diffoscope ☆
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Description:
In-depth comparison of files, archives, and directories
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 306@1  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: diff reproducible-builds comparison forensics developer-tools
Install: brew install diffoscope
About:
Diffoscope is a command-line tool that performs deep, content-based comparisons of files, directories, and archives. It recursively unpacks various archive formats and examines their contents to identify differences at a granular level. Its primary value is in reproducible builds and debugging, where it helps pinpoint why two seemingly identical files or packages differ.
Key Features:
  • Supports over 100 file types and archive formats
  • Recursive analysis of nested archives and directories
  • Generates detailed HTML and text reports
  • Integrates with 'diff' for binary comparison
  • Extensible via Python for custom comparators
Use Cases:
  • Verifying reproducible builds by comparing compiled artifacts
  • Debugging software by identifying subtle changes in configuration or data files
  • Forensic analysis of filesystem or package modifications
Alternatives:
  • cmp – Standard utility for binary comparison, but lacks deep archive inspection.
  • Beyond Compare – Commercial GUI tool with visual diffing, but not focused on reproducible builds.
License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Dependencies: libarchive, libmagic, python@3.14
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, sonoma, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 15, 2025 7:05am 0 VERSION_BUMP bf36adfe
Oct 9, 2024 11:04am 1 VERSION_BUMP 93562b3b
Aug 30, 2024 9:33am 0 VERSION_BUMP 88379ba2
Aug 9, 2024 12:32pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 3dde498d
May 24, 2024 11:05am 0 VERSION_BUMP e39b6d08
May 24, 2024 9:31am 0 VERSION_BUMP bb855911
Apr 5, 2024 12:33pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 211c7625
Feb 17, 2024 7:17pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 3b9e3566
Feb 12, 2024 6:37pm 0 VERSION_BUMP e6007fda
Feb 9, 2024 9:17pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 54904480
Jan 19, 2024 12:43pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 25ac3ae9
Dec 8, 2023 2:39pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 09b16919
Dec 8, 2023 1:52pm 0 VERSION_BUMP e6c6fb43
Jun 23, 2023 8:51pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 30924679
Mar 17, 2023 1:10pm 0 VERSION_BUMP ad32e154
Mar 17, 2023 1:10pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 55cd7129
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