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I m looking for an easy-to-use, free source code comparison app for Windows, which will highlight differences side-by-side between two pieces of source code. Some apps get close to what I want, but are too restrictive by requiring you load in entire files and compare them in their entirety. Sometimes I just want to compare a section of my file, such as a single function, which may be in totally different locations in the two versions I d be comparing, making it hard to find in both panes in large files. Basically, I d like to be able to simply edit/copy/paste the content in both panes rather than have the restriction of using files. That way I can copy and paste one function into one pane and another into the other, editing/re-ordering as necessary.

(Note that I realize there are other comparison app recommendation threads out there, but I m having a hard time finding a free app that isn t a strict file-to-file comparison app)

Thanks for any pointers or links, thanks!

Answer 1

I do this in Vim all the time. Here s what I do:

Run gvimdiff -O a b. This is Vim is GUI diff mode.
Paste "before" into left pane of Vim.
Paste "after" into right pane of Vim.
:diffupdate (not always necessary)

You can also edit either side of the diff, which can be handy.

I imagine that any text editor that supports side-by-side diff and copy and paste should be able to do something similar.

And before you object that Vim is file-based (which is true), the above procedure doesn t require creating any actual files in the file-system.

Answer 2

Notepad++ has a nice diff function that will suit your needs also.

Answer 3

Winmerge can be used to do what you outlined (i.e., edit/copy/paste snippets into two windows and then make comparisons or mergers).

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