# Rune Diff

> Compare a RUNE specification against its implementation to detect drift. Use when verifying that code still matches its spec after modifications, or when auditing existing implementations against their contracts. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/rune-diff` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/rune-diff`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/rune-diff/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/rune-diff

---


## How to Use

When given a RUNE spec and its corresponding implementation file, compare them and report every discrepancy.

Input: a RUNE spec (`.rune` or Markdown) + an implementation file (`.py`, `.ts`, `.go`, etc.).
Output: a diff report listing all mismatches.

---

## Comparison Areas

### 1. SIGNATURE Match

Compare the spec's SIGNATURE against the actual function declaration.

**Check:**
- Function name matches exactly
- Parameter names match
- Parameter types match
- Parameter order matches
- Return type matches
- Default values match

**Example mismatch:**
```markdown
**SIGNATURE MISMATCH**
- Spec:  `def validate_coupon(code: str, coupons: list[dict], date: str) -> tuple[bool, str]`
- Code:  `def validate_coupon(coupon_code: str, coupon_list: list, current_date: str) -> dict`
- Issues:
  - Parameter renamed: `code` -> `coupon_code`
  - Parameter renamed: `coupons` -> `coupon_list`
  - Parameter renamed: `date` -> `current_date`
  - Type changed: `coupons` lost `[dict]` annotation
  - Return type changed: `tuple[bool, str]` -> `dict`
```

### 2. BEHAVIOR Coverage

For each WHEN/THEN rule in the spec, verify the implementation handles it.

**Process:**
1. List every BEHAVIOR rule from the spec
2. Find the corresponding code branch (if/elif/else, match/case, guard clause)
3. Verify the action matches (return value, exception type, error message)

**Check:**
- Every BEHAVIOR rule has a corresponding code branch
- The condition logic matches the spec
- The action (return/raise) matches the spec
- Error messages are character-for-character identical
- The ORDER of checks matches the spec (top to bottom)

**Example mismatch:**
```markdown
**BEHAVIOR DRIFT**
- Rule: `WHEN code is empty THEN return (False, "Coupon code cannot be empty")`
- Code: `if not code: raise ValueError("Code required")`
- Issues:
  - Action changed: spec says `return (False, ...)` but code `raises ValueError`
  - Message changed: `"Coupon code cannot be empty"` -> `"Code required"`
```

### 3. Error Message Accuracy

Extract all error messages from the implementation and compare against BEHAVIOR.

**Check:**
- Every error message in the code appears in the spec
- Every error message in the spec appears in the code
- Messages match exactly (no typos, no rephrasing)

### 4. CONSTRAINTS Enforcement

For each CONSTRAINT in the spec, check if the implementation validates it.

**Check:**
- Each constraint has a validation check in the code
- The validation rejects the right inputs
- Constraints not in BEHAVIOR (preconditions) are documented but not necessarily enforced

**Example mismatch:**
```markdown
**MISSING CONSTRAINT CHECK**
- Spec CONSTRAINT: `"email: maximum 254 characters (RFC 5321)"`
- Code: No length check found
- Impact: Emails longer than 254 chars will be accepted
```

### 5. EDGE_CASES Handling

For each EDGE_CASE in the spec, verify the implementation handles it correctly.

**Check:**
- The implementation produces the expected result for each edge case
- No edge cases are silently ignored

### 6. Extra Behavior (not in spec)

Identify behavior in the code that is NOT described in the spec.

**Look for:**
- Extra validation checks not in CONSTRAINTS or BEHAVIOR
- Additional error conditions
- Default values or fallback behavior not in the spec
- Logging, caching, or side effects not mentioned

**Example:**
```markdown
**UNDOCUMENTED BEHAVIOR**
- Code has: `if len(email) > 254: return (False, "Email too long")`
- Spec: No BEHAVIOR rule or CONSTRAINT mentions max length
- Action: Add to spec or remove from code
```

---

## Output Format

```markdown
## RUNE Diff Report: `<function_name>`

**Spec:** `validate_coupon.rune`
**Code:** `src/coupon.py`

### SIGNATURE
- [MATCH] Function name: `validate_coupon`
- [MATCH] Parameters: `code`, `coupons`, `date`
- [DRIFT] Return type: spec says `tuple[bool, str]`, code returns `tuple[bool, dict | str]`

### BEHAVIOR
| Rule | Status | Detail |
|------|--------|--------|
| WHEN code is empty... | MATCH | Line 12 |
| WHEN code not found... | MATCH | Line 18 |
| WHEN coupon expired... | DRIFT | Message differs: "Coupon has expired" vs "Expired coupon" |
| OTHERWISE... | MATCH | Line 28 |

### ERROR MESSAGES
- [DRIFT] Line 22: `"Expired coupon"` should be `"Coupon has expired"`

### CONSTRAINTS
- [MATCH] code: non-empty string
- [MISSING] code: case-insensitive — code uses exact match instead

### EDGE_CASES
- [MATCH] empty code: handled
- [DRIFT] expires today: spec says "still valid" but code treats it as expired

### UNDOCUMENTED
- Line 8: `if not isinstance(code, str): raise TypeError` — not in spec

### Summary
- **Status:** DRIFT DETECTED
- **Matches:** 7
- **Drifts:** 3 (return type, error message, expiration logic)
- **Missing:** 1 (case-insensitive matching)
- **Undocumented:** 1 (type check)
- **Recommendation:** Update spec to match code, OR fix code to match spec (see details above)
```

---

## Severity Levels

- **MATCH** — Spec and code agree.
- **DRIFT** — Spec and code disagree. Must be resolved (update one or the other).
- **MISSING** — Spec describes behavior the code doesn't implement.
- **UNDOCUMENTED** — Code has behavior the spec doesn't describe.

---

## Rules

- Report findings, do not modify either the spec or the code
- Be precise: include line numbers from the implementation
- For each DRIFT, state clearly what the spec says vs what the code does
- Do not assume which side is "correct" — the user decides whether to update the spec or the code
- If the code has multiple implementations of the same spec (e.g., Python + TypeScript), compare each separately

---
> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/vict00r99) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.
<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->