# compare
**Compare two PRs side-by-side to help decide which to review first.**
When you have multiple PRs competing for attention, `compare` gives you a head-to-head comparison based on age, size, complexity, and priority score.
## When to Use
- "Should I review #123 or #456 first?"
- Sprint planning: prioritize based on urgency and effort
- Code review load balancing: understand which PR is "cheaper" to review
## Synopsis
```bash
prctrl compare <PR1> <PR2> [OPTIONS]
```
## Options
| `<PR1>` | First PR to compare (format: `repo#123` or just `123`) | Required |
| `<PR2>` | Second PR to compare (format: `repo#123` or just `123`) | Required |
| `-d, --detailed` | Show detailed comparison including language breakdown | `false` |
| `-P, --priority` | Show priority scores for each PR (1-5 stars based on age and size) | `false` |
| `--json` | Output as JSON for scripting | `false` |
## PR Format
PRs can be specified in two ways:
- **Full format**: `repo#123` (e.g., `frontend#4821`)
- **Short format**: `123` (uses first repo from config)
## Examples
```bash
# Compare two PRs in the same repo
prctrl compare 123 456
# Compare PRs across different repos
prctrl compare frontend#4821 backend#1024
# Detailed comparison with language breakdown
prctrl compare 123 456 --detailed
# Show priority scores with stars
prctrl compare 123 456 --priority
# JSON output for automation
prctrl compare 123 456 --json
```
## Output
```
⚖️ PR Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
#123 #456
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Author alice bob
Age 5 days 2 days
Size +340/-25 +1200/-200
Files 12 8
Draft No Yes
Priority 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
📊 Summary:
• Age: #456 wins → (newer)
• Size: #123 wins → (smaller)
• Priority: #123 wins → (higher score)
💻 Languages:
PR #123: TypeScript (8), JSON (3), Markdown (1)
PR #456: Go (5), YAML (2), Shell (1)
🔗 Links:
PR #123: https://github.com/myorg/frontend/pull/123
PR #456: https://github.com/myorg/backend/pull/456
```
## Comparison Factors
| **Age** | Newer PR | Less time invested = less pressure |
| **Size** | Smaller PR | Fewer lines = faster to review |
| **Priority** | Higher score | Already calculated for urgency |
## Tips
- Use `prctrl top` to find your highest-priority PRs first
- Combine with `browse` to open compared PRs directly
- For complex decisions, use `--detailed` to see language breakdown
- Use `--priority` to quickly see urgency scores as visual stars
- Consider draft PRs lower priority (they're still in progress)
## Related Commands
- [`top`](./top.md) — Show highest priority PRs
- [`focus`](./focus.md) — Show the single most urgent PR
- [`summary`](./summary.md) — Quick one-line overview