---
name: "git-branchless-difftool"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "git-branchless"
version: "0.11.1-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/git-branchless-difftool"
---

# git-branchless-difftool(1)

Use the partial commit selector UI as a Git-compatible difftool; see git-difftool(1) for more information on Git difftools

## NAME

difftool - Use the partial commit selector UI as a Git-compatible difftool; see [git-difftool(1)](/git-difftool/1.md) for more information on Git difftools

## SYNOPSIS

**difftool** \[**-d**\|**--dir-diff**\] \[**--read-only**\] \[**-N**\|**--dry-run**\] \[**-b**\|**--base**\] \[**-o**\|**--output**\] \[**-h**\|**--help**\] \<*LEFT*\> \<*RIGHT*\>

## DESCRIPTION

Use the partial commit selector UI as a Git-compatible difftool; see [git-difftool(1)](/git-difftool/1.md) for more information on Git difftools

## OPTIONS

- **-d**, **--dir-diff**

  Instead of comparing two files, compare two directories recursively

- **--read-only**

  Disable all editing controls and do not write the selected commit contents to disk

- **-N**, **--dry-run**

  Show what would have been written to disk as part of the commit selection, but do not actually write it

- **-b**, **--base** *\<BASE\>*

  Render the interface as a mergetool instead of a difftool and use this file as the base of a three-way diff as part of resolving merge conflicts

- **-o**, **--output** *\<OUTPUT\>*

  Write the resolved merge conflicts to this file

- **-h**, **--help**

  Print help

- \<*LEFT*\>

  The left-hand file to compare (or directory if \`--dir-diff\` is passed)

- \<*RIGHT*\>

  The right-hand file to compare (or directory if \`--dir-diff\` is passed)