github / github/copilot-cli

`/diff` branch mode: allow selecting the base branch

Open
#3,903 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
area:tools
Dominant language
Shell
Stars
11.2k
Forks
1.9k
Avg merge
14h 16m
Merged PRs (30d)
6

Description

### Describe the feature or problem you'd like to solve

When using  `/diff`  in branch mode, the base branch is auto-detected as the default branch of the tracking remote (e.g.,  `origin/main` ). There's no way to override this - if your branch was cut from something other than the default branch, the diff includes noise from the parent branch rather than just your changes.

### Proposed solution

Allow specifying a base branch when using branch diff mode - e.g., a text input when selecting "Branch diff", or a parameter like  `/diff base=feature/xyz` . This would let users diff against any branch, not just the remote default.

### Example prompts or workflows

- Working on a branch cut from `feature/parent` - want to see only changes since that branch, not since `main`
- Comparing work against a release branch rather than the repo default

### Additional context

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start at the `/diff` command's branch-mode entry point and trace how it selects the tracking remote's default branch. Add a way to supply an alternate base branch, then verify that branch diffs compare against the selected branch and exclude changes inherited from the parent branch.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
git
Domain
cli
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
64/100

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.