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Comparing diagram versions (Scale)

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Added in eventcatalog@3.3.0
EventCatalog Scale Feature

Diagram comparison is available exclusively with the EventCatalog Scale license. This feature enables side-by-side visualization of different diagram versions.

The diagram comparison feature allows you to view two versions of a diagram side-by-side, making it easy to understand architectural changes and evolution over time.

When to use diagram comparison​

Diagram comparison is valuable for:

  • Migration planning - Compare current state vs. target state architectures
  • Change reviews - Visualize what changed between architectural iterations
  • Documentation reviews - Ensure diagrams accurately reflect system changes
  • Team communication - Show stakeholders the architectural progression
  • Historical analysis - Understand why architectural decisions were made

Accessing diagram comparison​

When viewing a diagram that has multiple versions, you'll see a "Compare diagram versions" button in the header (only available with Scale license).

Compare diagram versions

Steps to compare​

  1. Navigate to any diagram page that has multiple versions
  2. Click the "Compare diagram versions" button in the header
  3. Select which two versions you want to compare
  4. View both diagrams side-by-side with synchronized scrolling

Example use cases​

Comparing migration states​

Compare your current monolithic architecture with your target microservices architecture:

Version 1.0.0 (Current State):

  • Monolithic application
  • Single database
  • Tightly coupled components

Version 2.0.0 (Target State):

  • Event-driven microservices
  • Database per service
  • Kafka event backbone

Viewing these side-by-side helps teams understand the scope of the migration and communicate the changes to stakeholders.

Tracking architectural evolution​

Compare different iterations of your architecture as it evolves:

Version 1.0.0:

  • Initial MVP architecture
  • 3 core services

Version 1.5.0:

  • Added caching layer
  • Introduced API gateway
  • Split user service

Version 2.0.0:

  • Full event-driven architecture
  • 12 microservices
  • Observability platform

Reviewing sequence flow changes​

Compare how a business flow has changed between versions:

Version 1.0.0 - Synchronous Order Flow: Shows direct HTTP calls between services

Version 2.0.0 - Event-Driven Order Flow: Shows asynchronous event-based communication

This makes it clear how the system's behavior and coupling has evolved.

Comparison UI features​

The comparison view provides:

  • Side-by-side layout - Both diagrams displayed simultaneously
  • Version labels - Clear indication of which version is shown on each side
  • Synchronized scrolling - Scroll both diagrams together (optional)
  • Full content - All markdown content and diagrams from both versions
  • Independent navigation - Switch versions independently on each side

Compare diagram versions

Best practices​

Prepare diagrams for comparison​

When creating diagrams you plan to compare:

  1. Use consistent formatting - Keep similar elements in the same positions when possible
  2. Highlight changes - Use annotations or callouts to draw attention to differences
  3. Add context - Include notes explaining what changed and why
  4. Match diagram types - Compare sequence diagrams with sequence diagrams, architecture diagrams with architecture diagrams

Document what changed​

In your diagram content, call out the key differences:

Version 2.0.0 diagram with change notes
---
id: order-flow
name: Order Processing Flow
version: 2.0.0
summary: Event-driven order processing (updated for async architecture)
---

## What Changed in v2.0.0

Compared to version 1.0.0, this flow now uses event-driven architecture:

- **Removed**: Synchronous HTTP calls between services
- **Added**: Kafka event stream for service communication
- **Changed**: Order Service now publishes OrderCreated event instead of calling downstream services directly
- **Benefit**: Improved resilience and scalability

_```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
    Customer->>OrderService: Place Order
    OrderService->>Kafka: Publish OrderCreated
    Kafka->>InventoryService: OrderCreated Event
    Kafka->>PaymentService: OrderCreated Event
```_