Compare
The Compare view shows differences between two architecture versions.
[Screenshot: Compare view with before/after file upload]
When to Use Compare
Use Compare to understand what changed between:
- Two points in time (before/after a refactor)
- Two branches (main vs feature branch)
- Two systems (migration planning)
Loading Graphs
Compare requires two Rivière graph files:
- Upload "Before" — Click the first upload area, select your baseline graph
- Upload "After" — Click the second upload area, select your comparison graph
[Screenshot: Both upload areas with validation checkmarks]
Éclair validates each file before comparison. Invalid files show error details.
Change Summary
After loading both graphs, a summary shows:
[Screenshot: Change summary with counts]
| Change Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Added | Components in "After" that don't exist in "Before" |
| Removed | Components in "Before" that don't exist in "After" |
| Modified | Components that exist in both but have changed fields |
Each type is color-coded for quick scanning.
View Modes
Toggle between two view modes:
Graph View
[Screenshot: Graph view showing cross-domain connection changes]
Shows domain-to-domain connection changes:
- New connections (added edges)
- Removed connections
- Modified relationships
Useful for understanding architectural impact.
List View
[Screenshot: List view with detailed component changes]
Shows detailed changes per component:
- Full component name and type
- Domain
- For modified components: which fields changed
List view filters:
- Change type — Show only Added, Removed, or Modified
- Domain — Filter by domain
- Node type — Filter by component type
Understanding Changes
Added Components
New functionality introduced. Check:
- Are they connected properly?
- Do they follow existing patterns?
Removed Components
Functionality deleted. Verify:
- Was this intentional?
- Are there orphaned references?
Modified Components
Existing components changed. Review:
- What fields changed?
- Does the change affect behavior?
Next Steps
- Full Graph — Explore the current architecture
- Domain Map — See how domains relate