macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install diffoscopelocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install diffoscopeMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/diffoscope/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install diffoscope with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
In-depth comparison of files, archives, and directories. Version 323 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-01.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add diffoscopeAlpine Linux edge package indexes · diffoscope · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install diffoscopeDebian stable package indexes · diffoscope · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install diffoscopeFedora Rawhide package metadata · diffoscope · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#diffoscopenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/di/diffoscope/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S diffoscopeArch Linux sync databases · diffoscope · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install diffoscopeopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · diffoscope · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
In-depth comparison of files, archives, and directories
Project links
Commands and aliases
- diffoscope
history
Project history and usage
diffoscope is a deep comparison tool for files, archives, directories, and build artifacts. It recursively unpacks many formats and normalizes binary data into more human-readable forms so package builders can understand why two outputs differ.
Project history
diffoscope began in the Debian reproducible-builds project, was originally named debbindiff, and is now developed as part of the wider Reproducible Builds initiative. The official README describes its purpose as quickly understanding why two builds of the same package produce different outputs.
Adoption history
The official website documents installation paths through pip, Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, openSUSE, Arch Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NixOS, Homebrew, Docker images, and source tarballs. That breadth reflects its role as a cross-distribution diagnostic tool rather than a Debian-only utility.
How it is used
diffoscope is used from the command line to compare two inputs and produce text or HTML reports. It exits with 0 when inputs are the same, 1 when they differ, and 2 on trouble, which makes it scriptable in package build, CI, and reproducibility workflows.
Why package nerds care
Package maintainers care about diffoscope because it turns opaque binary differences into reviewable structure: archives, filesystem images, language bytecode, package formats, and metadata can be unpacked and compared in one workflow. It is one of the canonical tools for explaining reproducible-build failures.
Timeline
- 2010s: Started by the Debian reproducible-builds project under the name debbindiff.
- 2010s: Renamed diffoscope and developed under the wider Reproducible Builds initiative.
- 2026: Official site lists release 322 on 26 Jun 2026.
Related projects
- The official site lists pkgdiff and Open Build Service build-compare as similar software, and the project is closely tied to reproducible-builds.org infrastructure.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:archive
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 3 runtime dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
diffoscope | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version323
manager updated2026-07-01
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://diffoscope.orgnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:diffoscope |
|---|---|
| Version | 323 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/diffoscope |
| Homepage | https://diffoscope.org |
| Repository | https://salsa.debian.org/reproducible-builds/diffoscope |
| Upstream docs | https://diffoscope.org/ |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/8a/11/7a4a73651121f7f4be0f7e1cb91d62b30b68f3830bed703779c8aa9f7580/diffoscope-323.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-07-01T18:07:33Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | libarchive, libmagic, python@3.14 |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | diffoscope |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
diffoscope 297+deb13u1
in-depth visual diff tool for files, archives and directories
sudo apt install diffoscope- Section: devel
- Architecture: all
- 1 dependencies
- 32 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
Debian apt95%
diffoscope-minimal 297+deb13u1
in-depth visual diff tool for files, archives and directories (minimal package)
sudo apt install diffoscope-minimal- Section: devel
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: diffoscope
- 4 dependencies
- 32 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
Nix95%
diffoscope
nix profile install nixpkgs#diffoscope- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
Ubuntu apt95%
diffoscope 259
in-depth visual diff tool for files, archives and directories
sudo apt install diffoscope- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: all
- 1 dependencies
- 32 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
Ubuntu apt95%
diffoscope-minimal 259
in-depth visual diff tool for files, archives and directories (minimal package)
sudo apt install diffoscope-minimal- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: diffoscope
- 5 dependencies
- 32 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
apk95%
diffoscope 309-r2
In-depth comparison of files, archives, and directories
sudo apk add diffoscope- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: diffoscope
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
apk95%
diffoscope-pyc 309-r2
Precompiled Python bytecode for diffoscope
sudo apk add diffoscope-pyc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: diffoscope
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
dnf95%
diffoscope 317-2.fc45
In-depth comparison of files, archives, and directories
sudo dnf install diffoscope- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: diffoscope
- 4 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
pacman95%
diffoscope 318-1
Tool for in-depth comparison of files, archives, and directories
sudo pacman -S diffoscope- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 7 dependencies
- 32 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
zypper95%
diffoscope 318-1.1
In-depth comparison of files, archives, and directories
sudo zypper install diffoscope- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Development/Languages/Python
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: diffoscope
- 7 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
MacPorts95%
diffoscope
sudo port install diffoscope- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Diffoscope
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment