I made a small tool for reviewing Godot add-on updates when all you have is the old ZIP and the new ZIP.
Godot Addon Check reads both archives directly, lists changed files, offers bounded text previews, and saves an HTML or JSON report. You do not need to enable the add-on in Godot to get the report. It runs locally, with a portable Windows CLI and a Python package. No account or API key is needed.
In a recorded GUT 9.6.0 → 9.6.1 source-ZIP comparison, it found 212 unchanged files, 36 changed files, and 9 files read only in the new archive. That gives you a starting list for reviewing the update.
addoncheck old.zip new.zip --strip-wrapper --html upgrade.html
Use --strip-wrapper only to align a unique outer directory on each side, and check that the inputs belong to the same add-on. Exported source text is opt-in with --include-source.
Free/MIT, early alpha. It does not tell you whether an update is safe or compatible, and it can miss dynamic/native behavior. If Git already handles this comfortably for you, it may not add much. The recorded checks are not an independent audit or proof of time savings.
The project was developed with substantial AI coding assistance, including Codex, across implementation, tests, and documentation. The application itself does not call an AI service.
Source, downloads and validation notes: GitHub - twtisy/godot-addon-check: Compare two Godot add-on ZIPs before updating, without unpacking or running them. · GitHub
If it fits your workflow, feel free to use it. Bugs and suggestions can go in GitHub Issues.