Comparing files in Linux/Unix - diff, sdiff

diff and sdiff

1. Read/scan the man page for diff with the command:

   
        man diff
        

2. Use the diff command to determine the differences between two files:

   
        diff names1 names2
        

3. Use the diff command to determine the differences between two directories.

   
        diff subdir1 dir4
        

4. Try using sdiff to display the differences between names1 and names2:

   
        sdiff names1 names2
        

5. Now try sdiff specifying that the screen width is 80 characters...not the default 130:

   
        sdiff -w 80 names1 names2