Comparing files with BeeDiff
Vive la Différence

© Eric Isselée, Fotolia
BeeDiff compares two files and quickly displays the differences in a convenient desktop GUI interface.
Programmers often work with patches that contain the differences between two files. Linux has always had text-based tools for file comparison, such as the classic Unix diff utility. BeeDiff is a comparison tool with a graphic edge: You can compare files from a handy desktop interface, and color-coded changes appear.
Installation
BeeDiff [1] is not available as a prebuilt package with the current versions of Ubuntu and Debian, but it is included with openSUSE.
If you can't find BeeDiff in your distribution's repository, you can always download a binary from the website [2]. At the command line, type tar xvfz beediff_1.7_i586.tar.gz or run your archive manager to unpack the beediff directory with the files. To launch the program, enter beediff at the command line.
On our Ubuntu 8.04 lab system with the Gnome desktop, BeeDiff depends on the libqtgui4 package, which triggered some more dependencies.
Also, the initial launch took longer than expected. The program window (Figure 1) is neat and tidy, with two text boxes, an icon bar, and a status line that contains four counters.
Alternatives to BeeDiff
Because comparing files is part of the developer's daily grind many programs with varying functional scope can compare files. Purists will prefer command-line tools like diff. If you also use Windows and Mac OS X to work on files, the tkdiff [3] GUI is preferable to BeeDiff. KDiff3 [4], Meld [5], or Diffuse [6] have more functions than BeeDiff. Most editors and office packages now offer similar functionality.
Configuration
The BeeDiff interface is fairly self-explanatory. If needed, System | Configure takes you to the basic settings (Figure 2), including upper/lower-case tolerance, tabs, blank lines and spaces, and the font and font color for changes. In most cases, the defaults should be fine.
Comparing Files
To compare files, open the files by clicking the … button above the text windows. It makes sense to load the original file in the left-hand window and the file you want to compare it to in the right-hand window. The tool automatically numbers the lines, but you can disable this in System | Numeration.
Figure 3 shows you a comparison between two text files. The left-hand text window contains the original file, test1.txt, and the right-hand window has a modified version called test2.txt. The status bar tells you that there are a total of 26 differences, including 9 changes, 8 additions, and 9 deletions. Red highlighting indicates line deletions, green indicates changes within a line, and blue shows line insertions. Changes to individual words are highlighted in yellow.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
News
-
System76 Teams up with HP to Create the Dev One Laptop
HP and System76 have come together to develop a new laptop, powered by Pop!_OS and aimed toward developers.
-
Titan Linux is a New KDE Linux Based on Debian Stable
Titan Linux is a new Debian-based Linux distribution that features the KDE Plasma desktop with a focus on usability and performance.
-
Danielle Foré Has an Update for elementary OS 7
Now that Ubuntu 22.04 has been released, the team behind elementary OS is preparing for the upcoming 7.0 release.
-
Linux New Media Launches Open Source JobHub
New job website focuses on connecting technical and non-technical professionals with organizations in open source.
-
Ubuntu Cinnamon 22.04 Now Available
Ubuntu Cinnamon 22.04 has been released with all the additions from upstream as well as other features and improvements.
-
Pop!_OS 22.04 Has Officially Been Released
From the makers of some of the finest Linux-powered desktop and laptop computers on the market comes the latest version of their Ubuntu-based distribution, Pop!_OS 22.04.
-
Star Labs Unveils a New Small Format Linux PC
The Byte Mk I is an AMD-powered mini Linux PC with Coreboot support and plenty of power.
-
MX Linux Verison 21.1 “Wildflower” Now Available
The latest release of the systemd-less MX Linux is now ready for public consumption.
-
Microsoft Expands Their Windows Subsystem for Linux Offerings With AlmaLinux
Anyone who works with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) will now find a new addition to the available distributions, one that’s become the front-runner replacement for CentOS.
-
Debian 11.3 Released wIth Numerous Bug and Security Fixes
The latest point release for Debian Bullseye is now available with some very important updates.