recountdiff
Reports differences between archive versions
SYNOPSIS
recountdiff file1 file2
PARAMETERS
file1
The first file to compare.
file2
The second file to compare.
DESCRIPTION
The `recountdiff` command is a specialized tool for comparing two files, similar to `diff`, but with a focus on counting the occurrences of different types of changes. It not only highlights the differences but also provides statistical summaries of these changes, making it useful for quantifying and characterizing file modifications. It often focuses on the number of changes instead of the detail about the change itself. It's used for identifying patterns in large files, understanding the scope of modifications after edits, or evaluating the effects of software updates. It is useful to detect unexpected changes in file updates or identify potential data corruption.
CAVEATS
The exact output format and available options might vary depending on the specific implementation of `recountdiff` used. It's likely a custom or project-specific command rather than a standard Linux utility found in coreutils.
OUTPUT INTERPRETATION
The typical output includes counts of lines that are added, deleted, or changed between the two files. The exact format and metrics reported may be customized. For instance, the output might be similar to:'
Lines added: 15
Lines deleted: 8
Lines modified: 2'
Depending on the implementation it can show bytes added, deleted or modified instead of lines.