# Vscode

> VS Code integration for viewing diffs and comparing files. Use when showing file differences to the user. Use when this capability is needed.

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

---


# VS Code CLI Tools

Tools for integrating with VS Code, primarily for viewing diffs.

## Requirements

VS Code must be installed with the `code` CLI available in PATH.

## Opening a Diff

Compare two files side by side in VS Code:

```bash
code -d <file1> <file2>
```

## Git Diffs in VS Code

### Simple Approach (no config needed)

Extract the old version to a temp file, then diff:

```bash
# Compare with previous commit
git show HEAD~1:path/to/file > /tmp/old && code -d /tmp/old path/to/file

# Compare with specific commit
git show abc123:path/to/file > /tmp/old && code -d /tmp/old path/to/file

# Compare staged version with working tree
git show :path/to/file > /tmp/staged && code -d /tmp/staged path/to/file
```

### Gotchas

- File must exist and have changes between the compared revisions
- Use `git log --oneline -5 -- path/to/file` to verify file has history before diffing

## When to Use

- Showing the user what changed in a file
- Comparing two versions of code
- Reviewing git changes visually

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->