External diff tool guide
GNU Diffutils
Classic command-line utilities including diff, diff3, sdiff, and cmp for comparing files and directories in scripts and shells.
Category
Command line
License
GNU GPL
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Unix, Windows via ports
Best for
Automation, CI scripts, Unix-style workflows, patch generation, and environments where a stable command-line diff is required.
Strengths
- Ubiquitous and scriptable
- Stable output formats
- Works well in automation
Limitations
- Text-first command-line UX
- No visual merge UI
- Binary/media comparison is limited
Key features
diff, diff3, sdiff, cmp
Unified and context diff formats
Directory comparison
Patch-friendly output
Install notes
Linux: usually preinstalled or available as diffutils.macOS: system diff is available; GNU version via brew install diffutils.