diff --git a/src/vs/platform/editor/common/editor.ts b/src/vs/platform/editor/common/editor.ts
index 05962f6e99d..bc66534184a 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/editor/common/editor.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/editor/common/editor.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,34 @@ export interface IResourceInput {
 	options?: ITextEditorOptions;
 }
 
+export interface IResourceDiffInput {
+
+	/**
+	 * The left hand side URI to open inside a diff editor.
+	 */
+	leftResource: URI;
+
+	/**
+	 * The right hand side URI to open inside a diff editor.
+	 */
+	rightResource: URI;
+
+	/**
+	 * Label to show for the diff editor
+	 */
+	label?: string;
+
+	/**
+	 * Description to show for the diff editor
+	 */
+	description?: string;
+
+	/**
+	 * Optional options to use when opening the text diff input.
+	 */
+	options?: ITextEditorOptions;
+}
+
 export interface IEditorControl {
 
 }
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/common/editor.ts b/src/vs/workbench/common/editor.ts
index 91c1edc6a6d..421c27802ca 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/common/editor.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/common/editor.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import types = require('vs/base/common/types');
 import URI from 'vs/base/common/uri';
 import { IDisposable, dispose } from 'vs/base/common/lifecycle';
 import { IEditor, ICommonCodeEditor, IEditorViewState, IEditorOptions as ICodeEditorOptions, IModel } from 'vs/editor/common/editorCommon';
-import { IEditorInput, IEditorModel, IEditorOptions, ITextEditorOptions, IResourceInput, Position } from 'vs/platform/editor/common/editor';
+import { IEditorInput, IEditorModel, IEditorOptions, ITextEditorOptions, IResourceInput, IResourceDiffInput, Position } from 'vs/platform/editor/common/editor';
 import { IWorkspaceContextService } from 'vs/platform/workspace/common/workspace';
 import { IEditorGroupService } from 'vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService';
 import { SyncDescriptor, AsyncDescriptor } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/descriptors';
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ export class TextEditorOptions extends EditorOptions {
 	private editorViewState: IEditorViewState;
 	private editorOptions: ICodeEditorOptions;
 
-	public static from(input: IResourceInput): TextEditorOptions {
+	public static from(input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput): TextEditorOptions {
 		let options: TextEditorOptions = null;
 		if (input && input.options) {
 			if (input.options.selection || input.options.forceOpen || input.options.revealIfVisible || input.options.preserveFocus || input.options.pinned || input.options.inactive || typeof input.options.index === 'number') {
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/actions.ts b/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/actions.ts
index 469d4cc00ce..7784c60703d 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/actions.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/actions.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@ import { Action } from 'vs/base/common/actions';
 import { IWindowIPCService } from 'vs/workbench/services/window/electron-browser/windowService';
 import { IWindowService, IWindowsService } from 'vs/platform/windows/common/windows';
 import { IWorkbenchEditorService } from 'vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService';
-import { EditorInput } from 'vs/workbench/common/editor';
-import { DiffEditorInput } from 'vs/workbench/common/editor/diffEditorInput';
 import nls = require('vs/nls');
 import product from 'vs/platform/node/product';
 import pkg from 'vs/platform/node/package';
@@ -608,18 +606,13 @@ export class KeybindingsReferenceAction extends Action {
 
 CommandsRegistry.registerCommand('_workbench.diff', function (accessor: ServicesAccessor, args: [URI, URI, string, string]) {
 	const editorService = accessor.get(IWorkbenchEditorService);
-	let [left, right, label, description] = args;
+	let [leftResource, rightResource, label, description] = args;
 
 	if (!label) {
-		label = nls.localize('diffLeftRightLabel', "{0} ⟷ {1}", left.toString(true), right.toString(true));
+		label = nls.localize('diffLeftRightLabel', "{0} ⟷ {1}", leftResource.toString(true), rightResource.toString(true));
 	}
 
-	return TPromise.join([editorService.createInput({ resource: left }), editorService.createInput({ resource: right })]).then(inputs => {
-		const [left, right] = inputs;
-
-		const diff = new DiffEditorInput(label, description, <EditorInput>left, <EditorInput>right);
-		return editorService.openEditor(diff);
-	}).then(() => {
+	return editorService.openEditor({ leftResource, rightResource, label, description }).then(() => {
 		return void 0;
 	});
 });
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/fileActions.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/fileActions.ts
index cb0cd9b643c..ec27cdc274c 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/fileActions.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/fileActions.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ import { IWorkspaceContextService } from 'vs/platform/workspace/common/workspace
 import { Keybinding, KeyMod, KeyCode } from 'vs/base/common/keyCodes';
 import { Selection } from 'vs/editor/common/core/selection';
 import { getCodeEditor } from 'vs/editor/common/services/codeEditorService';
-import { ICommandService } from 'vs/platform/commands/common/commands';
 
 export interface IEditableData {
 	action: IAction;
@@ -1216,7 +1215,6 @@ export class CompareResourcesAction extends Action {
 		tree: ITree,
 		@IWorkspaceContextService private contextService: IWorkspaceContextService,
 		@IInstantiationService private instantiationService: IInstantiationService,
-		@ICommandService private commandService: ICommandService,
 		@IWorkbenchEditorService private editorService: IWorkbenchEditorService
 	) {
 		super('workbench.files.action.compareFiles', CompareResourcesAction.computeLabel());
@@ -1271,7 +1269,11 @@ export class CompareResourcesAction extends Action {
 			this.tree.clearHighlight();
 		}
 
-		return this.commandService.executeCommand('_workbench.diff', [globalResourceToCompare, this.resource, toDiffLabel(globalResourceToCompare, this.resource, this.contextService)]);
+		return this.editorService.openEditor({
+			leftResource: globalResourceToCompare,
+			rightResource: this.resource,
+			label: toDiffLabel(globalResourceToCompare, this.resource, this.contextService)
+		});
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/services/editor/browser/editorService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/services/editor/browser/editorService.ts
index b25aabc139c..7a9cf82c86e 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/services/editor/browser/editorService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/services/editor/browser/editorService.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@ import { ResourceEditorInput } from 'vs/workbench/common/editor/resourceEditorIn
 import { UntitledEditorInput } from 'vs/workbench/common/editor/untitledEditorInput';
 import { IUntitledEditorService } from 'vs/workbench/services/untitled/common/untitledEditorService';
 import { IWorkbenchEditorService } from 'vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService';
-import { IEditorInput, IEditorOptions, ITextEditorOptions, Position, Direction, IEditor, IResourceInput } from 'vs/platform/editor/common/editor';
+import { IEditorInput, IEditorOptions, ITextEditorOptions, Position, Direction, IEditor, IResourceInput, IResourceDiffInput } from 'vs/platform/editor/common/editor';
 import { IInstantiationService } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/instantiation';
 import { AsyncDescriptor0 } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/descriptors';
+import { DiffEditorInput, toDiffLabel } from 'vs/workbench/common/editor/diffEditorInput';
+import { IWorkspaceContextService } from 'vs/platform/workspace/common/workspace';
 
 export interface IEditorPart {
 	openEditor(input?: IEditorInput, options?: IEditorOptions | ITextEditorOptions, sideBySide?: boolean): TPromise<BaseEditor>;
@@ -42,10 +44,11 @@ export class WorkbenchEditorService implements IWorkbenchEditorService {
 	constructor(
 		editorPart: IEditorPart | IWorkbenchEditorService,
 		@IUntitledEditorService private untitledEditorService: IUntitledEditorService,
+		@IWorkspaceContextService private workspaceContextService: IWorkspaceContextService,
 		@IInstantiationService private instantiationService?: IInstantiationService
 	) {
 		this.editorPart = editorPart;
-		this.fileInputDescriptor = (<IEditorRegistry>Registry.as(Extensions.Editors)).getDefaultFileInput();
+		this.fileInputDescriptor = Registry.as<IEditorRegistry>(Extensions.Editors).getDefaultFileInput();
 	}
 
 	public getActiveEditor(): IEditor {
@@ -85,8 +88,8 @@ export class WorkbenchEditorService implements IWorkbenchEditorService {
 
 	public openEditor(input: IEditorInput, options?: IEditorOptions, sideBySide?: boolean): TPromise<IEditor>;
 	public openEditor(input: IEditorInput, options?: IEditorOptions, position?: Position): TPromise<IEditor>;
-	public openEditor(input: IResourceInput, position?: Position): TPromise<IEditor>;
-	public openEditor(input: IResourceInput, sideBySide?: boolean): TPromise<IEditor>;
+	public openEditor(input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput, position?: Position): TPromise<IEditor>;
+	public openEditor(input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput, sideBySide?: boolean): TPromise<IEditor>;
 	public openEditor(input: any, arg2?: any, arg3?: any): TPromise<IEditor> {
 		if (!input) {
 			return TPromise.as<IEditor>(null);
@@ -109,7 +112,7 @@ export class WorkbenchEditorService implements IWorkbenchEditorService {
 		}
 
 		// Untyped Text Editor Support (required for code that uses this service below workbench level)
-		const textInput = <IResourceInput>input;
+		const textInput = <IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput>input;
 		return this.createInput(textInput).then(typedInput => {
 			if (typedInput) {
 				return this.doOpenEditor(typedInput, TextEditorOptions.from(textInput), arg2);
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ export class WorkbenchEditorService implements IWorkbenchEditorService {
 		return this.editorPart.openEditor(input, options, arg3);
 	}
 
-	public openEditors(editors: { input: IResourceInput, position: Position }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
+	public openEditors(editors: { input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput, position: Position }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
 	public openEditors(editors: { input: IEditorInput, position: Position, options?: IEditorOptions }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
 	public openEditors(editors: any[]): TPromise<IEditor[]> {
 		return TPromise.join(editors.map(editor => this.createInput(editor.input))).then(inputs => {
@@ -159,7 +162,7 @@ export class WorkbenchEditorService implements IWorkbenchEditorService {
 		});
 	}
 
-	public replaceEditors(editors: { toReplace: IResourceInput, replaceWith: IResourceInput }[]): TPromise<BaseEditor[]>;
+	public replaceEditors(editors: { toReplace: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput, replaceWith: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput }[]): TPromise<BaseEditor[]>;
 	public replaceEditors(editors: { toReplace: EditorInput, replaceWith: EditorInput, options?: IEditorOptions }[]): TPromise<BaseEditor[]>;
 	public replaceEditors(editors: any[]): TPromise<BaseEditor[]> {
 		return TPromise.join(editors.map(editor => this.createInput(editor.toReplace))).then(toReplaceInputs => {
@@ -192,7 +195,7 @@ export class WorkbenchEditorService implements IWorkbenchEditorService {
 	}
 
 	public createInput(input: EditorInput): TPromise<EditorInput>;
-	public createInput(input: IResourceInput): TPromise<EditorInput>;
+	public createInput(input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput): TPromise<EditorInput>;
 	public createInput(input: any): TPromise<IEditorInput> {
 
 		// Workbench Input Support
@@ -200,6 +203,18 @@ export class WorkbenchEditorService implements IWorkbenchEditorService {
 			return TPromise.as<EditorInput>(input);
 		}
 
+		// Diff Editor Support
+		const resourceDiffInput = <IResourceDiffInput>input;
+		if (resourceDiffInput.leftResource && resourceDiffInput.rightResource) {
+			return this.createInput({ resource: resourceDiffInput.leftResource }).then(leftInput => {
+				return this.createInput({ resource: resourceDiffInput.rightResource }).then(rightInput => {
+					const label = resourceDiffInput.label || toDiffLabel(resourceDiffInput.leftResource, resourceDiffInput.rightResource, this.workspaceContextService);
+
+					return new DiffEditorInput(label, resourceDiffInput.description, leftInput, rightInput);
+				});
+			});
+		}
+
 		// Base Text Editor Support for inmemory resources
 		const resourceInput = <IResourceInput>input;
 
@@ -253,11 +268,13 @@ export class DelegatingWorkbenchEditorService extends WorkbenchEditorService {
 		handler: IDelegatingWorkbenchEditorServiceHandler,
 		@IUntitledEditorService untitledEditorService: IUntitledEditorService,
 		@IInstantiationService instantiationService: IInstantiationService,
+		@IWorkspaceContextService workspaceContextService: IWorkspaceContextService,
 		@IWorkbenchEditorService editorService: IWorkbenchEditorService
 	) {
 		super(
 			editorService,
 			untitledEditorService,
+			workspaceContextService,
 			instantiationService
 		);
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService.ts
index 94e9e8bc3d5..abd54ac7c83 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 import { TPromise } from 'vs/base/common/winjs.base';
 import { createDecorator, ServiceIdentifier } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/instantiation';
-import { IEditorService, IEditor, IEditorInput, IEditorOptions, ITextEditorOptions, Position, Direction, IResourceInput } from 'vs/platform/editor/common/editor';
+import { IEditorService, IEditor, IEditorInput, IEditorOptions, ITextEditorOptions, Position, Direction, IResourceInput, IResourceDiffInput } from 'vs/platform/editor/common/editor';
 
 export const IWorkbenchEditorService = createDecorator<IWorkbenchEditorService>('editorService');
 
@@ -49,23 +49,23 @@ export interface IWorkbenchEditorService extends IEditorService {
 	openEditor(input: IEditorInput, options?: IEditorOptions | ITextEditorOptions, sideBySide?: boolean): TPromise<IEditor>;
 
 	/**
-	 * Specific overload to open an instance of IResourceInput.
+	 * Specific overload to open an instance of IResourceInput and IResourceDiffInput.
 	 */
-	openEditor(input: IResourceInput, position?: Position): TPromise<IEditor>;
-	openEditor(input: IResourceInput, sideBySide?: boolean): TPromise<IEditor>;
+	openEditor(input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput, position?: Position): TPromise<IEditor>;
+	openEditor(input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput, sideBySide?: boolean): TPromise<IEditor>;
 
 	/**
 	 * Similar to #openEditor() but allows to open multiple editors for different positions at the same time. If there are
 	 * more than one editor per position, only the first one will be active and the others stacked behind inactive.
 	 */
-	openEditors(editors: { input: IResourceInput, position: Position }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
+	openEditors(editors: { input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput, position: Position }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
 	openEditors(editors: { input: IEditorInput, position: Position, options?: IEditorOptions | ITextEditorOptions }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
 
 	/**
 	 * Given a list of editors to replace, will look across all groups where this editor is open (active or hidden)
 	 * and replace it with the new editor and the provied options.
 	 */
-	replaceEditors(editors: { toReplace: IResourceInput, replaceWith: IResourceInput }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
+	replaceEditors(editors: { toReplace: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput, replaceWith: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
 	replaceEditors(editors: { toReplace: IEditorInput, replaceWith: IEditorInput, options?: IEditorOptions | ITextEditorOptions }[]): TPromise<IEditor[]>;
 
 	/**
@@ -88,5 +88,5 @@ export interface IWorkbenchEditorService extends IEditorService {
 	/**
 	 * Allows to resolve an untyped input to a workbench typed instanceof editor input
 	 */
-	createInput(input: IResourceInput): TPromise<IEditorInput>;
+	createInput(input: IResourceInput | IResourceDiffInput): TPromise<IEditorInput>;
 }
\ No newline at end of file