File Diff

Compares files using the Myers Algorithm

An application that prints the diff between two given files. Prints human-readable instructions for transforming file1 into file2. The app uses the Myers algorithm for computing the instructions.

Table of Contents

• Prerequisites
• Build Instructions
• Usage
• File Structure
• References

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Prerequisites

• .NET 9.

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Build Instructions

• For Windows (x64)

dotnet publish -r win-x64 -c Release --self-contained true

• For macOS (ARM)

dotnet publish -r osx-arm64 -c Release --self-contained true

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Usage

FileDiff <file1> <file2>

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File Structure

FileDiff/
│
├─ Common/
│   └─ OffsetArray.cs   # An array that can be accessed using an offset index
│
├─ Diff/
│   └─ FileComparer.cs   # Returns grouped diff instructions with the desired output format
│   │
│   └─ Algorithm
│   │   └─ MyersComparer.cs   # Returns single-line diff instructions using the Myers algorithm
│   │
│   └─ Data
│       └─ Instruction.cs   # Base class for the instructions the app uses
│       └─ InsertInstruction.cs   # Instruction insterting new lines
│       └─ RemoveInstruction.cs   # Instruction for removing new lines
│
└─ Program.cs   # Application entry point

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References

• Myers Algorithm Explanation by James Coglan.