# compare_files

Compare two files and show differences with multiple format options

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `compare_files`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/compare-files

## Facts

- Tool: `compare_files`
- Server: Code MCP Server (`agentics-ai/code-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/agentics-ai/code-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "compare_files",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why compare_files is rated Low

This tool compares file contents and outputs differences in various formats—a non-destructive, informational operation with no side effects. It does not execute code, modify files, delete data, or trigger external operations. The only data exposure is the diff output itself, which is typically limited to the workspace context already accessible to the AI agent.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'compare_files' and description 'Compare two files and show differences' indicate a query/read operation that retrieves and displays comparative information without modifying or executing code."

## Use case

AI agents call compare_files to retrieve information from Code MCP Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Code MCP Server:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "compare_files": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Code MCP Server (72)

- `delete_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/delete-file.md
- `docker_cleanup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-cleanup.md
- `docker_containers` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-containers.md
- `remove_allowed_command` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/remove-allowed-command.md
- `rollback_session` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/rollback-session.md
- `docker_build` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-build.md
- `docker_compose` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-compose.md
- `docker_images` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-images.md
- `docker_networks` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-networks.md
- `docker_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-run.md
- `docker_system` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-system.md
- `docker_volumes` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-volumes.md
- `git_push` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/git-push.md
- `install_dependencies` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/install-dependencies.md
- `npm_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/npm-command.md
- `pip_install` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/pip-install.md
- `run_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-command.md
- `run_custom_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-custom-tool.md
- `run_javascript` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-javascript.md
- `run_python` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-python.md
- `run_tests` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-tests.md
- `secure_run_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/secure-run-command.md
- `secure_run_command_sequence` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/secure-run-command-sequence.md
- `start_coding_session` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/start-coding-session.md
- `start_server` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/start-server.md
- `stop_server` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/stop-server.md
- `end_coding_session` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/end-coding-session.md
- `analyze_code` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/analyze-code.md
- `analyze_file_differences` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/analyze-file-differences.md
- `compare_commits` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/compare-commits.md
- …and 42 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=agentics-ai-code-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/agentics-ai-code-mcp