rust (2,914 forks)batch import
area:clieffort-largeenhancementhelp wantedpriority:low

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Description

When running commands that produce repetitive or lengthy output across multiple runs (e.g., make, npm install, pip install), it would be very useful if RTK could send only the diff between the current and previous response instead of the full log every time.

This would significantly reduce noise and make it easier to spot changes between runs — particularly useful in iterative build/install workflows.

Proposed behavior:

  • By default, show only the diff when the same command is re-run and a previous response exists
  • Add a flag (e.g., --full-log or --no-diff) to override this and send the complete output

Use cases:

  • Incremental builds (make, cmake --build)
  • Dependency installs (npm install, pip install, cargo build)
  • Any long-running command where output is mostly stable between runs

Contributor guide

Research direction
Explore how to store previous command outputs and compute a diff using a crate like `similar`. Look at existing response handling in the codebase to identify where to inject diff logic.
Tech stack
rust
Domain
clideveloper experience
Issue type
Feature
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
2
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-3 hours
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
Active
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
Clear
Prerequisites
RustGit
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
75