diff

2 definitions found

diff - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  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.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1995-02-10)
  

diff - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  diff
   /dif/, n.
  
     1. A change listing, especially giving differences between (and
     additions to) source code or documents (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(1) command, esp.
     when used as specification input to the patch(1) utility (which can
     actually perform the modifications; see patch). This is a common
     method of distributing patches and source updates in the Unix/C
  world.
  
     3. v. To compare (whether or not by use of automated tools on
     machine-readable files); see also vdiff, mod.