lsdiff

lsdiff [options] [patchfile]

-N
    Treat new files as existing files.

-p
    Strip leading components from file names.

-i
    Ignore case differences.

-t
    Report the first line of each changed text region (hunk)."

-h
    Display help and exit.

-v
    Display version and exit.

The `lsdiff` command analyzes the output of the `diff` command, specifically in unified or context format, and provides a summary of the changes made in a patch file. It identifies added, removed, and changed files, and also can detect issues like reversed patches or misordered hunks. It's particularly useful for examining patch files before applying them to ensure the changes are what you expect and that there are no unexpected conflicts. `lsdiff` simplifies the process of understanding complex patch files generated by tools like `diff -u` or `diff -c` by summarizing the file modifications. It helps in verifying patch integrity and reducing the likelihood of applying problematic patches. The command parses the diff output to extract relevant information, such as file names, hunk headers, and error messages, presenting it in a more readable and manageable way.

The `lsdiff` command exits with a status of 0 if all patches were successfully analyzed. Non-zero statuses indicate errors during processing.

Example 1: Display a summary of the patch file my_patch.diff:
lsdiff my_patch.diff
Example 2: Strip one leading component from file names within the patch:
lsdiff -p1 my_patch.diff

diff(1), patch(1)