File comparison compares the contents of computer files, finding their common contents and their differences. The result of the comparison is often known as a diff.
diff is also the name of a famous console based file comparison utility that outputs the differences between two files. The diff utility was developed in the early 1970s on the Unix operating system.
Typically, diff is used to show the changes between two versions of the same file. Modern implementations also support binary files.
Console-based applications are light on system resources (very useful on low specified machines), are often faster and more efficient than their graphical counterparts, they do not stop working when X is restarted, and are perfect for scripting purposes.
When designed well, console-based applications offer a surprisingly improvement in productivity. The applications are leaner, faster, easier to maintain, and remove the need to install a whole raft of libraries.
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of 28 useful terminal-based diff tools. Graphical diff tools are covered in a separate Group Test. We make the following recommendations. A good range of tools are available. They are all free and open source goodness.
Now let’s scrutinize the 28 tools at hand. For each utility we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, screenshots, together with links to relevant resources.
| Terminal-Based Diff Tools | |
|---|---|
| difftastic | Structural diff tool that compares files based on their syntax |
| hunk | Terminal diff viewer with syntax highlighting and side-by-side views |
| diff-so-fancy | Attractive diffs with diff-highlight and more |
| delta | Viewer for git and diff output |
| icdiff | An improved colored diff |
| diffoscope | In-depth comparison of files, archives, and directories |
| colordiff | Wrapper for diff with pretty syntax highlighting |
| diffsitter | Semantic diff tool |
| objdiff | Local diffing tool for decompilation project |
| ydiff | Tool to view colored, incremental diff in a version controlled workspace |
| diffr | Word-by-word diff highlighting utility |
| dyff | diff tool for YAML files |
| Wdiff | Wordwise implementation of diff |
| dwdiff | diff program that operates at the word level |
| diffyml | Compares YAML documents by their structure |
| oyo | Step-through diff viewer |
| diff2html-cli | Generate HTML diffs |
| biodiff | Terminal-based binary diff viewer |
| dirdiff | Compute the differences between two directories |
| csvdiff | Fast diff tool for comparing CSV files |
| VBinDiff | Visual binary diff |
| riff | Wrapper around diff |
| csv-diff | Diffing CSV and JSON files |
| xmldiff | Compare XML documents |
| Patdiff | File diff using the Patience Diff algorithm |
| dead-ringer | Binary diff utility |
| sesdiff | Generates a shortest edit script |
| semdiff | Semantic diff tool written in Rust |
All the CLI tools in this series.
| Alternatives to CLI tools |
|---|
| age // awk // bc // cal // cat // cd // chmod // cksum // cloc // cmp // compress // cp // cron // curl // cut // date // dd // df // diff // dig // du // fdisk // file // find // free // ftp // grep // gzip // hexdump // history // jq // kill // less // locate // ls // lsof // make // man // more // mv / ping // ps // psql // rename // rm // sed // split // ssh // stow // strings // sudo // sysctl // tail // talk // tar // telnet // time // top // touch // traceroute // tree // uname // uniq // uptime // vi // watch // Wget // who // whois // xargs |
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You forgot mcdiff, part of midnight commander. It’s the only diff tool I use.
Also, where I work, it’s the only one available as part of midnight commander, which is usually available everywhere.
We’re considering standalone programs here, not internal viewers. So it’s not the case we forgot it…
Midnight Commander can copy, move, delete files etc. Does that mean it should be included as an alternative to say cp, mv, rm. The answer is of course, no.
Lots of programs have internal diff features particularly numerous text editors.
I was referring to /usr/bin/mcdiff, but I understand your position.
Nice web site, by the way!
As the image below shows, /usr/bin/mcdiff is just a link to mc. The same goes for other internal viewers for mc: /usr/bin/mcview and /usr/bin/mcedit.
BTW, we think Midnight Commander is excellent and already features in a few roundups on the site. For example, it’s covered in our console file managers roundup, earning a recommendation.
Thanks, I enjoy maintaining the site and hope it’s helpful.
Where I work midnight commander isn’t installed. And if you’re talking about that you can install it, so can all the others…
My organization doesn’t allow import of any of the others.
Literally thought about this today and found out this was created/updated yesterday 🙌🏾. Great content as always and just donated
Really glad the article landed just when you were looking for it.
And thank you so much for the donation. It’s genuinely appreciated and helps keep LinuxLinks going. 🙏