ExamDiff is a slim, lightweight software tool to load and compare two different versions of the same document, or two related documents, to see where changes were made. It is a good tool for both students and teachers to review the changes that have been made to a document.
ExamDiff is a freeware Windows tool to visually compare text files. It offers a quick, intuitive, and powerful way to keep your files in sync.
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This is a comparison of notable free and open source configuration management software, suitable for tasks like server configuration, orchestration and infrastructure as code typically performed by a system administrator.
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Pros
Quickly compares files for review: Whether you're checking for the first time or comparing files that have been updated a handful of times, ExamDiff will quickly check for differences and display them for you in a visual format that, while not cutting edge in terms of graphics, is very effective in laying out key differences.
Developer friendly output of your files: Saving differences in a standard UNIX DIFF file, the software is designed to display and save content in a format friendly to developers. Settings are highly customizable, and the interface is quick and responsive for moving between changes rapidly.
Cons
Lacks manual or tutorial: While the README file outlines each of the features and most of the options for using them, ExamDiff is limited when it comes to training or tutorials. For non tech-savvy users, the software will be tough to use to its fullest capacity.
Bottom Line
Best File Compare Tool
While not a perfect solution and only a nominal replacement for online tools that do the same, ExamDiff is effective for basic comparison functions of text content. Whether you are grading papers or writing your own and need to compare it to another version, ExamDiff will handle the basics effectively.
What do you need to know about free software?
FileMerge
Being part of its developer toolset, Apple's own merge tool comes at no additional costs. It might not be the most elegant tool, but it's definitely a solid one that does the job of comparing & merging text.
Beyond Compare
Originally a product for Microsoft Windows, the Beyond Compare team has contributed a fine diff tool to the Mac platform. Like Araxis Merge and DeltaWalker, it goes beyond (pun intended) comparing simple text and also allows diffing Word and PDF contents. In its 'Pro Version', it also supports merging.
Araxis Merge
One of the few diff tools that works with more than just text and image files, Araxis Merge lets you also compare office documents (like MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, or ODF). For people working on both Windows and Mac, it's great to know that a single license is valid for both platforms.
NEW: Image Diffing in Tower! Our popular Git client Tower now supports Image Diffing for a variety of formats (including PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, JPEG2000, and HEIC). In both the Working Copy and various History / Changeset views, you can now see the actual images - and how they were changed! Try it yourself - for free!
DeltaWalker
Just like Araxis, the DeltaWalker app also lets you compare office files. However, it goes one step further by letting you compare file archives like ZIP, JAR, and TAR files. Also, if you're regularly performing comparisons on a folder basis, DeltaWalker shines with a great performance in this area.
Kaleidoscope
Originally developed by 'Sofa', Kaleidoscope was later acquired by 'BlackPixel' - who did a great job in making it one of the best diff & merge tools for the Mac. Its beautiful user interface and great image diffing capabilities are what set it apart.
Free Alternatives
In case you're looking for a free alternative to the standard FileMerge app, you should also have a look at P4Merge and DiffMerge. Both can't compare in terms of features and user interface with their commercial competitors - but make for a valid alternative on Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Computer Compare Configuration
Integrations
Another aspect to watch out for is integrations: before choosing your favorite tool, you should make sure that it plays nicely with the rest of your tool chain. I can already confirm that all of the mentioned tools work seamlessly at least with Tower, our own Git client.
If you don't need the power of a dedicated Diff tool application, the integrated diff views in Tower might be absolutely sufficient for you:
In case you don't know Tower: it's the Git desktop client for Mac and Windows that helps thousands of developers and designers to easily & productively work with the Git version control system. Try it 30 days for free!
Conclusion
File Compare Tool
Diff & merge apps are amongst the most underestimated tools. But a good one can be really helpful in a lot of situations. Try one of the above and see for yourself!
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