JSON Payload Delta compares saved JSON files and writes a review note

Name: JSON Payload Delta
Author: theluckystrike

Report changed JSON values in Markdown.

MIT · no telemetry · core features free

A comparison preview shows a changed value at an escaped JSON Pointer path. — Open larger

version: 1.1.0
released: 2026-10-21
downloads: 23
review: Passed
health: Excellent
license: MIT
listed for: Desktop, Mobile
obsidian: 1.13.4 or later

The README reports desktop checks of the local report flow. Real mobile devices, Linux, Windows, live sign-in, payments and cloud sync conflicts were not tested.

Directory facts fetched 2026-10-23 07:28 UTC from community.obsidian.md/users/theluckystrike.

About JSON Payload Delta

You review saved responses, configuration changes or data exports alongside your project notes.

Choose an old JSON file and a new one from your vault. JSON Payload Delta previews added, removed and changed values before you create a separate Markdown report.

Object key order doesn't affect the result. Arrays use matching indices, so inserting an item can produce changes at later positions.

Choose local sources, preview changed values, and open a report

Free features

Choose two local files

Choose old and new files from the vault lists, then select Preview changes. Strict JSON can have an object, array, string, number, boolean or null at its root.

The dialog has old and new sample JSON files selected. — Open larger

Read paths and values

Each row shows a JSON Pointer path, change type, and old and new values. Missing fields differ from null. Array swaps appear as changed indices rather than moves.

Save a new report

Create report writes JSON Delta.md at the vault root with links to both sources. Existing names get a numbered alternative. The report records your last preview and keeps values in fenced text blocks.

A Markdown report shows source links and literal JSON values. — Open larger

Saved file pairs and ignored pointer paths need Pro; manual comparison and report creation are free.

Pro features

Pro costs $5 a month or $15 one time through GitHub Sponsors. One sponsorship turns on Pro in every plugin that has it.

Save named pairs Pro

Save up to 50 named profiles containing your selected source paths. Saving an existing name replaces that profile. After moving a source, choose its new path and save again.

A saved release payload pair is selected for another comparison. — Open larger

Ignore pointer paths Pro

Save up to 100 JSON Pointer paths per profile, then select the profile to apply them. A rule omits a matching path and children reached during comparison. It cannot mask part of an added, removed or replaced parent value.

Open larger

See how Pro works

Set up JSON Payload Delta

needs

Obsidian 1.13.4 or later

steps

Put two JSON files in your vault and run Compare JSON files from the command palette.
Choose the old and new sources.
Select Preview changes and review the rows, especially array indices after an insertion.
Select Create report to open a new Markdown note.

If the app can't find a new plugin yet, try again later. Obsidian says a plugin that passes the review shows in the app within 24 hours.

How to compare JSON files in Obsidian

Known limits of JSON Payload Delta

The plugin accepts strict JSON, without comments, trailing commas, JSON5 or YAML.
Each source is limited to 2 MiB of UTF-8 text and 64 nested containers.
The preview and report show at most 1,000 changes and mark excess results as incomplete.
Array items are compared by index; the plugin does not detect moves.
Repeated object keys keep the last value, following JSON.parse.
Nonfinite numbers and unsafe integers are rejected; decimal values use JavaScript floating point numbers.
Reports record the last preview and do not update after source edits.
Saved file pairs use paths, so moved or renamed sources require you to save the profile again.
Profiles support at most 50 named pairs, 80 characters per name and 100 ignored pointer paths per pair.
Ignore rules cannot mask parts of an added, removed or replaced parent value.
Linux, Windows, real mobile devices, cloud sync conflicts and third party Markdown renderers were not tested.
Live GitHub sign-in and payments were not tested.

Questions about JSON Payload Delta

Can I compare JSON with comments or trailing commas?

No, the parser accepts strict JSON. JSON5 and YAML are outside this version.

What happens when the comparison is too large?

Each source is limited to 2 MiB of UTF-8 text and 64 nested containers. The preview stops at 1,000 changes and marks excess results as incomplete.

Will the plugin update a report after a source edit?

A report records the last preview. Compare again to create a new snapshot; the plugin doesn't patch your JSON files.

Network use

Before you select Sign in with GitHub, the plugin makes no network requests. Sign-in sends its public client ID, device codes and read:user scope to github.com; later checks send an authenticated sponsorship query to api.github.com. Checks request your tier and total payment, reuse success for seven days, and send no note content, file names or vault data.

Read the full network disclosure