n8n-diff

name	n8n-diff
description	Diff n8n workflow versions side-by-side. Shows structural changes between instances, local files, or backups. NOT a review -- use /n8n-cli-review for risk analysis. Use when checking for drift or auditing what changed.
user_invocable	true

/n8n-diff — Compare n8n Workflows

Diff workflows across instances, against local files, or between versions.

Arguments

• /n8n-diff <workflow-id> --cloud --hostinger — Compare same workflow across instances
• /n8n-diff <workflow-id> --file local.json — Compare live vs local file
• /n8n-diff <workflow-id> --before <backup-dir> — Compare live vs backup

Procedure

Cross-Instance Diff

# Export from both instances
n8n-cli --profile cloud --json workflows get <id> > /tmp/diff-cloud.json
n8n-cli --profile hostinger --json workflows get <id> > /tmp/diff-hostinger.json

Then compare using Python:

• Strip volatile fields (updatedAt, versionId, id) before comparing
• Diff node configurations
• Diff connections
• Diff credentials
• Flag any structural differences (missing nodes, different node types)

Live vs Local File

n8n-cli --profile <name> --json workflows get <id> > /tmp/diff-live.json
# Compare against provided local file

Present Differences

Focus on meaningful changes:

1. Added/removed nodes — new or deleted nodes
2. Changed node configs — parameter changes within nodes
3. Connection changes — different wiring between nodes
4. Credential changes — different credential references
5. Settings changes — workflow-level setting differences

Ignore:

• Timestamps (createdAt, updatedAt)
• Version IDs
• Node positions (cosmetic only)

Output Format

## Workflow Diff: <workflow name>
Source A: cloud (live)
Source B: hostinger (live)

### Nodes
+ Added: "Error Handler" (n8n-nodes-base.errorTrigger)
- Removed: "Old Logger" (n8n-nodes-base.set)
~ Changed: "Slack Post" — channel parameter differs
  cloud:     #general
  hostinger: #alerts

### Connections
~ Changed: "IF" true output
  cloud:     -> "Slack Post"
  hostinger: -> "Email Send"

### Credentials
~ Changed: "Slack Post"
  cloud:     slackOAuth2Api (ID: abc123)
  hostinger: slackApi (ID: xyz789)