xxdiff is a graphical file and directory comparison and merge tool. It presents two or three files side by side, highlights their differences and lets users interactively choose content for a merged result.
Directory comparisons can be shallow or recursive, while file comparisons can use an external diff engine. This keeps xxdiff focused on visual inspection and merge decisions rather than implementing every comparison algorithm internally.
The project also includes helper scripts that extend xxdiff into repeatable review and file-transformation workflows.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Compare two files, three files or two directories.
- Perform shallow or recursive directory comparisons.
- Highlight changed portions within corresponding lines.
- Merge files interactively and preview the resulting output before saving it.
- Provide tools aimed at structured merge reviews and merge policing.
- Unmerge CVS conflicts from an automatically merged file into two inputs for review.
- Use external diff programs whose output follows familiar diff formats.
- Customise behaviour and appearance through a resource file.
- Remain independent of a particular desktop environment.
- Integrate with scripts and automated workflows.
- Include Python helper scripts for building file-transformation workflows around xxdiff.
Website: github.com/blais/xxdiff
Support:
Developer: Martin Blais
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
xxdiff is written in C++ and Python. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| GUI Diff Tools | |
|---|---|
| Meld | Graphical diff viewer and merge application for the Gnome desktop |
| Kompare | KDE diff tool supporting a variety of diff formats |
| Diffuse | Tool for merging and comparing text files |
| TkDiff | Graphical front end to the diff program |
| objdiff | Local diffing tool for decompilation project |
| KDiff3 | Text difference analyzer for up to 3 input files |
| xxdiff | File and directories comparator and merge tool |
| RustDiff | Semantic JSON and XML diff tool |
| RCompare | File and directory comparison toolkit |
| Text Compare | Compare old and new text |
| Image Compare | Side-by-side image comparison tool for spotting differences |
| gap | Simple native graphical utility for comparing text files |
| meld-rs | Visual diff and merge tool for comparing files and directories |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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