Comparing Branches Visually

Community

spencerpauly

comparing-branches-visually

Check out two branches in separate worktrees, start both dev servers on different ports, screenshot the same pages, and produce a visual diff.

Overview

Publisher	spencerpauly
Repository	`awesome-cursor-skills`
Skill name	`comparing-branches-visually`
Stars	848
Forks	169
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	CC0-1.0
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by spencerpauly on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Comparing Branches Visually AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/spencerpauly/awesome-cursor-skills/tree/main/resources/comparing-branches-visually
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/spencerpauly/awesome-cursor-skills/tree/main/resources/comparing-branches-visually

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/spencerpauly/awesome-cursor-skills.git /tmp/awesome-cursor-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/awesome-cursor-skills/resources/comparing-branches-visually .claude/skills/comparing-branches-visually

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Comparing Branches Visually in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Comparing Branches Visually on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Comparing Branches Visually is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Comparing Branches Visually

Create a visual before/after comparison of UI changes between two branches.

Workflow

1. Set Up Two Worktrees

Use best-of-n-runner subagents or git worktrees to run both branches simultaneously:

bash
# Create a worktree for the base branch
git worktree add /tmp/branch-compare-base main

# The current working directory has the feature branch

2. Start Both Servers

Start the base branch server on a different port:

bash
# In the base worktree
cd /tmp/branch-compare-base && PORT=3001 npm run dev

# Current branch is already on the default port (3000)

3. Identify Pages to Compare

Determine which pages are affected by the changes:

bash
git diff main --name-only | grep -E '\.(tsx?|jsx?|vue|svelte|css)'

Map changed files to their routes (e.g. app/dashboard/page.tsx → /dashboard).

4. Screenshot Both Versions

For each affected page:

browser_navigate to http://localhost:3001/<page> (base branch)
browser_take_screenshot → save as "before"
browser_navigate to http://localhost:3000/<page> (feature branch)
browser_take_screenshot → save as "after"

5. Report

Present the comparison:


Visual Diff: feature/redesign-header vs main

/dashboard:
  Before: [screenshot from main]
  After:  [screenshot from feature branch]
  Changes: Header height reduced, nav links repositioned, new avatar dropdown

/settings:
  Before: [screenshot]
  After:  [screenshot]
  Changes: No visual differences detected

6. Clean Up

bash
# Stop the base branch server
# Remove the worktree
git worktree remove /tmp/branch-compare-base

Tips

Test at a consistent viewport size (1280×800 is a good default)
For mobile-first changes, also compare at 375px width
If the app requires auth, log in on both ports first
This pairs well with screenshotting-changelog for PR descriptions

Frequently asked questions

What does the Comparing Branches Visually AI skill do?

Check out two branches in separate worktrees, start both dev servers on different ports, screenshot the same pages, and produce a visual diff.

Why use Comparing Branches Visually on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Comparing Branches Visually is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Comparing Branches Visually in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/spencerpauly/awesome-cursor-skills/tree/main/resources/comparing-branches-visually. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Comparing Branches Visually?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Comparing Branches Visually?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Comparing Branches Visually with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Comparing Branches Visually AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by spencerpauly under the CC0-1.0 license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Comparing Branches Visually

Workflow

1. Set Up Two Worktrees

2. Start Both Servers

3. Identify Pages to Compare

4. Screenshot Both Versions

5. Report

6. Clean Up

Tips

Frequently asked questions

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