Retire completed diff plans for release preparation

README.md

@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ secrets-directory bootstrap is available as a separate startup operation. Explic
 CLI override records apply above overlays. Value explanation is available through
 detached structured records and deterministic redacted output. Built-in
 `extends` relationships let a mapping inherit from a named sibling during the
-same load, retaining explicit presence and source/derivation history.
+same load, retaining explicit presence and source/derivation history. The root
+`Diff` API compares frozen effective values from two successful same-type loads;
+the [configuration contract](docs/config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) and
+[consumer guide](docs/consumers/README.md#effective-configuration-diffs) describe
+its safe changed-region records and maintained workflows.
 
 ```go
 type Config struct {

diff.go

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+package configkit
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/engine"
+
+// Difference describes one canonical changed region between two successful
+// loads. Left is the earlier value and Right is the later value. Each snapshot
+// is detached; Present distinguishes absence from an explicit null, and
+// Redacted reports whether combined sensitivity affected that side. Mappings
+// are compared recursively, while sequences are reported as atomic values.
+// Records are ordered by canonical JSON pointer. HiddenChanged indicates that
+// a value concealed by combined sensitivity changed, without revealing which
+// concealed member changed.
+type Difference struct {
+	Path          Path
+	Left          ValueSnapshot
+	Right         ValueSnapshot
+	HiddenChanged bool
+}
+
+// Diff compares the frozen effective values of two successful loads of the
+// same configuration type. It does not reread sources, environment variables,
+// or rerun defaults or resolvers. Equal values produce no records even when
+// their sources, defaults, or resolution histories differ. Credential contents
+// are not compared: typed secret references compare by reference name only.
+//
+// Both results must be non-nil successful loads with inspection state; nil or
+// zero results return an error and no records. Load errors are returned by
+// Load, so callers must handle those before calling Diff. Snapshots are safe
+// for presentation but are not a complete reloadable configuration.
+func Diff[T any](left, right *Result[T]) ([]Difference, error) {
+	var leftInspection, rightInspection *engine.Inspection
+	if left != nil {
+		leftInspection = left.inspection
+	}
+	if right != nil {
+		rightInspection = right.inspection
+	}
+
+	values, err := engine.Diff(leftInspection, rightInspection)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	differences := make([]Difference, len(values))
+	for index, value := range values {
+		differences[index] = Difference{
+			Path:          fromEnginePath(value.Path),
+			Left:          fromEngineValueSnapshot(value.Left),
+			Right:         fromEngineValueSnapshot(value.Right),
+			HiddenChanged: value.HiddenChanged,
+		}
+	}
+	return differences, nil
+}

docs/adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+# ADR 0010: Compare Frozen Effective Configuration Snapshots
+
+## Status
+
+Accepted and implemented. The
+[configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) owns current
+behavior. Completed planning and remediation records are preserved in Git
+history at `1c2610c` under `docs/roadmap/`.
+
+## Date
+
+2026-10-09
+
+## Context
+
+Applications need to inspect how two completed configurations differ, including
+the effective impact of an overlay after defaults and application resolution.
+ConfigKit already retains canonical typed inspection snapshots, semantic paths,
+presence information, and sensitivity classification for successful loads.
+
+Extending this inspection model lets applications share configuration comparison
+and safe disclosure while keeping their presentation and domain interpretation.
+The operation should follow ConfigKit's existing equality, ownership, and secret
+boundaries so consumers can reason about loading and inspection consistently.
+
+## Decision
+
+Provide structured effective-value comparison between successful results of the
+same configuration type. Compare their retained canonical inspection snapshots
+through the root-owned public facade. Each comparison uses the completed load
+state and returns detached records with a semantic path and safe left and right
+value snapshots.
+
+Use canonical value equality and the existing structural comparison rules.
+Mappings compare recursively, sequences report atomic changes, and scalar or
+kind replacements report the affected region. Presence distinguishes additions
+and removals from explicit null. Equal effective values produce an empty diff;
+source attribution, explicit-input status, and history remain separately
+inspectable through each result. Canonical pointer ordering makes reporting
+deterministic.
+
+Detect changes before masking values. Apply sensitivity from both loads to both
+returned sides, including historical and dependency-derived classification.
+Preserve public content where the shapes permit corresponding sensitive regions
+to be identified. When a structural replacement prevents safe correspondence,
+mask the complete reported replacement region on both present sides. Absence
+retains its own representation.
+
+Keep masking and hidden-change information distinct. Each record indicates
+whether an actual change is withheld by redaction, allowing applications to
+display a changed-sensitive-value indicator even when safe snapshots render
+identically. Public-only changes alongside unchanged masked content retain that
+distinction.
+
+Typed secret references participate through their configured environment names.
+Resolved credential bytes remain behind the existing explicit secret accessor.
+The comparison uses the same frozen inspection boundary as effective rendering
+and explanation.
+
+ConfigKit owns comparison and paired safe disclosure. Applications own labels,
+layout, and rendering of the returned changed regions. Reusing the existing
+snapshot representation and engine boundary keeps the extension consistent with
+the library's established inspection model.
+
+## Alternatives considered
+
+- **Compare input text or separately rendered YAML.** Supports familiar textual
+  displays, but input text precedes composition and resolution, and independently
+  redacted output can hide changes or apply different disclosure rules. Canonical
+  comparison with paired masking represents the completed configuration.
+- **Leave comparison to applications using returned Go values.** Offers direct
+  access to application types, but duplicates structural and redaction machinery
+  and observes caller mutation. Retained inspection snapshots preserve the
+  completed load's values and established ownership boundary.
+- **Align sequence elements and return context-rich rendering data.** Enables
+  finer-grained displays, but requires additional correspondence and disclosure
+  rules. Atomic sequence records and existing value snapshots satisfy the
+  selected changed-region workflows with a smaller public model.
+- **Compare resolved credentials or retain credential-derived tokens.** Could
+  detect rotation behind an unchanged reference, but expands retained sensitive
+  state and introduces a separate trusted comparison mechanism. Reference-name
+  comparison preserves the existing inspection boundary.
+
+## Consequences
+
+Applications can compare independently loaded configurations using ConfigKit's
+shared equality, presence, and disclosure rules. Existing composition and load
+semantics continue to determine the values being compared. Caller mutation of a
+returned configuration leaves its retained comparison snapshot unchanged.
+
+Paired redaction can conceal public content within a structurally incompatible
+replacement. The changed region and hidden-change indicator still communicate
+its effective impact. Credential rotation behind an unchanged environment name
+produces equal reference values for comparison.
+
+The implementation requires operation-local disclosure preparation and focused
+coverage for presence, shape changes, historical sensitivity, and detached
+results. Applications retain control of presentation; changed-region records
+supply the safe data needed for that responsibility.

docs/config.md

@@ -423,6 +423,46 @@ an explicit `LoadSecretsDir` bootstrap, then use `WriteDiagnostics`,
 ConfigKit does not infer bootstrap outcomes from a secret reference and does not
 bundle these independent reports into a command framework.
 
+## Effective configuration diffs
+
+`configkit.Diff(left, right)` compares two completed successful loads of the same
+configuration type. `left` is the earlier state and `right` is the later state.
+Applications load both sides with the sources and options they choose; to inspect
+an overlay's impact, load the same base once without the overlay and once with it
+selected. The [consumer guide](consumers/README.md#effective-configuration-diffs)
+links to maintained examples. The public API returns safe changed-region records;
+applications own their presentation.
+
+Comparison uses the frozen canonical effective inspection values, not mutable
+`Result.Config`, source text, provenance, or history. It does not reopen sources,
+reread environment variables, or rerun defaults or callbacks. Equal effective
+values produce no records even when sources, explicit-input status, defaults, or
+resolution histories differ; for example, explicit zero and defaulted zero are
+equal. Mappings compare recursively, sequences compare atomically, and scalar,
+kind, or null/container replacements report their affected region. Records use
+the existing comparator's canonical pointer ordering. `Present=false` with empty
+YAML means absence; explicit null is present and renders as `null`.
+
+Before either side is returned, sensitivity from both loads is applied to both
+snapshots, including historical and dependency-derived classification. A
+classification on either side protects the corresponding values on both sides.
+`Redacted` reports masking, while `HiddenChanged` reports an actual concealed
+value or presence change; it is not implied merely by redaction. A structural
+replacement that prevents safe correspondence masks the complete reported
+region, and an absent side remains absent. Record membership establishes that a
+change occurred even when safe snapshots render identically. Literal
+marker-looking input is ordinary input; consumers use the record fields rather
+than interpreting marker text.
+
+Typed secret references contribute their configured environment names to the
+frozen comparison, never resolved credential bytes. Credential rotation behind
+an unchanged reference is therefore not detected. The records contain changed
+regions only, not paired full-document context; independently calling
+`WriteEffective` on each result does not create cross-protected context. Nil or
+uninitialized results return an error with no records. A failed `Load` retains
+its normal nil-result/`LoadError` behavior, which callers handle before invoking
+`Diff`.
+
 ## Typed secret references
 
 Credential-bearing fields use the opaque `Secret` type and store an environment

docs/consumers/README.md

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ sanitized shapes using only ConfigKit and the Go standard library:
 | Bundled file | Simple native `fs.FS` source through ordinary `Load` | Selection and lifetime of the application-owned embedded filesystem |
 | Layered catalog | Embedded defaults with an import, a mapping underlay, an independent host main file, explicit false/zero input, and source-relative resource access | Domain validation and opening/interpreting the template resource |
 | Named presets | One-load sibling inheritance, explicit false, nested destination resolution, and source/derivation inspection | Choosing and executing a preset |
+| Effective configuration diff | Same-type frozen effective comparisons for two selected files or base-versus-overlay impact | Source/options selection and consumer-owned safe presentation |
 
 The YAML under [`testdata`](../../examples/consumers/testdata) is loaded by the
 executable examples and ordinary tests. It contains no private application data,
@@ -51,6 +52,25 @@ both without redefining their syntax. ConfigKit overlays are configuration overl
 they do not select or replace an application's LLM, model, pipeline, report, or
 execution profile concepts.
 
+## Effective configuration diffs
+
+[`CompareFiles`](../../examples/consumers/diff.go) loads two caller-selected files
+with one application definition, handles each load error, calls `configkit.Diff`,
+and presents the safe records through consumer-owned `FormatDifferences`.
+[`CompareRolloutOverlay`](../../examples/consumers/diff.go) loads the same base
+once without an overlay and once with the selected overlay, so omitted lower
+priority values remain present. Its resolver records a derived endpoint URL after
+overlay application, and its nested typed secret reference is classified before
+the resulting records are presented.
+
+The maintained [behavior tests and executable examples](../../examples/consumers/diff_test.go)
+use temporary files and disposable secret values. Presenters should use
+`ValueSnapshot.Present` for absence, record membership for change, and
+`HiddenChanged` for a withheld change indicator. Do not parse the redaction marker
+or add separately rendered full contexts that lack combined sensitivity. The
+[configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) owns shared
+equality, granularity, and disclosure semantics.
+
 ## Named sibling inheritance
 
 [`LoadPresets`](../../examples/consumers/inheritance.go) loads the maintained
@@ -168,6 +188,7 @@ focused behavioral owner:
 | `LoadSecretsDir`, bootstrap reporting, typed lookup, CLI explanation | `Example_weatherStartup` |
 | Native filesystem, grouped underlays, programmatic mapping, retained resource context | `Example_nativeFilesystem`, `Example_layeredCatalog`, and their focused consumer tests |
 | Named sibling inheritance, presence, and derivation | `Example_inheritedPresets` and `TestPresetCatalogOneLoadAndDerivation` |
+| Effective configuration diffs and consumer-owned presentation | `ExampleDiff`, `ExampleCompareFiles`, and `ExampleCompareRolloutOverlay` |
 | Results, metadata, diagnostics, effective output, and writer failures | Focused root-package load, provenance, rendering, and explanation tests |
 
 The package-level import-boundary test covers the consumer examples too: supported

docs/development.md

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ Accepted decisions:
 - [Secret references and explicit bootstrap](adr/0004-secret-references-and-explicit-bootstrap.md)
 - [Explicit overrides and safe explanation](adr/0005-explicit-overrides-and-safe-explanation.md)
 - [Keep the public facade root-owned](adr/0006-public-facade.md)
+- [Compare frozen effective configuration snapshots](adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md)
 
 For cross-cutting changes, follow every applicable row. Completed implementation
 and remediation plans are preserved in Git history at `cb5b435`; use current
@@ -105,6 +106,13 @@ git show 8e91a2b:docs/roadmap/startup-benchmark.md
 Remaining optimization candidates belong to
 [deferred scope](roadmap/deferred.md#deferred-performance-experiments).
 
+The completed effective-configuration diff roadmap, implementation plan, and
+resolved review findings are preserved in Git history at `1c2610c` under
+`docs/roadmap/`. The
+[configuration contract](config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) owns current
+comparison and disclosure behavior, and
+[ADR 0010](adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md) records the decision.
+
 Install the Go version required by `go.mod` or a compatible newer toolchain.
 Acquire declared dependencies explicitly before entering an offline
 development or validation environment:
@@ -161,6 +169,7 @@ code changes. Use the component overview to find the corresponding implementatio
 | Paths, metadata, provenance | [Paths](../internal/engine/path_test.go), [metadata](../internal/engine/metadata_test.go), [provenance](../internal/engine/provenance_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Path\|Metadata\|Provenance\|Queries'` |
 | Passive resource contexts | [Engine contexts](../internal/engine/resource_context_test.go), [public contexts](../facade_resource_context_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Resource'` and `go test . -run 'SourceContext'` |
 | Secrets, bootstrap, redaction, explanation | [References](../internal/engine/secret_reference_test.go), [bootstrap](../internal/engine/secrets_test.go), [rendering](../internal/engine/render_test.go), [explanation](../internal/engine/explain_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Secret\|Bootstrap\|Effective\|Explain\|Explanation\|History\|Sensitivity'` |
+| Effective configuration diff | [Engine comparison and masking tests](../internal/engine/diff_test.go), [engine operation tests](../internal/engine/diff_operation_test.go), [root facade tests](../facade_diff_test.go), and [consumer examples](../examples/consumers/diff_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Diff|Explain|History|Secret|Independent'`, `go test . -run 'Diff|FacadeInspection|PublicFacadeBoundary|DependencyImportBoundary'`, `go test ./examples/consumers`, and `go test . -run '^ExampleDiff$'` |
 | Consumer examples and migration fixtures | [Consumer tests](../examples/consumers/consumers_test.go), [native and layered examples](../examples/consumers/layered_test.go), [API examples](../example_test.go) | `go test ./examples/consumers` and `go test . -run '^Example'` |
 | Assembly and layered scaling evidence | [Assembly benchmarks](../internal/engine/assembly_bench_test.go), [layered benchmarks](../internal/engine/underlay_bench_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run '^$' -bench '^BenchmarkUnderlay' -benchmem`; repeat with `^BenchmarkCompose` and `^BenchmarkOverlay` |
 | Inheritance scaling evidence | [Expansion benchmarks](../internal/engine/inheritance_bench_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run '^$' -bench '^BenchmarkInheritance' -benchmem` |

docs/internal/overview.md

@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ Implemented component owners:
   sibling inheritance before typed decoding. It also owns schema
   inspection, lifecycle coordination, callback auditing,
   provenance/history, passive source-context retention, secret resolution and
-  bootstrap, and safe inspection rendering. It never imports the root package.
+  bootstrap, safe inspection rendering, and effective-value comparison over
+  frozen inspection snapshots. It never imports the root package.
 - Root `Source`, `Filesystem`, `Input`, `Underlay`, `Path`, `Secret`, records,
   lifecycle callbacks, results, and bootstrap reports are root-defined wrappers
   or records. Callback wrappers pass only live engine context during a callback;
@@ -21,6 +22,9 @@ Implemented component owners:
 - Root conversion files explicitly cross the path, record, callback, secret, and
   error boundaries. There are no public aliases, anonymous engine embeddings, or
   public engine bridge methods.
+- Root `Diff` and `Difference` provide the public comparison boundary and
+  convert detached engine records to root-owned paths and snapshots; consumer
+  examples own presentation of the safe changed regions.
 - `internal/document` owns the parser-independent ordered tree and cloning.
   `internal/yaml` is the sole upstream YAML adapter and parser/dumper boundary.
 - Engine mechanism tests own source, composition, inheritance, decoding,
@@ -37,9 +41,11 @@ these constraints and rejects exported aliases, fields, or signatures involving
 internal types.
 
 The [configuration contract](../config.md) owns implemented YAML and lifecycle
-semantics. The [consumer adoption guide](../consumers/README.md) owns application
-guidance. The [architecture policy](../policy/architecture.md) owns contributor
-boundaries, and [ADR 0006](../adr/0006-public-facade.md) records the facade
+semantics, including [effective configuration diffs](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs).
+The [consumer adoption guide](../consumers/README.md) owns application guidance.
+The [architecture policy](../policy/architecture.md) owns contributor
+boundaries; [ADR 0006](../adr/0006-public-facade.md) records the facade decision
+and [ADR 0010](../adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md) records the diff
 decision. See the [development guide](../development.md) for validation commands
 and [release procedure](../release.md) for source-candidate gates. [ADR
 0009](../adr/0009-sibling-inheritance.md) records why inheritance is a built-in

docs/policy/architecture.md

@@ -201,6 +201,13 @@ See [ADR 0005](../adr/0005-explicit-overrides-and-safe-explanation.md).
 Detailed syntax and operation tables belong to the
 [current configuration contract](../config.md).
 
+The frozen inspection boundary also supports comparing completed same-type
+results without reopening sources or rerunning the load lifecycle. The
+[configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) owns
+comparison and disclosure behavior, the [component overview](../internal/overview.md)
+owns implementation responsibility, and [ADR 0010](../adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md)
+records the accepted decision.
+
 ## Ownership And Confidentiality
 
 Returned configuration and metadata must not share mutable state across loads.

docs/releases/v0.7.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# ConfigKit v0.7.0
+
+This minor release adds structured comparison of completed configurations.
+Applications can inspect changes between two configuration files or the
+effective impact of a selected overlay, with ConfigKit handling comparison and
+safe value disclosure while applications own presentation.
+
+## Changes
+
+- Add `Diff[T](left, right *Result[T]) ([]Difference, error)` through the public
+  facade. It compares frozen effective inspection values from successful loads,
+  including defaults and recorded application resolution, rather than source
+  text or later mutations of `Result.Config`.
+- Return detached changed-region records containing a semantic path, safe left
+  and right `ValueSnapshot` values, and `HiddenChanged`. Mappings compare
+  recursively, sequences report atomic changes, and records follow canonical
+  pointer order. Presence distinguishes additions and removals from explicit
+  null; equal effective values produce no records regardless of provenance or
+  loading history.
+- Protect both snapshots with sensitivity from both loads, including historical
+  and dependency-derived classification. Compatible regions retain public
+  siblings; incompatible structural replacements use complete-region masking
+  where required. `HiddenChanged` identifies actual changes withheld by masking,
+  rather than merely indicating that a snapshot contains redacted content.
+- Preserve visible public scalar changes when only historical sensitive
+  descendants remain, including additions and removals. Historical explanation
+  redaction and masking of incompatible present shapes remain intact.
+- Add maintained file-comparison and base-versus-overlay examples with
+  consumer-owned formatting, plus an executable public API example. See the
+  [consumer guide](../consumers/README.md#effective-configuration-diffs) and
+  [configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs).
+
+## Compatibility and upgrade
+
+No application-code or configuration migration is required from v0.6.0.
+Adopting the new API is optional. Loading, composition, inheritance, provenance,
+existing inspection, and secret-handling contracts remain unchanged.
+
+Load both configurations successfully before calling `Diff`; nil or
+uninitialized results return an error with no records. Comparison does not
+reopen sources, rerun callbacks, or reread environment variables. Typed secret
+references compare by configured reference name, not resolved credential bytes,
+so credential rotation behind an unchanged name is not reported. Returned
+snapshots describe changed regions, not cross-protected full-document context.
+
+Select this version and rebuild:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit@v0.7.0
+```
+
+The consumer minimum remains Go 1.26.0. The YAML dependency remains
+`go.yaml.in/yaml/v4 v4.0.0-rc.6`, and the maintainer tool dependency remains
+ReleaseKit v0.3.0. Linux amd64 and arm64 remain release-validated targets;
+macOS remains best-effort. Publication follows the existing
+[release procedure](../release.md).
+
+[COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.0/COPYRIGHT) | [LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.0/LICENSE) | [ATTRIBUTION](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.0/docs/oss/attribution.md)

docs/roadmap/deferred.md

@@ -23,12 +23,18 @@ The following remain deliberately excluded:
 - automatic schema migrations;
 - hot reload, runtime resource replacement, and remote resource validation;
 - a bundled CLI framework or application commands; and
-- configuration diffs and fingerprints.
+- configuration fingerprints.
 
 Applications may build their own validate, effective-value, source, bootstrap, and
 explanation commands around the library. Broadening these boundaries requires
 concrete consumer evidence, compatibility review, and an explicit design change.
 
+Effective configuration diffs are implemented over frozen successful-load
+inspections; their current comparison and disclosure contract is in the
+[configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs), with
+consumer workflows in the [adoption guide](../consumers/README.md#effective-configuration-diffs).
+Fingerprints remain deferred.
+
 Built-in sibling inheritance using `extends` is implemented as described in the
 [configuration contract](../config.md#sibling-inheritance). It is distinct from
 inheritance between selected overlay files, which remains excluded above.

example_test.go

@@ -30,6 +30,32 @@ func ExampleNoSource() {
 	// Output: 4 0 <nil>
 }
 
+func ExampleDiff() {
+	type Config struct {
+		Workers int `yaml:"workers"`
+	}
+	before, err := configkit.Load[Config](configkit.Mapping("before", map[string]any{"workers": 2}))
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	after, err := configkit.Load[Config](configkit.Mapping("after", map[string]any{"workers": 4}))
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(before, after)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	for _, difference := range differences {
+		fmt.Printf("%s: %s -> %s\n", difference.Path.String(),
+			strings.TrimSpace(difference.Left.YAML), strings.TrimSpace(difference.Right.YAML))
+	}
+	// Output: /workers: 2 -> 4
+}
+
 func ExampleValidation_Error() {
 	type Config struct {
 		First  string `yaml:"first"`

examples/consumers/diff.go

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package consumers
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+// FileComparisonConfig is a small application-owned shape for comparing
+// caller-selected configuration files.
+type FileComparisonConfig struct {
+	Name    string         `yaml:"name"`
+	Entries map[string]any `yaml:"entries"`
+}
+
+// CompareFiles loads two caller-selected files with the same application
+// definition, then formats only the safe records returned by configkit.Diff.
+func CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath string) (string, error) {
+	options := configkit.Options[FileComparisonConfig]{
+		Definition: configkit.Definition[FileComparisonConfig]{
+			Defaults: func() FileComparisonConfig {
+				return FileComparisonConfig{Entries: map[string]any{}}
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	left, err := configkit.Load(configkit.File(leftPath), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load left configuration: %w", err)
+	}
+	right, err := configkit.Load(configkit.File(rightPath), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load right configuration: %w", err)
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return FormatDifferences(differences), nil
+}
+
+// RolloutConfig models a service endpoint whose URL is derived by the
+// application resolver and whose credential reference is classified.
+type RolloutConfig struct {
+	Service RolloutService `yaml:"service"`
+}
+
+// RolloutService contains endpoint settings and a classified credential.
+type RolloutService struct {
+	Endpoint   RolloutEndpoint   `yaml:"endpoint"`
+	Credential RolloutCredential `yaml:"credential"`
+}
+
+// RolloutEndpoint is the effective destination used by the application.
+type RolloutEndpoint struct {
+	Host string `yaml:"host"`
+	Port int    `yaml:"port"`
+	URL  string `yaml:"url"`
+}
+
+// RolloutCredential holds only a typed secret reference in configuration.
+type RolloutCredential struct {
+	Token configkit.Secret `yaml:"token" configkit:"secret"`
+}
+
+// LoadRollout loads a base file, optionally with one selected configuration
+// overlay. Resolution derives the effective URL after the overlay is applied.
+func LoadRollout(basePath, overlayName string) (*configkit.Result[RolloutConfig], error) {
+	return configkit.Load(configkit.File(basePath), configkit.Options[RolloutConfig]{
+		Overlay: overlayName,
+		Definition: configkit.Definition[RolloutConfig]{
+			Resolve: resolveRollout,
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+// CompareRolloutOverlay compares the effective base configuration with that
+// same file plus one selected overlay. It presents only safe diff records.
+func CompareRolloutOverlay(basePath, overlayName string) (string, error) {
+	base, err := LoadRollout(basePath, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load base configuration: %w", err)
+	}
+	withOverlay, err := LoadRollout(basePath, overlayName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load overlay configuration: %w", err)
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(base, withOverlay)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return FormatDifferences(differences), nil
+}
+
+func resolveRollout(configuration *RolloutConfig, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+	endpoint := &configuration.Service.Endpoint
+	if endpoint.Host == "" || endpoint.Port <= 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	url := fmt.Sprintf("https://%s:%d", endpoint.Host, endpoint.Port)
+	if endpoint.URL != url {
+		endpoint.URL = url
+		resolution.Record(configkit.Keys("service", "endpoint", "url"),
+			configkit.ChangeNormalization, "derived endpoint URL",
+			configkit.Keys("service", "endpoint", "host"),
+			configkit.Keys("service", "endpoint", "port"))
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// FormatDifferences is consumer-owned presentation. It distinguishes absence
+// through Present and reports withheld changes through HiddenChanged without
+// interpreting redaction marker text.
+func FormatDifferences(differences []configkit.Difference) string {
+	if len(differences) == 0 {
+		return "No effective changes.\n"
+	}
+	var output strings.Builder
+	for _, difference := range differences {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&output, "%s: left=%s right=%s", difference.Path.String(),
+			formatSnapshot(difference.Left), formatSnapshot(difference.Right))
+		if difference.HiddenChanged {
+			output.WriteString(" hidden-change")
+		}
+		output.WriteByte('\n')
+	}
+	return output.String()
+}
+
+func formatSnapshot(snapshot configkit.ValueSnapshot) string {
+	if !snapshot.Present {
+		return "<absent>"
+	}
+	return strconv.Quote(snapshot.YAML)
+}

examples/consumers/diff_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+package consumers_test
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/examples/consumers"
+)
+
+func ExampleCompareFiles() {
+	directory, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "configkit-diff-files-")
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(directory)
+	leftPath := filepath.Join(directory, "before.yml")
+	rightPath := filepath.Join(directory, "after.yml")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(leftPath, []byte("name: before\nentries: {}\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(rightPath, []byte("name: after\nentries:\n  added: null\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	output, err := consumers.CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Print(output)
+	// Output:
+	// /entries/added: left=<absent> right="null\n"
+	// /name: left="before\n" right="after\n"
+}
+
+func ExampleCompareRolloutOverlay() {
+	const baseToken = "CONFIGKIT_DIFF_EXAMPLE_BASE_TOKEN"
+	const overlayToken = "CONFIGKIT_DIFF_EXAMPLE_OVERLAY_TOKEN"
+	defer preserveEnvironment(baseToken)()
+	defer preserveEnvironment(overlayToken)()
+	_ = os.Setenv(baseToken, "disposable-example-base-credential")
+	_ = os.Setenv(overlayToken, "disposable-example-overlay-credential")
+
+	directory, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "configkit-diff-overlay-")
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(directory)
+	basePath := filepath.Join(directory, "config.yml")
+	overlayPath := filepath.Join(directory, "overlays", "canary.yml")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(overlayPath), 0o700); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	base := "service:\n  endpoint:\n    host: base.example\n    port: 8443\n  credential:\n    token: " + baseToken + "\n"
+	overlay := "service:\n  endpoint:\n    host: canary.example\n  credential:\n    token: " + overlayToken + "\n"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(basePath, []byte(base), 0o600); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(overlayPath, []byte(overlay), 0o600); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	output, err := consumers.CompareRolloutOverlay(basePath, "canary")
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Print(output)
+	// Output:
+	// /service/credential/token: left="'[REDACTED]'\n" right="'[REDACTED]'\n" hidden-change
+	// /service/endpoint/host: left="base.example\n" right="canary.example\n"
+	// /service/endpoint/url: left="https://base.example:8443\n" right="https://canary.example:8443\n"
+}
+
+func TestCompareFilesUsesCallerSelectedSourcesAndSafePresence(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	leftPath := filepath.Join(directory, "before.yml")
+	rightPath := filepath.Join(directory, "after.yml")
+	writeConfiguration(t, leftPath, "name: before\nentries: {}\n")
+	writeConfiguration(t, rightPath, "name: after\nentries:\n  added: null\n")
+
+	output, err := consumers.CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	want := "/entries/added: left=<absent> right=\"null\\n\"\n" +
+		"/name: left=\"before\\n\" right=\"after\\n\"\n"
+	if output != want {
+		t.Fatalf("comparison output = %q, want %q", output, want)
+	}
+	if again, err := consumers.CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath); err != nil || again != output {
+		t.Fatalf("repeat output = %q, %v", again, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCompareFilesReturnsEachLoadError(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	leftPath := filepath.Join(directory, "before.yml")
+	rightPath := filepath.Join(directory, "after.yml")
+	writeConfiguration(t, leftPath, "name: before\n")
+	writeConfiguration(t, rightPath, "unknown: invalid\n")
+
+	output, err := consumers.CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath)
+	if err == nil || output != "" || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "load right configuration") {
+		t.Fatalf("right load failure = %q, %v", output, err)
+	}
+	if _, err := consumers.CompareFiles(filepath.Join(directory, "missing.yml"), rightPath); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "load left configuration") {
+		t.Fatalf("left load failure = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCompareRolloutOverlayShowsResolvedSafeChangesAndRetainsSiblings(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("CONFIGKIT_DIFF_BASE_TOKEN", "disposable-base-credential")
+	t.Setenv("CONFIGKIT_DIFF_OVERLAY_TOKEN", "disposable-overlay-credential")
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	basePath := filepath.Join(directory, "config.yml")
+	overlayPath := filepath.Join(directory, "overlays", "canary.yml")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(overlayPath), 0o700); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	writeConfiguration(t, basePath, "service:\n  endpoint:\n    host: base.example\n    port: 8443\n  credential:\n    token: CONFIGKIT_DIFF_BASE_TOKEN\n")
+	writeConfiguration(t, overlayPath, "service:\n  endpoint:\n    host: canary.example\n  credential:\n    token: CONFIGKIT_DIFF_OVERLAY_TOKEN\n")
+
+	base, err := consumers.LoadRollout(basePath, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	withOverlay, err := consumers.LoadRollout(basePath, "canary")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if base.Config.Service.Endpoint.Port != 8443 || withOverlay.Config.Service.Endpoint.Port != 8443 {
+		t.Fatalf("lower-priority port was not retained: base=%#v overlay=%#v", base.Config.Service.Endpoint, withOverlay.Config.Service.Endpoint)
+	}
+	urlInfo, found := withOverlay.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("service", "endpoint", "url"))
+	if !found || urlInfo.Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerResolution || withOverlay.Config.Service.Endpoint.URL != "https://canary.example:8443" {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved endpoint = %#v, metadata=%#v, %v", withOverlay.Config.Service.Endpoint, urlInfo, found)
+	}
+
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(base, withOverlay)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(differences) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("differences = %#v", differences)
+	}
+	wantPaths := []string{"/service/credential/token", "/service/endpoint/host", "/service/endpoint/url"}
+	for index, difference := range differences {
+		if got := difference.Path.String(); got != wantPaths[index] {
+			t.Errorf("path[%d] = %q, want %q", index, got, wantPaths[index])
+		}
+	}
+	secret := differences[0]
+	if !secret.Left.Redacted || !secret.Right.Redacted || !secret.HiddenChanged || secret.Left.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" || secret.Right.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("classified credential difference = %#v", secret)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(consumers.FormatDifferences(differences), "disposable-") {
+		t.Fatal("formatted differences exposed credential contents")
+	}
+
+	output, err := consumers.CompareRolloutOverlay(basePath, "canary")
+	if err != nil || output != consumers.FormatDifferences(differences) {
+		t.Fatalf("formatted base/overlay comparison = %q, %v", output, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormatDifferencesUsesRecordMembershipForNoChange(t *testing.T) {
+	if got := consumers.FormatDifferences(nil); got != "No effective changes.\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("no-change output = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func writeConfiguration(t *testing.T, filename, contents string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filename, []byte(contents), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}

facade_diff_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,327 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+type facadeDiffConfig struct {
+	Value   string         `yaml:"value"`
+	Count   int            `yaml:"count"`
+	Items   []string       `yaml:"items"`
+	Dynamic map[string]any `yaml:"dynamic"`
+}
+
+type facadeDiffSecretConfig struct {
+	Secret configkit.Secret `yaml:"secret"`
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffKeepsPublicSequenceChangesWithHistoricalDescendants(t *testing.T) {
+	type configuration struct {
+		Items []any `yaml:"items"`
+	}
+	load := func(public string) *configkit.Result[configuration] {
+		t.Helper()
+		result, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("historical-sequence.yml", []byte("items: [{secret: disposable-canary}, "+public+"]\n")),
+			configkit.Options[configuration]{Definition: configkit.Definition[configuration]{
+				Secret: func(path configkit.Path) bool { return path.String() == "/items/0/secret" },
+				Resolve: func(current *configuration, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+					current.Items[0] = "public scalar"
+					resolution.Record(configkit.Keys("items"), configkit.ChangeNormalization, "normalize first item")
+					return nil
+				},
+			}})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return result
+	}
+	left, right := load("1"), load("2")
+	history, ok := left.Explain(configkit.Keys("items").Index(0).Key("secret"))
+	if !ok || history.Effective.Present || len(history.History) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("removed historical secret = %#v, known=%v", history, ok)
+	}
+	maskedHistory := false
+	for _, change := range history.History {
+		maskedHistory = maskedHistory || change.Before.Redacted || change.After.Redacted
+	}
+	if !maskedHistory {
+		t.Fatal("historical sensitivity was not retained")
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/items" {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence difference = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	difference := differences[0]
+	if !difference.Left.Present || !difference.Right.Present || difference.Left.Redacted || difference.Right.Redacted || difference.HiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("public sequence change was concealed: %#v", difference)
+	}
+	if difference.Left.YAML != "- public scalar\n- 1\n" || difference.Right.YAML != "- public scalar\n- 2\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("public sequence snapshots = %#v", difference)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffKeepsPublicScalarAcrossHistoricalAbsence(t *testing.T) {
+	type configuration struct {
+		Dynamic map[string]any `yaml:"dynamic"`
+	}
+	options := configkit.Options[configuration]{Definition: configkit.Definition[configuration]{
+		Secret: func(path configkit.Path) bool { return path.String() == "/dynamic/entry/token" },
+		Resolve: func(current *configuration, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+			delete(current.Dynamic, "entry")
+			resolution.Record(configkit.Keys("dynamic", "entry"), configkit.ChangeNormalization, "remove entry")
+			return nil
+		},
+	}}
+	absent, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("removed-entry.yml", []byte("dynamic: {entry: {token: disposable-canary}}\n")), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	options.Definition.Resolve = nil
+	present, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("public-entry.yml", []byte("dynamic: {entry: public}\n")), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *configkit.Result[configuration]
+		leftPresent bool
+	}{
+		{name: "addition", left: absent, right: present},
+		{name: "removal", left: present, right: absent, leftPresent: true},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			differences, err := configkit.Diff(test.left, test.right)
+			if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/dynamic/entry" {
+				t.Fatalf("entry difference = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+			}
+			difference := differences[0]
+			if difference.Left.Present != test.leftPresent || difference.Right.Present == test.leftPresent ||
+				difference.Left.Redacted || difference.Right.Redacted || difference.HiddenChanged {
+				t.Fatalf("public presence change was concealed: %#v", difference)
+			}
+			wantLeft, wantRight := "", "public\n"
+			if test.leftPresent {
+				wantLeft, wantRight = wantRight, wantLeft
+			}
+			if difference.Left.YAML != wantLeft || difference.Right.YAML != wantRight {
+				t.Fatalf("entry snapshots = %#v", difference)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffReturnsDetachedCanonicalRecords(t *testing.T) {
+	left, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffConfig](configkit.Bytes("left.yml", []byte("value: before\ncount: 0\nitems: [one, two]\ndynamic: {}\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load left: %v", err)
+	}
+	right, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffConfig](configkit.Bytes("right.yml", []byte("value: after\ncount: 0\nitems: [one, three]\ndynamic:\n  added: null\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	wantPaths := []string{"/dynamic/added", "/items", "/value"}
+	if len(differences) != len(wantPaths) {
+		t.Fatalf("differences = %#v", differences)
+	}
+	for index, difference := range differences {
+		if got := difference.Path.String(); got != wantPaths[index] {
+			t.Errorf("path[%d] = %q, want %q", index, got, wantPaths[index])
+		}
+	}
+	if differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Right.Present || differences[0].Right.YAML != "null\n" {
+		t.Errorf("null/absence snapshots = %#v / %#v", differences[0].Left, differences[0].Right)
+	}
+	if differences[1].Left.YAML != "- one\n- two\n" || differences[1].Right.YAML != "- one\n- three\n" {
+		t.Errorf("sequence snapshots = %#v / %#v", differences[1].Left, differences[1].Right)
+	}
+
+	left.Config.Value = "caller mutation"
+	left.Config.Items[0] = "caller mutation"
+	right.Config.Dynamic["added"] = "caller mutation"
+	differences[2].Left.YAML = "record mutation"
+	differences[2].Path = configkit.Keys("rewritten")
+
+	again, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if again[2].Path.String() != "/value" || again[2].Left.YAML != "before\n" || again[1].Left.YAML != "- one\n- two\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("repeat diff changed = %#v", again)
+	}
+	explanation, ok := left.Explain(configkit.Keys("value"))
+	if !ok || explanation.Effective.YAML != "before\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("frozen explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, ok)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffRejectsUnavailableResults(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Value string `yaml:"value"`
+	}
+	loaded, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("valid.yml", []byte("value: valid\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var nilResult *configkit.Result[config]
+	zeroResult := &configkit.Result[config]{Config: config{Value: "must not be inspected"}}
+	for name, left := range map[string]*configkit.Result[config]{"nil": nilResult, "zero": zeroResult} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if records, err := configkit.Diff(left, loaded); err == nil || records != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Diff = %#v, %v; want nil records and error", records, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	if records, err := configkit.Diff(loaded, nilResult); err == nil || records != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("right nil Diff = %#v, %v", records, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffIgnoresSourceAndResolutionHistory(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Count int `yaml:"count"`
+	}
+	defaults := configkit.Options[config]{Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{
+		Defaults: func() config { return config{Count: 7} },
+	}}
+	defaulted, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.NoSource(), defaults)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	explicit, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("explicit.yml", []byte("count: 7\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if differences, err := configkit.Diff(defaulted, explicit); err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("default/source difference = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+
+	zeroDefault, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.NoSource(), configkit.Options[config]{Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Defaults: func() config { return config{} }}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	explicitZero, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("explicit-zero.yml", []byte("count: 0\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if differences, err := configkit.Diff(zeroDefault, explicitZero); err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit/defaulted zero difference = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+
+	resolve := func(value string) configkit.Options[config] {
+		return configkit.Options[config]{Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Resolve: func(current *config, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+			current.Count = len(value) + 8
+			resolution.Record(configkit.Keys("count"), configkit.ChangeNormalization, "set effective count")
+			return nil
+		}}}
+	}
+	resolvedA, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("a.yml", []byte("{}\n")), resolve("a"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resolvedB, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("b.yml", []byte("{}\n")), resolve("b"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if differences, err := configkit.Diff(resolvedA, resolvedB); err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("equal resolved values = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffUsesFrozenFilesAndRunsCallbacksOnlyDuringLoad(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Value string `yaml:"value"`
+	}
+	calls := 0
+	options := configkit.Options[config]{Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Defaults: func() config {
+		calls++
+		return config{}
+	}}}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	paths := []string{filepath.Join(dir, "left.yml"), filepath.Join(dir, "right.yml")}
+	for index, contents := range []string{"value: left\n", "value: right\n"} {
+		if err := os.WriteFile(paths[index], []byte(contents), 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	left, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.File(paths[0]), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	right, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.File(paths[1]), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if calls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("defaults calls after loads = %d", calls)
+	}
+	for _, path := range paths {
+		if err := os.Remove(path); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/value" {
+		t.Fatalf("Diff after removing files = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if calls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("defaults reran during Diff: %d calls", calls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffCombinesSecretSensitivityAndLoadErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("FACADE_DIFF_SECRET", "credential-one")
+	secretOptions := configkit.Options[facadeDiffSecretConfig]{Definition: configkit.Definition[facadeDiffSecretConfig]{Secret: func(path configkit.Path) bool {
+		return path.String() == "/secret"
+	}}}
+	left, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("left.yml", []byte("secret: FACADE_DIFF_SECRET\n")), secretOptions)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("FACADE_DIFF_SECRET", "credential-two")
+	right, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("right.yml", []byte("secret: FACADE_DIFF_SECRET\n")), secretOptions)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right); err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("credential rotation = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("OTHER_FACADE_DIFF_SECRET", "other-credential")
+	otherReference, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("other.yml", []byte("secret: OTHER_FACADE_DIFF_SECRET\n")), secretOptions)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, otherReference)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || !differences[0].HiddenChanged || !differences[0].Left.Redacted || !differences[0].Right.Redacted {
+		t.Fatalf("reference change = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(differences[0].Left.YAML+differences[0].Right.YAML, "credential") {
+		t.Fatalf("credential leaked: %#v", differences)
+	}
+
+	invalidLeft, leftErr := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("invalid-left.yml", []byte("unknown: true\n")))
+	if invalidLeft != nil || leftErr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid left load = %#v, %v", invalidLeft, leftErr)
+	}
+	var loadError *configkit.LoadError
+	if !errors.As(leftErr, &loadError) {
+		t.Fatalf("left load error = %T, want *configkit.LoadError", leftErr)
+	}
+	invalidRight, rightErr := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("invalid-right.yml", []byte("unknown: true\n")))
+	if invalidRight != nil || rightErr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid right load = %#v, %v", invalidRight, rightErr)
+	}
+	if !errors.As(rightErr, &loadError) {
+		t.Fatalf("right load error = %T, want *configkit.LoadError", rightErr)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/diff.go

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+	yamladapter "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/yaml"
+)
+
+var errDiffInspectionUnavailable = errors.New("configkit: diff inspection unavailable")
+var errDiffSnapshotUnavailable = errors.New("configkit: diff snapshot unavailable")
+
+// Difference describes one canonical changed region with safe snapshots.
+type Difference struct {
+	Path          Path
+	Left          ValueSnapshot
+	Right         ValueSnapshot
+	HiddenChanged bool
+}
+
+type diffRegion struct {
+	path  Path
+	left  *document.Node
+	right *document.Node
+}
+
+func prepareDiffRegions(left, right *Inspection) ([]diffRegion, error) {
+	if left == nil || left.final == nil || right == nil || right.final == nil {
+		return nil, errDiffInspectionUnavailable
+	}
+
+	deltas := compareConfigurationValues(left.final, right.final)
+	regions := make([]diffRegion, 0, len(deltas))
+	for _, delta := range deltas {
+		leftNode, leftPresent := documentAtPathWithLookup(left.final, delta.path, left.immutableLookup)
+		if !leftPresent {
+			leftNode = nil
+		}
+		rightNode, rightPresent := documentAtPathWithLookup(right.final, delta.path, right.immutableLookup)
+		if !rightPresent {
+			rightNode = nil
+		}
+		regions = append(regions, diffRegion{path: delta.path, left: leftNode, right: rightNode})
+	}
+	return regions, nil
+}
+
+// Diff compares the final frozen values retained by two successful inspections.
+// Values are serialized only after applying the combined sensitivity of both loads.
+func Diff(left, right *Inspection) ([]Difference, error) {
+	regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(left, right)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	sensitivity := newDiffSensitivity(left.secrets, right.secrets)
+	differences := make([]Difference, 0, len(regions))
+	for _, region := range regions {
+		paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(region.left, region.right, region.path, sensitivity)
+		if !supported {
+			return nil, errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+		}
+		leftSnapshot, err := serializeDiffSnapshot(paired.left, paired.leftRedacted)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+		}
+		rightSnapshot, err := serializeDiffSnapshot(paired.right, paired.rightRedacted)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+		}
+		differences = append(differences, Difference{
+			Path:          region.path,
+			Left:          leftSnapshot,
+			Right:         rightSnapshot,
+			HiddenChanged: paired.hiddenChanged,
+		})
+	}
+	return differences, nil
+}
+
+func serializeDiffSnapshot(node *document.Node, redacted bool) (ValueSnapshot, error) {
+	if node == nil {
+		return ValueSnapshot{}, nil
+	}
+	var output bytes.Buffer
+	if err := writeDiffDocument(&output, node); err != nil {
+		return ValueSnapshot{}, errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+	}
+	return ValueSnapshot{Present: true, Redacted: redacted, YAML: output.String()}, nil
+}
+
+func writeDiffDocument(output io.Writer, node *document.Node) error {
+	if err := yamladapter.Write(output, node); err != nil {
+		return errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+	}
+	return nil
+}

internal/engine/diff_hidden_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotReportsWhollyMaskedChanges(t *testing.T) {
+	left := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "private-before"}
+	right := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "private-after"}
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Keys("credential"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/credential": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged || !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("masked change = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "[REDACTED]")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotDetectsRawChangesBehindIdenticalMarkers(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "token: old-canary\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "token: new-canary\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "token"), mappingValue(t, right, "token"), Keys("token"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/token": true}, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged || paired.left.Text != paired.right.Text {
+		t.Fatalf("identically rendered masked values lost raw change: %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotCombinesPublicAndHiddenChanges(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "public: before\ntoken: old\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "public: after\ntoken: new\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Path{}, newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/token": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("mixed public and hidden change = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "public"), "before")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "public"), "after")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotDoesNotFlagUnchangedMaskedValues(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "public: before\ntoken: unchanged\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "public: after\ntoken: unchanged\n")
+	regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(left), diffTestInspection(right))
+	if err != nil || len(regions) != 1 || regions[0].path.String() != "/public" {
+		t.Fatalf("changed regions = %#v, err = %v; want only /public", regions, err)
+	}
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Path{}, newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/token": true}, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted || paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("unchanged masked values affected hidden-change state: %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+
+	leftSequence := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left-sequence", "items: [unchanged, before]\n")
+	rightSequence := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right-sequence", "items: [unchanged, after]\n")
+	sequence, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, leftSequence, "items"), mappingValue(t, rightSequence, "items"), Keys("items"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/0": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || !sequence.leftRedacted || !sequence.rightRedacted || sequence.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("unchanged masked sequence member affected hidden-change state: %#v, supported=%v", sequence, supported)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotReportsMaskedAdditionAndRemoval(t *testing.T) {
+	value := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "private"}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *document.Node
+		leftHidden  bool
+		rightHidden bool
+	}{
+		{name: "addition", right: value, rightHidden: true},
+		{name: "removal", left: value, leftHidden: true},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+				test.left, test.right, Keys("token"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/token": true}),
+			)
+			if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged || paired.leftRedacted != test.leftHidden || paired.rightRedacted != test.rightHidden {
+				t.Fatalf("masked presence change = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+			}
+			if test.left == nil && paired.left != nil || test.right == nil && paired.right != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("absence became a value: %#v", paired)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotReportsHiddenSequenceLengthChange(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "items: [public]\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "items: [public, private]\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "items"), mappingValue(t, right, "items"), Keys("items"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/1": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged || paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("masked sequence length change = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	if len(paired.left.Sequence) != 1 || len(paired.right.Sequence) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("safe sequence lengths = %d, %d; want 1, 2", len(paired.left.Sequence), len(paired.right.Sequence))
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right.Sequence[1], "[REDACTED]")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotClassificationAloneDoesNotCreateHiddenChange(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "token: same\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "token: same\n")
+	regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(left), diffTestInspection(right))
+	if err != nil || len(regions) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("classification-independent changed regions = %#v, err = %v", regions, err)
+	}
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "token"), mappingValue(t, right, "token"), Keys("token"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/token": true}, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted || paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("classification alone reported hidden change: %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/diff_operation_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+type diffIntegrationConfig struct {
+	Defaulted  string         `yaml:"defaulted"`
+	Dynamic    map[string]any `yaml:"dynamic"`
+	Credential Secret         `yaml:"credential" configkit:"secret"`
+	Derived    string         `yaml:"derived"`
+}
+
+type diffOptionalSecretConfig struct {
+	Optional *Secret `yaml:"optional" configkit:"secret"`
+}
+
+func TestDiffUsesFinalValuesAndDependencyDerivedSensitivity(t *testing.T) {
+	var resolveCalls int
+	options := Options[diffIntegrationConfig]{Definition: Definition[diffIntegrationConfig]{
+		Defaults: func() diffIntegrationConfig {
+			return diffIntegrationConfig{Defaulted: "from-default", Dynamic: map[string]any{"defaulted": "retained"}}
+		},
+		Resolve: func(configuration *diffIntegrationConfig, resolution *Resolution) error {
+			resolveCalls++
+			configuration.Derived = configuration.Dynamic["visible"].(string)
+			resolution.Record(Keys("derived"), ChangeNormalization, "derive from effective values", Keys("credential"))
+			return nil
+		},
+	}}
+	input := func(value string) Source {
+		return Bytes("effective.yml", []byte("dynamic: {visible: "+value+"}\ncredential: DIFF_ENGINE_SECRET\n"))
+	}
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ENGINE_SECRET", "credential-left-canary")
+	left, err := testLoad(input("before"), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ENGINE_SECRET", "credential-right-canary")
+	right, err := testLoad(input("after"), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if left.Config.Defaulted != "from-default" || right.Config.Defaulted != "from-default" {
+		t.Fatalf("defaulted values = %q, %q", left.Config.Defaulted, right.Config.Defaulted)
+	}
+	if !left.Inspection.secrets["/credential"] || !left.Inspection.secrets["/derived"] ||
+		!right.Inspection.secrets["/credential"] || !right.Inspection.secrets["/derived"] {
+		t.Fatalf("typed or dependency-derived sensitivity was not retained: left=%#v right=%#v", left.Inspection.secrets, right.Inspection.secrets)
+	}
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(left.Inspection.final, Keys("derived"), left.Inspection.immutableLookup); !present || node.Text != "before" {
+		t.Fatalf("left frozen derived value = %#v, present=%v", node, present)
+	}
+
+	differences, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(differences) != 2 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/derived" || differences[1].Path.String() != "/dynamic/visible" {
+		t.Fatalf("differences = %#v", differences)
+	}
+	if !differences[0].Left.Redacted || !differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged ||
+		differences[0].Left.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" || differences[0].Right.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("dependency-derived difference = %#v", differences[0])
+	}
+	if differences[1].Left.Redacted || differences[1].Right.Redacted || differences[1].HiddenChanged ||
+		differences[1].Left.YAML != "before\n" || differences[1].Right.YAML != "after\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("public dynamic difference = %#v", differences[1])
+	}
+	for _, value := range differences {
+		if strings.Contains(value.Left.YAML+value.Right.YAML, "credential-") {
+			t.Fatal("diff snapshot exposed a resolved credential")
+		}
+	}
+
+	var effective bytes.Buffer
+	if err := left.Inspection.WriteEffective(&effective); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(effective.String(), "credential-left-canary") {
+		t.Fatal("standalone effective rendering exposed a credential after diff")
+	}
+	explanation, ok := left.Inspection.Explain(Keys("derived"))
+	if !ok || !explanation.Effective.Redacted || explanation.Effective.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("explanation changed after diff: %#v, ok=%v", explanation, ok)
+	}
+	if _, ok := left.Inspection.Metadata().Lookup(Keys("dynamic", "visible")); !ok {
+		t.Fatal("metadata lookup failed after diff")
+	}
+	if resolveCalls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("resolution callbacks ran during diff: %d calls", resolveCalls)
+	}
+
+	// Returned records can be modified without affecting a later comparison.
+	differences[0].Path.segments[0].key = "changed-by-caller"
+	differences[0].Left.YAML = "changed-by-caller"
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ENGINE_SECRET", "credential-after-load-canary")
+	repeated, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+	if err != nil || len(repeated) != 2 || repeated[0].Path.String() != "/derived" || repeated[0].Left.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("repeated diff = %#v, err = %v", repeated, err)
+	}
+	if resolveCalls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("repeated diff reran resolution: %d calls", resolveCalls)
+	}
+
+	independent, err := testLoad(input("before"), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if resolveCalls != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("independent load did not retain normal resolution behavior: %d calls", resolveCalls)
+	}
+	if _, err := Diff(left.Inspection, independent.Inspection); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("independent load comparison = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDiffUsesReferenceNamesAndFrozenSecretState(t *testing.T) {
+	loadReference := func(name string) *testResult[diffOptionalSecretConfig] {
+		t.Helper()
+		result, err := testLoad[diffOptionalSecretConfig](Bytes("secret-reference.yml", []byte("optional: "+name+"\n")))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return result
+	}
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET", "first-credential-canary")
+	left := loadReference("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET")
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET", "second-credential-canary")
+	right := loadReference("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET")
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET", "changed-after-load-canary")
+	differences, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("credential rotation behind one reference = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(left.Inspection.final, Keys("optional"), left.Inspection.immutableLookup); !present || node.Text != "DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET" {
+		t.Fatalf("frozen reference = %#v, present=%v", node, present)
+	}
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(right.Inspection.final, Keys("optional"), right.Inspection.immutableLookup); !present || node.Text != "DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET" {
+		t.Fatalf("right frozen reference = %#v, present=%v", node, present)
+	}
+
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_OTHER_SECRET", "other-credential-canary")
+	other := loadReference("DIFF_OTHER_SECRET")
+	differences, err = Diff(left.Inspection, other.Inspection)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/optional" {
+		t.Fatalf("reference-name change = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if !differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Right.Present || !differences[0].Left.Redacted ||
+		!differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged ||
+		differences[0].Left.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" || differences[0].Right.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("classified reference-name diff = %#v", differences[0])
+	}
+
+	absent, err := testLoad[diffOptionalSecretConfig](Bytes("absent-secret.yml", []byte("{}\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if absent.Config.Optional != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("missing optional reference decoded as %#v", absent.Config.Optional)
+	}
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(absent.Inspection.final, Keys("optional"), absent.Inspection.immutableLookup); !present || node.Kind != document.Null {
+		t.Fatalf("optional nil projection = %#v, present=%v", node, present)
+	}
+	differences, err = Diff(absent.Inspection, left.Inspection)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/optional" {
+		t.Fatalf("optional absence diff = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if !differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Left.Redacted ||
+		!differences[0].Right.Present || !differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("optional reference change snapshots = %#v", differences[0])
+	}
+	for _, value := range differences {
+		if strings.Contains(value.Left.YAML+value.Right.YAML, "credential-canary") {
+			t.Fatal("reference diff exposed a resolved credential")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDiffProtectsHistoricalSensitiveRemovalAndReplacement(t *testing.T) {
+	type configuration struct {
+		Dynamic map[string]any `yaml:"dynamic"`
+	}
+	secretPath := Keys("dynamic", "token")
+	secretSelector := func(path Path) bool { return path.String() == secretPath.String() }
+	load := func(input string, resolve func(*configuration, *Resolution) error) *testResult[configuration] {
+		t.Helper()
+		result, err := testLoad(Bytes("historical-secret.yml", []byte(input)), Options[configuration]{Definition: Definition[configuration]{
+			Secret:  secretSelector,
+			Resolve: resolve,
+		}})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return result
+	}
+
+	t.Run("removed historical value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		left := load("dynamic: {token: removed-canary}\n", func(configuration *configuration, resolution *Resolution) error {
+			delete(configuration.Dynamic, "token")
+			resolution.Record(secretPath, ChangeNormalization, "remove token")
+			return nil
+		})
+		right := load("dynamic: {token: current-canary}\n", nil)
+		if !left.Inspection.secrets[secretPath.String()] {
+			t.Fatal("removed historical selector was not retained")
+		}
+		if _, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(left.Inspection.final, secretPath, left.Inspection.immutableLookup); present {
+			t.Fatal("removed token remains in the effective left tree")
+		}
+		differences, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+		if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != secretPath.String() {
+			t.Fatalf("historical removal diff = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+		}
+		if differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Right.Present || !differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged {
+			t.Fatalf("historical removal snapshots = %#v", differences[0])
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(differences[0].Left.YAML+differences[0].Right.YAML, "canary") {
+			t.Fatal("historical removal diff exposed a sensitive value")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("replaced historical value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		left := load("dynamic: {token: original-canary}\n", func(configuration *configuration, resolution *Resolution) error {
+			configuration.Dynamic["token"] = "replacement-canary"
+			resolution.Record(secretPath, ChangeNormalization, "replace token")
+			return nil
+		})
+		right := load("dynamic: {token: other-canary}\n", nil)
+		if !left.Inspection.secrets[secretPath.String()] {
+			t.Fatal("replaced historical selector was not retained")
+		}
+		differences, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+		if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != secretPath.String() {
+			t.Fatalf("historical replacement diff = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+		}
+		if !differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Right.Present || !differences[0].Left.Redacted ||
+			!differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged {
+			t.Fatalf("historical replacement snapshots = %#v", differences[0])
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(differences[0].Left.YAML+differences[0].Right.YAML, "canary") {
+			t.Fatal("historical replacement diff exposed a sensitive value")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestDiffReturnsSafeErrorsWithoutRecords(t *testing.T) {
+	valid := diffTestInspection(&document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "safe"})
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *Inspection
+	}{
+		{name: "nil left", right: valid},
+		{name: "nil right", left: valid},
+		{name: "missing final tree", left: &Inspection{}, right: valid},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			differences, err := Diff(test.left, test.right)
+			if differences != nil || err == nil || err != errDiffInspectionUnavailable || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "safe") {
+				t.Fatalf("differences, err = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDiffSerializationErrorDoesNotExposeWriterDetails(t *testing.T) {
+	err := writeDiffDocument(diffErrorWriter{}, &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "safe"})
+	if err != errDiffSnapshotUnavailable || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "CANARY") {
+		t.Fatalf("serialization error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+type diffErrorWriter struct{}
+
+func (diffErrorWriter) Write([]byte) (int, error) {
+	return 0, errors.New("CANARY_WRITER_ERROR")
+}

internal/engine/diff_sensitivity.go

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package engine
+
+type diffSensitivity struct {
+	prefixes pathPrefixIndex
+	pointers []string
+}
+
+func newDiffSensitivity(left, right map[string]bool) *diffSensitivity {
+	sensitivity := &diffSensitivity{}
+	seen := make(map[string]struct{}, len(left)+len(right))
+	for _, classifications := range []map[string]bool{left, right} {
+		for pointer, classified := range classifications {
+			if !classified {
+				continue
+			}
+			if _, found := seen[pointer]; found {
+				continue
+			}
+			seen[pointer] = struct{}{}
+			id := len(sensitivity.pointers)
+			sensitivity.pointers = append(sensitivity.pointers, pointer)
+			sensitivity.prefixes.insert(pointer, id)
+		}
+	}
+	return sensitivity
+}
+
+func (sensitivity *diffSensitivity) isSensitiveAtOrAbove(pointer string) bool {
+	if sensitivity == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	found := false
+	sensitivity.prefixes.visitAncestors(pointer, func(int) { found = true })
+	return found
+}
+
+func (sensitivity *diffSensitivity) hasStrictDescendant(pointer string) bool {
+	if sensitivity == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	found := false
+	sensitivity.prefixes.visitDescendants(pointer, func(id int) {
+		if sensitivity.pointers[id] != pointer {
+			found = true
+		}
+	})
+	return found
+}

internal/engine/diff_sensitivity_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"maps"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestDiffSensitivityCombinesClassificationsWithoutMutation(t *testing.T) {
+	left := map[string]bool{
+		"/a":                  true,
+		"/a/b":                true,
+		"/historical/removed": true,
+		"/cross~1key":         true,
+		"/literal~01slash":    true,
+		"/items/01":           true,
+		"/items/+1":           false,
+		"/false-left":         false,
+	}
+	right := map[string]bool{
+		"/a/b":         true,
+		"/right-only":  true,
+		"/false-right": false,
+	}
+	leftBefore, rightBefore := maps.Clone(left), maps.Clone(right)
+	sensitivity := newDiffSensitivity(left, right)
+
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		pointer string
+		want    bool
+	}{
+		{pointer: "/a", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/a/b", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/a/b/c", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/ab", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/ab/c", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/historical/removed", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/historical/removed/child", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/historical", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/right-only", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/false-left", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/false-right", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/cross~1key", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/cross/key", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/literal~01slash", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/literal~1slash", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/items/01", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/items/1", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/items/+1", want: false},
+	} {
+		if got := sensitivity.isSensitiveAtOrAbove(test.pointer); got != test.want {
+			t.Errorf("isSensitiveAtOrAbove(%q) = %v, want %v", test.pointer, got, test.want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		pointer string
+		want    bool
+	}{
+		{pointer: "", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/a", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/a/b", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/ab", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/historical", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/right-only", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/cross~1key", want: false},
+	} {
+		if got := sensitivity.hasStrictDescendant(test.pointer); got != test.want {
+			t.Errorf("hasStrictDescendant(%q) = %v, want %v", test.pointer, got, test.want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !maps.Equal(left, leftBefore) || !maps.Equal(right, rightBefore) {
+		t.Fatal("classification maps were modified")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDiffSensitivityDistinguishesRootAndEmptyKey(t *testing.T) {
+	root := newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"": true}, nil)
+	if !root.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("") || !root.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("/empty") ||
+		root.hasStrictDescendant("") {
+		t.Fatal("root classification did not remain distinct from strict descendants")
+	}
+
+	emptyKey := newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/": true}, nil)
+	if emptyKey.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("") || !emptyKey.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("/") ||
+		emptyKey.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("/other") || !emptyKey.hasStrictDescendant("") ||
+		emptyKey.hasStrictDescendant("/") {
+		t.Fatal("empty-key classification was treated as the root or an unrelated path")
+	}
+}

internal/engine/diff_snapshot.go

@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"sort"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+type pairedDiffSnapshot struct {
+	left             *document.Node
+	right            *document.Node
+	leftRedacted     bool
+	rightRedacted    bool
+	requiresFallback bool
+	hiddenChanged    bool
+}
+
+func preparePairedDiffSnapshot(left, right *document.Node, path Path, sensitivity *diffSensitivity) (pairedDiffSnapshot, bool) {
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffNodes(left, right, path, sensitivity)
+	if !supported || !paired.requiresFallback {
+		return paired, supported
+	}
+	return pairedDiffSnapshot{
+		left:          redactedDiffNode(left),
+		right:         redactedDiffNode(right),
+		leftRedacted:  left != nil,
+		rightRedacted: right != nil,
+		hiddenChanged: true,
+	}, true
+}
+
+func preparePairedDiffNodes(left, right *document.Node, path Path, sensitivity *diffSensitivity) (pairedDiffSnapshot, bool) {
+	if left == nil && right == nil {
+		return pairedDiffSnapshot{}, true
+	}
+	if sensitivity.isSensitiveAtOrAbove(path.String()) {
+		return pairedDiffSnapshot{
+			left:          redactedDiffNode(left),
+			right:         redactedDiffNode(right),
+			leftRedacted:  left != nil,
+			rightRedacted: right != nil,
+			hiddenChanged: !configurationValuesEqual(left, right),
+		}, true
+	}
+	if left != nil && right != nil && left.Kind != right.Kind {
+		if sensitivity.hasStrictDescendant(path.String()) {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{requiresFallback: true}, true
+		}
+		return pairedDiffSnapshot{left: left, right: right}, true
+	}
+
+	kind := document.Null
+	if left != nil {
+		kind = left.Kind
+	} else if right != nil {
+		kind = right.Kind
+	}
+	switch kind {
+	case document.Mapping:
+		return preparePairedDiffMapping(left, right, path, sensitivity)
+	case document.Sequence:
+		return preparePairedDiffSequence(left, right, path, sensitivity)
+	default:
+		return pairedDiffSnapshot{left: left, right: right}, true
+	}
+}
+
+func preparePairedDiffMapping(left, right *document.Node, path Path, sensitivity *diffSensitivity) (pairedDiffSnapshot, bool) {
+	leftEntries := diffMappingEntries(left)
+	rightEntries := diffMappingEntries(right)
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(leftEntries)+len(rightEntries))
+	seen := make(map[string]struct{}, len(leftEntries)+len(rightEntries))
+	for key := range leftEntries {
+		seen[key] = struct{}{}
+		keys = append(keys, key)
+	}
+	for key := range rightEntries {
+		if _, found := seen[key]; found {
+			continue
+		}
+		keys = append(keys, key)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+
+	var leftCopy, rightCopy *document.Node
+	if left != nil {
+		copy := *left
+		copy.Mapping = make([]document.Entry, 0, len(left.Mapping))
+		leftCopy = &copy
+	}
+	if right != nil {
+		copy := *right
+		copy.Mapping = make([]document.Entry, 0, len(right.Mapping))
+		rightCopy = &copy
+	}
+	redacted := pairedDiffSnapshot{}
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		leftEntry, leftPresent := leftEntries[key]
+		rightEntry, rightPresent := rightEntries[key]
+		var leftChild, rightChild *document.Node
+		if leftPresent {
+			leftChild = leftEntry.Value
+		}
+		if rightPresent {
+			rightChild = rightEntry.Value
+		}
+		child, supported := preparePairedDiffNodes(leftChild, rightChild, path.Key(key), sensitivity)
+		if !supported {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{}, false
+		}
+		if child.requiresFallback {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{requiresFallback: true}, true
+		}
+		if leftPresent {
+			leftEntry.Value = child.left
+			leftCopy.Mapping = append(leftCopy.Mapping, leftEntry)
+		}
+		if rightPresent {
+			rightEntry.Value = child.right
+			rightCopy.Mapping = append(rightCopy.Mapping, rightEntry)
+		}
+		redacted.leftRedacted = redacted.leftRedacted || child.leftRedacted
+		redacted.rightRedacted = redacted.rightRedacted || child.rightRedacted
+		redacted.hiddenChanged = redacted.hiddenChanged || child.hiddenChanged
+	}
+	redacted.left = leftCopy
+	redacted.right = rightCopy
+	return redacted, true
+}
+
+func preparePairedDiffSequence(left, right *document.Node, path Path, sensitivity *diffSensitivity) (pairedDiffSnapshot, bool) {
+	var leftCopy, rightCopy *document.Node
+	if left != nil {
+		copy := *left
+		copy.Sequence = make([]*document.Node, len(left.Sequence))
+		leftCopy = &copy
+	}
+	if right != nil {
+		copy := *right
+		copy.Sequence = make([]*document.Node, len(right.Sequence))
+		rightCopy = &copy
+	}
+	length := 0
+	if left != nil {
+		length = len(left.Sequence)
+	}
+	if right != nil && len(right.Sequence) > length {
+		length = len(right.Sequence)
+	}
+	result := pairedDiffSnapshot{left: leftCopy, right: rightCopy}
+	for index := 0; index < length; index++ {
+		var leftChild, rightChild *document.Node
+		if left != nil && index < len(left.Sequence) {
+			leftChild = left.Sequence[index]
+		}
+		if right != nil && index < len(right.Sequence) {
+			rightChild = right.Sequence[index]
+		}
+		child, supported := preparePairedDiffNodes(leftChild, rightChild, path.Index(index), sensitivity)
+		if !supported {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{}, false
+		}
+		if child.requiresFallback {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{requiresFallback: true}, true
+		}
+		if left != nil && index < len(left.Sequence) {
+			leftCopy.Sequence[index] = child.left
+		}
+		if right != nil && index < len(right.Sequence) {
+			rightCopy.Sequence[index] = child.right
+		}
+		result.leftRedacted = result.leftRedacted || child.leftRedacted
+		result.rightRedacted = result.rightRedacted || child.rightRedacted
+		result.hiddenChanged = result.hiddenChanged || child.hiddenChanged
+	}
+	return result, true
+}
+
+func diffMappingEntries(node *document.Node) map[string]document.Entry {
+	entries := make(map[string]document.Entry)
+	if node == nil {
+		return entries
+	}
+	for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+		entries[entry.Key] = entry
+	}
+	return entries
+}
+
+func redactedDiffNode(node *document.Node) *document.Node {
+	if node == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "[REDACTED]"}
+}

internal/engine/diff_snapshot_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,351 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotRedactsAlignedMappingFromEitherSide(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "credential: alpha\npublic: before\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "credential: bravo\npublic: after\n")
+	sensitivity := newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/credential": true}, nil)
+
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(left, right, Path{}, sensitivity)
+	if !supported {
+		t.Fatal("compatible mappings were not supported")
+	}
+	if !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("redacted flags = %v, %v; want true on both sides", paired.leftRedacted, paired.rightRedacted)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "credential"), "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "credential"), "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "public"), "before")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "public"), "after")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, left, "credential"), "alpha")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, right, "credential"), "bravo")
+	if paired.left == left || paired.right == right || &paired.left.Mapping[0] == &left.Mapping[0] {
+		t.Fatal("safe mapping containers or entries share mutable storage with retained trees")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotPreservesSequencePositionsAndLengths(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "items: [left-public, hidden, old-tail]\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "items: [right-public, hidden, old-tail, extra]\n")
+	sensitivity := newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/1": true})
+
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "items"), mappingValue(t, right, "items"), Keys("items"), sensitivity,
+	)
+	if !supported {
+		t.Fatal("compatible sequences were not supported")
+	}
+	if !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("redacted flags = %v, %v; want true on both sides", paired.leftRedacted, paired.rightRedacted)
+	}
+	if len(paired.left.Sequence) != 3 || len(paired.right.Sequence) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence lengths = %d, %d; want 3, 4", len(paired.left.Sequence), len(paired.right.Sequence))
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left.Sequence[0], "left-public")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right.Sequence[0], "right-public")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left.Sequence[1], "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right.Sequence[1], "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right.Sequence[3], "extra")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, left, "items").Sequence[1], "hidden")
+	if &paired.left.Sequence[0] == &mappingValue(t, left, "items").Sequence[0] {
+		t.Fatal("safe sequence shares mutable storage with retained tree")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotMasksSensitiveDescendantsOfAbsentSubtrees(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right string
+		absentSide  string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:       "removed subtree",
+			left:       "removed: {token: old-secret, public: retained}\n",
+			right:      "other: value\n",
+			absentSide: "right",
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "added subtree",
+			left:       "other: value\n",
+			right:      "added: {token: new-secret, public: retained}\n",
+			absentSide: "left",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", test.left)
+			right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", test.right)
+			paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+				mappingValueIfPresent(left, "removed", "added"),
+				mappingValueIfPresent(right, "removed", "added"),
+				Keys("subtree"),
+				newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/subtree/token": true}, nil),
+			)
+			if !supported {
+				t.Fatal("compatible subtree and absence were not supported")
+			}
+			if test.absentSide == "left" {
+				if paired.left != nil || paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+					t.Fatalf("paired absence/redaction = %#v", paired)
+				}
+				assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+				assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "public"), "retained")
+			} else {
+				if paired.right != nil || paired.rightRedacted || !paired.leftRedacted {
+					t.Fatalf("paired absence/redaction = %#v", paired)
+				}
+				assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+				assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "public"), "retained")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotMasksSelectedRootAndContainer(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *document.Node
+		path        Path
+		selector    string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "root",
+			left:     parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "token: old\n"),
+			right:    parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "token: new\n"),
+			path:     Path{},
+			selector: "",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "container",
+			left:     parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "group: {public: old}\n"),
+			right:    parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "group: {public: new}\n"),
+			path:     Keys("group"),
+			selector: "/group",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+				test.left, test.right, test.path,
+				newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{test.selector: true}, nil),
+			)
+			if !supported {
+				t.Fatal("selected nodes were not supported")
+			}
+			if !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+				t.Fatalf("redacted flags = %v, %v; want true on both sides", paired.leftRedacted, paired.rightRedacted)
+			}
+			assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "[REDACTED]")
+			assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "[REDACTED]")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotDoesNotInterpretMarkerLookingInput(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "label: '[REDACTED]'\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "label: '[REDACTED]'\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "label"), mappingValue(t, right, "label"), Keys("label"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(nil, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported {
+		t.Fatal("ordinary scalar values were not supported")
+	}
+	if paired.leftRedacted || paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("redacted flags = %v, %v; want false", paired.leftRedacted, paired.rightRedacted)
+	}
+	if paired.left != mappingValue(t, left, "label") || paired.right != mappingValue(t, right, "label") {
+		t.Fatal("unselected scalar nodes should remain borrowed immutable nodes")
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "[REDACTED]")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotMasksSensitiveStructuralReplacements(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right string
+		path        Path
+		selector    string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "mapping to scalar",
+			left:     "changed: {token: old-secret, public: old}\n",
+			right:    "changed: new-scalar\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mapping to scalar with historical-only descendant",
+			left:     "changed: {public: old}\n",
+			right:    "changed: new-scalar\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/removed/secret",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "scalar to mapping",
+			left:     "changed: old-scalar\n",
+			right:    "changed: {token: new-secret, public: new}\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mapping to sequence with numeric paths",
+			left:     "changed: {'0': {token: old-secret}}\n",
+			right:    "changed: [{token: new-secret}]\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/0/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "sequence to mapping with numeric paths",
+			left:     "changed: [{token: old-secret}]\n",
+			right:    "changed: {'0': {token: new-secret}}\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/0/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "null to container",
+			left:     "changed: null\n",
+			right:    "changed: {token: new-secret}\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "container to null",
+			left:     "changed: {token: old-secret}\n",
+			right:    "changed: null\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/token",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			leftRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", test.left)
+			rightRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", test.right)
+			left := mappingValue(t, leftRoot, test.path.segments[0].key)
+			right := mappingValue(t, rightRoot, test.path.segments[0].key)
+			paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+				left, right, test.path, newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{test.selector: true}),
+			)
+			assertWholeRegionFallback(t, paired, supported, left, right)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotMasksOriginalRegionForNestedSequenceMismatch(t *testing.T) {
+	leftRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "items: [{branch: {token: old-secret, public: old}}]\n")
+	rightRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "items: [{branch: new-scalar}]\n")
+	left := mappingValue(t, leftRoot, "items")
+	right := mappingValue(t, rightRoot, "items")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Keys("items"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/0/branch/token": true}),
+	)
+	assertWholeRegionFallback(t, paired, supported, left, right)
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotKeepsPublicScalarsWithHistoricalDescendants(t *testing.T) {
+	leftRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "changed: before\n")
+	rightRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "changed: after\n")
+	left := mappingValue(t, leftRoot, "changed")
+	right := mappingValue(t, rightRoot, "changed")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Keys("changed"), newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/changed/removed/secret": true}, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported || paired.leftRedacted || paired.rightRedacted || paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("public scalar replacement = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "before")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "after")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotKeepsPublicContentAcrossAbsence(t *testing.T) {
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "branch: scalar\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		nil, right, Keys("added"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/added/branch/secret": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || paired.left != nil || paired.leftRedacted || paired.rightRedacted || paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("public addition presence/redaction = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "branch"), "scalar")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotPreservesPublicReplacementBesideSensitiveSibling(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "child: before\n")
+	right := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "after"}
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "child"), right, Keys("public"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/private/token": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || paired.left != mappingValue(t, left, "child") || paired.right != right || paired.leftRedacted || paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("unrelated classification changed public replacement: %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotTargetsRedactionAcrossAbsence(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "items: []\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "items: [{token: new-secret, public: visible}]\n")
+	leftItems := mappingValue(t, left, "items")
+	rightItems := mappingValue(t, right, "items")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		leftItems, rightItems, Keys("items"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/0/token": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || paired.left == nil || paired.right == nil || paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("targeted sequence redaction = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	if len(paired.left.Sequence) != 0 || len(paired.right.Sequence) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence lengths = %d, %d; want 0, 1", len(paired.left.Sequence), len(paired.right.Sequence))
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right.Sequence[0], "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right.Sequence[0], "public"), "visible")
+}
+
+func assertWholeRegionFallback(t *testing.T, paired pairedDiffSnapshot, supported bool, left, right *document.Node) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if !supported {
+		t.Fatal("sensitive incompatible shape was not handled")
+	}
+	if !paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatal("fallback for a changed reported region did not mark hidden change")
+	}
+	if (left == nil) != (paired.left == nil) || (right == nil) != (paired.right == nil) {
+		t.Fatalf("fallback changed root presence: %#v", paired)
+	}
+	if left != nil {
+		assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "[REDACTED]")
+		if !paired.leftRedacted {
+			t.Fatal("present left region was not marked redacted")
+		}
+	}
+	if right != nil {
+		assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "[REDACTED]")
+		if !paired.rightRedacted {
+			t.Fatal("present right region was not marked redacted")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func mappingValueIfPresent(node *document.Node, keys ...string) *document.Node {
+	if node == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			if entry.Key == key {
+				return entry.Value
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func assertDiffStringNode(t *testing.T, node *document.Node, want string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if node == nil || node.Kind != document.String || node.Text != want {
+		t.Fatalf("node = %#v, want string %q", node, want)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/diff_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestPrepareDiffRegionsUsesCanonicalConfigurationComparison(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		left  string
+		right string
+		want  []expectedDiffRegion
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "mapping order is ignored for equal values",
+			left:  "first: 1\nsecond: true\n",
+			right: "second: true\nfirst: 1\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "addition removal null and empty values",
+			left:  "removed: null\n",
+			right: "added: null\nempty_map: {}\nempty_sequence: []\n",
+			want: []expectedDiffRegion{
+				{path: "/added", rightKind: document.Null, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/empty_map", rightKind: document.Mapping, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/empty_sequence", rightKind: document.Sequence, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/removed", leftKind: document.Null, leftPresent: true},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "scalar kinds and atomic sequences",
+			left:  "scalar: 1\nitems: [one, two]\n",
+			right: "scalar: '1'\nitems: [one, changed]\n",
+			want: []expectedDiffRegion{
+				{path: "/items", leftKind: document.Sequence, rightKind: document.Sequence, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/scalar", leftKind: document.Number, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "escaped empty and numeric mapping keys sort by pointer",
+			left:  `"": old` + "\n'0': old\n'01': old\n'a/b': old\n'a~b': old\n",
+			right: `"": new` + "\n'0': new\n'01': new\n'a/b': new\n'a~b': new\n",
+			want: []expectedDiffRegion{
+				{path: "/", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/0", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/01", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/a~0b", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/a~1b", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			leftRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", test.left)
+			rightRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", test.right)
+			regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(leftRoot), diffTestInspection(rightRoot))
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if len(regions) != len(test.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("regions = %#v, want %#v", regions, test.want)
+			}
+			for index, want := range test.want {
+				region := regions[index]
+				if region.path.String() != want.path {
+					t.Fatalf("region[%d].path = %q, want %q", index, region.path.String(), want.path)
+				}
+				assertDiffRegionNode(t, "left", region.left, want.leftPresent, want.leftKind)
+				assertDiffRegionNode(t, "right", region.right, want.rightPresent, want.rightKind)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrepareDiffRegionsHandlesRootReplacementAndBorrowsNodes(t *testing.T) {
+	leftRoot := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "before"}
+	rightRoot := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Mapping: []document.Entry{{
+		Key: "value", Value: &document.Node{Kind: document.Number, Text: "1"},
+	}}}
+	regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(leftRoot), diffTestInspection(rightRoot))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(regions) != 1 || regions[0].path.String() != "" || regions[0].left != leftRoot || regions[0].right != rightRoot {
+		t.Fatalf("root region = %#v", regions)
+	}
+
+	leftRoot = parseCompositionDocument(t, "left-child", "value: before\n")
+	rightRoot = parseCompositionDocument(t, "right-child", "value: after\n")
+	regions, err = prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(leftRoot), diffTestInspection(rightRoot))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(regions) != 1 || regions[0].left != mappingValue(t, leftRoot, "value") || regions[0].right != mappingValue(t, rightRoot, "value") {
+		t.Fatalf("child nodes were not borrowed from the frozen trees: %#v", regions)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrepareDiffRegionsRejectsUnavailableInspections(t *testing.T) {
+	valid := diffTestInspection(&document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "safe"})
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *Inspection
+	}{
+		{name: "nil left", left: nil, right: valid},
+		{name: "nil right", left: valid, right: nil},
+		{name: "missing left tree", left: &Inspection{}, right: valid},
+		{name: "missing right tree", left: valid, right: &Inspection{}},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(test.left, test.right)
+			if err == nil || regions != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("regions, err = %#v, %v", regions, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+type expectedDiffRegion struct {
+	path                      string
+	leftKind, rightKind       document.Kind
+	leftPresent, rightPresent bool
+}
+
+func diffTestInspection(root *document.Node) *Inspection {
+	return &Inspection{final: root, immutableLookup: buildDocumentLookup(root)}
+}
+
+func assertDiffRegionNode(t *testing.T, side string, node *document.Node, wantPresent bool, wantKind document.Kind) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if !wantPresent {
+		if node != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s node = %#v, want absence", side, node)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+	if node == nil || node.Kind != wantKind {
+		t.Fatalf("%s node = %#v, want kind %v", side, node, wantKind)
+	}
+}