Diff Utils library is an OpenSource library for performing the comparison operations between texts: computing diffs, applying patches, generating unified diffs or parsing them, generating diff output for easy future displaying (like side-by-side view) and so on.

Main reason to build this library was the lack of easy-to-use libraries with all the usual stuff you need while working with diff files. Originally it was inspired by JRCS library and it's nice design of diff module.

Main Features

• computing the difference between two texts.
• capable to hand more than plain ascci. Arrays or List of any type that implements hashCode() and equals() correctly can be subject to differencing using this library
• patch and unpatch the text with the given patch
• parsing the unified diff format
• producing human-readable differences

Algoritms

This library implements Myer's diff algorithm. But it can easily replaced by any other which is better for handing your texts. I have plan to add implementation of some in future.

Changelog

• Version 1.2
  • JDK 1.5 compatibility
  • Ant build script
  • Generate output in unified diff format (thanks for Bill James)

To Install

Just add the code below to your maven dependencies: <dependency> <groupId>com.googlecode.java-diff-utils</groupId> <artifactId>diffutils</artifactId> <version>1.2.1</version> </dependency>

And for Ivy: <dependency org="com.googlecode.java-diff-utils" name="diffutils" rev="1.2.1"/>

Coming eventually

• support for inline diffs in output
• helpers for showing side-by-side, line-by-line diffs or text with inter-line and intra-line change highlights
• customization of diff algorithm for better experience while computing diffs between strings (ignoring blank lines or spaces, etc)
• generating output in other formats (not only unified). E.g. CVS.

Tutorials

http://www.adictosaltrabajo.com/tutoriales/tutoriales.php?pagina=CompararFicherosJavaDiffUtils (in Spanish). Thanks Miguel