dif.sh

About dif.sh

dif.sh is an open-source feature flagging system where each flag lives as a markdown file inside your repository. The tool is built specifically for coding agents - it installs with one command, requires no account or API key, and generates a context.json file so the agent knows what flags exist, what's been removed, and what's already been tried. A/B tests are defined in the same markdown files and can wait until you have enough traffic to run them.

Review

dif.sh takes a different approach to feature flags by keeping them in version control as markdown files rather than behind a SaaS dashboard. The self-hosted version is free and works without any signup. A cloud tier exists for cross-project visibility and automated flag proposals, though those changes still come back through pull requests - Git remains the source of truth.

Key Features

• Markdown-based flags in-repo: Every flag and experiment is a single .md file that gets reviewed in a PR like any other code change. The file records what the flag does, why it exists, and what decision was made.
• Coding agent integration: Running dif init writes instructions to AGENTS.md and generates a context.json file on each build. Agents read this at session start, so they know which flags are live and avoid re-proposing already-tested experiments.
• Surface area learning logs: During setup, you define product surface areas that function as running logs of what each screen has taught you. Concluded experiments and inactive flags store context and product decisions in these logs.
• A/B testing in the same files: Experiments are defined alongside regular flags. You can run simple UI variations or more complex tests, and Dif Cloud can read the .md experiment files to display exposures, lift, confidence intervals, and a ready-to-conclude flag.
• Event tracking flexibility: You can send events to your own analytics platform, or let Dif Cloud read the results and write the decision back into the flag file when an experiment concludes.

Pricing and Value

The self-hosted, open-source version of dif.sh is free. Dif Cloud is a paid tier that provides a view across projects and can propose flag changes, though those proposals still arrive as pull requests. The launch included a 50% discount on Dif Cloud for three months. Exact pricing for the cloud tier beyond that promotional period is not publicly listed.

Pros

• Flags live in the repo as plain markdown files, so they survive vendor shutdowns and are reviewable in the same PR workflow as the rest of the codebase.
• No account creation or API key setup - coding agents can install and use dif.sh without hitting the friction that typically stalls them on other flag tools.
• The context.json file and AGENTS.md integration reduce the chance an agent will re-propose experiments that already ran or concluded.
• Self-hosted version is genuinely functional on its own, with no cloud dependency for core flag evaluation.
• A/B test definitions can sit dormant in the repo until you have sufficient traffic, without requiring a separate experiment setup process.

Cons

• If your team relies on a visual dashboard for real-time flag toggling, the markdown-in-repo workflow will feel slower than tools with instant UI-based kill switches.
• The cloud tier's analytics and cross-project views are not available in the free self-hosted version, so teams wanting those features must adopt the paid tier.
• This tool is not well suited for teams that don't use coding agents or PR-based workflows - if you manage flags entirely through a point-and-click admin panel, dif.sh's file-based approach adds steps you may not want.

dif.sh makes the most sense for teams already using coding agents and PR-based workflows who want their feature flag history to live alongside the code it controls. It's also a practical fit for open-source projects or small teams that need flagging without adding another SaaS account. Teams that depend on instant dashboard toggles or non-developer flag management will find the workflow less accommodating.

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