diff  (dĭf)  n. Informal Difference: "[His] flaw . . . starts with a fleshy calculation, an instinct to blunt disagreement and split the diff" (Peggy Noonan). |
diff
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diff
/dif/ 1. A change listing, especially giving differences between (and additions to) different versions of a piece of source code or documentation (the term is often used in the plural "diffs"). "Send me your diffs for the Jargon File!"
Compare vdiff.
2. Specifically, such a listing produced by the diff Unix command, especially when used as input to the patch utility (which actually performs the modifications). This is a common method of distributing patches and source updates.
3. To compare (whether or not by use of automated tools on machine-readable files).
See also vdiff, mod.
[The Jargon File]
(1995-02-10)
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