Default reviews to worktree changes

README.md

@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ Run from a Git checkout:
 npx diffsplain
 ```
 
-The command opens a local page and compares the checkout with its default
-branch. It starts at port `2299` and uses the next free port when needed. You
+The command opens a local page showing staged, unstaged, and untracked changes
+against `HEAD`, the same as `--worktree`. It starts at port `2299` and uses the
+next free port when needed. You
 need Node.js 22.13 or newer and a signed-in Codex, Claude, Copilot, Cursor, or
 OpenCode CLI. Set a default with `diffsplain config agent NAME`, or choose one
 run with `--agent NAME`. If neither is set, an interactive terminal lists

docs/content/cli.mdx

@@ -7,9 +7,8 @@ sidebar:
 
 ## Current checkout
 
-With no target, Diffsplain compares the current checkout with its default
-branch. The result includes local commits plus staged, unstaged, and untracked
-work.
+With no target, Diffsplain shows staged, unstaged, and untracked changes
+against `HEAD`, the same as `--worktree`. Already committed changes are excluded.
 
 ```sh
 npx diffsplain
@@ -62,7 +61,8 @@ npx diffsplain \
 
 ## Worktree changes
 
-Use `--worktree` to show only tracked and untracked changes against `HEAD`:
+Use `--worktree` explicitly to select the default review of tracked and
+untracked changes against `HEAD`:
 
 ```sh
 npx diffsplain --worktree

docs/content/data.mdx

@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ See the [CLI guide](/cli/) for all review commands.
 
 | Target | Comparison | Workspace changes | Network and cache | Refresh |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
-| Current checkout (no target flag) | Default-branch merge base through the current checkout | Local commits, staged, unstaged, and untracked files | May query the remote to find its default branch; does not fetch | Local state every two seconds |
-| `--worktree` | `HEAD` through the current worktree | Staged, unstaged, and untracked files; excludes prior commits | No Git network | Local state every two seconds |
+| Current checkout (no target flag), or `--worktree` | `HEAD` through the current worktree | Staged, unstaged, and untracked files; excludes prior commits | No Git network | Local state every two seconds |
 | `--base REF` | The resolved base commit through the current worktree | Later commits, staged, unstaged, and untracked files | No Git network | Local state every two seconds |
 | `--base REF --head REF` | The two resolved commit trees | None | No Git network | Moved refs every two seconds |
 | `--branch NAME` | Remote base/head merge base through the remote branch head | None | Fetches into the Diffsplain bare cache | Remote data every 30 seconds |

docs/content/index.mdx

@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ service.
 npx diffsplain
 ```
 
-The command compares the current checkout with its default branch and opens a
-local page. It starts at port `2299` and uses the next free port when needed.
+The command opens a local page showing staged, unstaged, and untracked changes
+against `HEAD`, the same as `--worktree`. It starts at port `2299` and uses the
+next free port when needed.
 
 For a pull request:
 

scripts/cli-args.mjs

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ const hostOption = cliOptions['--host'];
 
 export const helpText = `Usage: diffsplain [REPO] [options]
 
-Show the current checkout against its default branch:
+Show worktree changes against HEAD (default):
   diffsplain
 
 Commands:
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ export function parseCliArgs(
   if (branch) commonArgs.push('--branch', branch);
   if (worktree) commonArgs.push('--worktree');
   if (!pullRequest && !branch && !worktree && !base && !head) {
-    commonArgs.push('--checkout');
+    commonArgs.push('--worktree');
   }
   if (base) commonArgs.push('--base', base);
   if (head) commonArgs.push('--head', head);

tests/cli-args.test.mjs

@@ -29,18 +29,34 @@ test('leaves agent selection open when no agent is passed', () => {
   assert.equal(parsed.portWasPassed, false);
   assert.equal(parsed.host, 'localhost');
   assert.equal(parsed.browserEnabled, true);
-  assert.deepEqual(parsed.feedArgs, ['--repo', cwd, '--checkout']);
+  assert.deepEqual(parsed.feedArgs, ['--repo', cwd, '--worktree']);
   assert.deepEqual(parsed.agentArgs, [
     '--repo',
     cwd,
-    '--checkout',
+    '--worktree',
     '--batch-size',
     '12',
     '--jobs',
     '3',
   ]);
 });
 
+test('defaults to the same review as --worktree when no target is supplied', () => {
+  for (const args of [
+    [],
+    ['--no-agent', '--no-browser'],
+    ['--agent', 'claude'],
+    ['--repo', '/another/repo'],
+  ]) {
+    const context = { callerDirectory: cwd, pathExists: missing };
+    assert.deepEqual(
+      parseCliArgs(args, context),
+      parseCliArgs([...args, '--worktree'], context),
+      args.join(' '),
+    );
+  }
+});
+
 test('passes no-checkout-access only to agent notes', () => {
   const parsed = parseCliArgs(['--no-checkout-access'], {
     callerDirectory: cwd,
@@ -74,6 +90,8 @@ test('keeps repeated exclusion rules in encounter order for both builders', () =
 
 test('forwards flag-shaped exclusion patterns as values for both builders', () => {
   const parsed = parseCliArgs([
+    '--base',
+    'main',
     '--exclude',
     'private/**',
     '--exclude=--help',