File Comparison Task

A File Comparison Task is a data analysis task that involves identifying differences and similarities between data objects.

• Context:
  • It can (typically) be solved by a File Comparison System (that implements a file comparison algorithm).
  • It can (typically) be a crucial part of Revision Control and Software Development processes, enabling developers to track and manage code changes.
  • It can (often) be used to identify changes, updates, or inconsistencies between different versions of the same file or different files.
  • It can (often) present results in various formats, including text summaries, highlighted differences in a graphical user interface, or structured reports.
  • It can range from being a Batch File Comparison Task to being a Real-Time File Comparison Task.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • a Document Files Comparison Task, such as a Contract Revision Comparison.
  • a Source Code Files Comparison Task ...
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • A File Searching Task.
  • A File Version Control Task.
• See: Source Code, Word Processor, Computing, Text File, Unix, Diff Utility, Graphical User Interface, Computer Network, File System, Revision Control, Diff, Cmp (Unix).

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_comparison Retrieved:2024-1-24.
  • In computing, file comparison is the calculation and display of the differences and similarities between data objects, typically text files such as source code.

    The methods, implementations, and results are typically called a diff, after the Unix diff utility. The output may be presented in a graphical user interface or used as part of larger tasks in networks, file systems, or revision control.

    Some widely used file comparison programs are diff, cmp, FileMerge, WinMerge, Beyond Compare, and File Compare.

    Many text editors and word processors perform file comparison to highlight the changes to a file or document.

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