Resource
Compare Two Versions of a Prompt
See exactly what changed between v1 and v2 of a prompt — added, removed, and modified instructions, plus whether the revision reduced or introduced risk.
Prompt Revision Checklist — Before You Ship v2
Five checks before a prompt revision replaces the version that works: nothing removed silently, no new ambiguity, control intact, contradictions zero, growth justified.
Overview
Most prompt revisions ship unreviewed because there's nothing forcing the review. This checklist is that forcing function, and a diff automates four of its five checks. Did anything get removed that the old version relied on? Did the new wording introduce vague terms? Did format/length/constraint control go up or at least stay flat? Did two instructions start contradicting each other? And if the prompt grew, does every added line change the output? The loaded pair fails exactly one check — see if you can spot which before the report tells you.
How to use this resource
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Run the diff on the loaded pair
Version B keeps the structure but 'improves' the tone. Compare Versions runs checks 1–4 automatically.
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Spot the failed check
No removals, control intact, no contradictions — but 'engaging', 'interesting', and 'where appropriate' are new ambiguity. Check 2 fails.
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Decide intentionally
Maybe the personality is worth the looseness — but now it's a decision instead of an accident.
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Adopt the checklist
Diff every revision and read the risk changes top to bottom — that is checks 1 through 4; the fifth (growth justified?) is yours.
Why This Works
- A checklist only works when it's cheap — the diff runs four of five checks automatically
- New vague wording is the most common revision regression and the hardest to see when you wrote it
- Forcing one explicit decision per flagged change keeps revisions intentional
Best for
- Teams that treat key prompts as maintained assets
- Revisions written by someone other than the original author
- Prompts where a regression has a real cost
Not for
- Picking between two unrelated prompt drafts — that's the Prompt Comparator
- First drafts with no earlier version to check against
Use cases
- Reviewing a revision before it replaces the production prompt
- Teaching teammates what to look for when editing shared prompts
- Turning prompt editing from vibes into a repeatable check
FAQ
Which of the five revision checks does the diff run automatically?
Checks one through four — silent removals, new ambiguity, output-control changes, and contradictions — run automatically when you press Compare Versions in the Prompt Version Diff. The fifth, whether every added line justifies its growth, stays yours to judge. On the loaded release-notes pair, version B adds "engaging," "interesting," and "where appropriate," so check two (new ambiguity) is the one that fails.
When should I use this instead of the Prompt Comparator?
Use this when a new version is meant to replace one that already works — the diff checks a revision against its predecessor for regressions like a silently removed rule. It's not for picking between two unrelated drafts (that's the Prompt Comparator) or first drafts with no earlier version. The loaded pair keeps the New/Improved/Fixed structure but loosens the tone, so you can practice spotting the failed check.
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Prompt Version Diff
Diff two versions of the same prompt — added, removed, and modified instructions, plus risk changes.