Overview
What is MCP Diff Editor?
MCP Diff Editor is an MCP-integrated diff editor for modifying files with preview capabilities. It provides a web interface with real-time diff preview, supports unified diff format or complete file replacement, and includes security controls to prevent unauthorized file access.
How to use MCP Diff Editor?
Invoke methods like start, stop, status, edit_file, apply_diff, and preview_diff from an MCP client. Use environment variables PORT (default 3009), MCP_FILE_DIR (base directory), and MCP_ALLOW_ANY_PATH (to permit files outside the working directory). Start the server with diffEditor.start(), then edit or apply diffs via the provided methods.
Key features of MCP Diff Editor
- Edit files through a web interface with real-time diff preview
- Apply changes using unified diff format or complete file replacement
- Create automatic backups before modifications
- Restore from previous backups
- View examples of common diff operations
- Security controls to prevent unauthorized file access
Use cases of MCP Diff Editor
- Safely modify configuration files with preview and automatic backups
- Apply version-controlled patches via unified diffs in an automation workflow
- Provide a user-friendly web editor for manual file changes with diff visualization
- Restore previous versions of files when modifications produce unexpected results
FAQ from MCP Diff Editor
What environment variables are available?
PORT sets the HTTP port (default 3009), MCP_FILE_DIR defines the base directory for file operations (defaults to current directory), and MCP_ALLOW_ANY_PATH when set to 'true' allows accessing files outside the working directory.
How can I allow editing files outside the working directory?
Set the environment variable MCP_ALLOW_ANY_PATH to 'true'.
What methods does the MCP Diff Editor provide?
It provides start, stop, status, edit_file, apply_diff, and preview_diff for managing the server and performing diff operations.
How do I preview a diff without applying it?
Use the preview_diff method with file_path and diff_content parameters to see changes before applying them.
Does the MCP Diff Editor create backups automatically?
Yes, it automatically creates backups before making changes, and you can restore from previous backups.
