GNU Diffutils
The GNU diff, cmp, diff3 and sdiff programs for finding differences between files.
Open sourceBy GNU Project
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Read the GNU Diffutils documentation
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About GNU Diffutils
GNU Diffutils is a package of programs for comparing files. diff shows line-by-line differences between two files or between corresponding files in two directories, in several output formats including the patch format. cmp reports the offsets and line numbers where files differ, and diff3 compares three files, which helps when two people changed the same original.
sdiff merges two files interactively. These are the standard comparison tools on GNU and Linux systems and are used directly and by version control and build scripts.
Strengths
- Standard diff and patch output formats
- Compares whole directories as well as files
- Three-way comparison with diff3
Limitations
- Text output only, no graphical view
- Line-based comparison is less useful for binary files
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree software from the GNU Project.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- GNU Project
- Platforms
- Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Comparing files and producing patches from the command line
- Categories
- CLI tools, Developer tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Sources