install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install diffutils

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install diffutils

MacPorts ports tree · sysutils/diffutils/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add diffutils

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · diffutils · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install diffutils

Debian stable package indexes · diffutils · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install diffutils

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · diffutils · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#diffutils

nixpkgs package indexes · diffutils · source: raw.githubusercontent.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S diffutils

Arch Linux sync databases · diffutils · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install diffutils

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · diffutils · source: download.opensuse.org

Windows

Chocolateyverified · 92%

choco install diffutils

Chocolatey community package catalog · diffutils · source: community.chocolatey.org

Scoopverified · 92%

scoop install main/diffutils

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/diffutils.json · source: api.github.com

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id uutils.diffutils -e

Windows Package Manager source index · uutils.diffutils · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

File comparison utilities

Project links

Commands and aliases

cmp
diff
diff3
sdiff

history

Project history and usage

GNU Diffutils is the GNU package that provides the classic file-comparison programs `diff`, `cmp`, `diff3`, and `sdiff`.

Project history

The GNU Diffutils manual describes the package as a way to find differences between files, including side-by-side formats, context and unified diffs, and scripts suitable for the `patch` program. As part of GNU, it supplies standard userland comparison utilities across GNU and GNU-like systems.

Adoption history

Diffutils became package-manager infrastructure almost by being everywhere: the tools are standard build, patch-review, and source-maintenance utilities, and Homebrew, Linux distributions, and other package sets commonly ship the GNU implementations under the `diffutils` package name.

How it is used

`diff` compares text files and can emit normal, context, or unified output; `cmp` checks byte-level differences; `diff3` compares three files for merge-style workflows; and `sdiff` supports side-by-side comparison and merging.

Why package nerds care

Diffutils is foundational package-nerd equipment. Source packages, downstream patches, generated tarballs, build logs, and regression tests all lean on diff-family tools, and many higher-level tools in this batch either consume diff output or improve on its presentation.

Timeline

1980s-1990s: GNU Diffutils became the GNU implementation of core file-comparison utilities.
2000s: Unified diff output remained the common interchange format for source patches and package maintenance.
2020s: GNU Diffutils continues to be distributed as the `diffutils` package across package managers.

Related projects

Related tools include GNU patch, diffstat, Git diff, colordiff, diffoscope, and modern syntax-aware viewers such as Difftastic.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 8 platform targets.

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
`cmp`	cli	global executable
`diff`	cli	global executable
`diff3`	cli	global executable
`sdiff`	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 version3.12

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:diffutils
Version	3.12
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/diffutils
Homepage	https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/
Repository	https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/diffutils.git
Upstream docs	https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/manual
License	GPL-3.0-or-later
Source archive	https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/gnu/diffutils/diffutils-3.12.tar.xz
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, 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	diffutils
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

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%

diffutils 1:3.10-4

File comparison utilities

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

sudo apt install diffutils

Section: utils
Architecture: amd64
2 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: diffutils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Debian apt95%

diffutils-doc 1:3.10-4

Documentation for GNU diffutils in HTML format

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

sudo apt install diffutils-doc

Section: doc
Architecture: all
Source Package: diffutils
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: diffutils-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

diffutils

nix profile install nixpkgs#diffutils

normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

nixpkgs package indexes · raw.githubusercontent.com · nixpkgs package indexes: diffutils from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix

Ubuntu apt95%

diffutils 1:3.10-1build1

File comparison utilities

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

sudo apt install diffutils

Section: utils
Architecture: amd64
2 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: diffutils from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

diffutils-doc 1:3.10-1build1

Documentation for GNU diffutils in HTML format

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

sudo apt install diffutils-doc

Section: doc
Architecture: all
Source Package: diffutils
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: diffutils-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

diffutils 3.12-r0

Show differences among files

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

sudo apk add diffutils

License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: diffutils
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: diffutils from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

diffutils-doc 3.12-r0

Show differences among files (documentation)

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

sudo apk add diffutils-doc

License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: diffutils
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: diffutils-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

dnf95%

diffutils 3.12-5.fc44

GNU collection of diff utilities

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/diffutils.html

sudo dnf install diffutils

License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: diffutils
2 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: diffutils from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

pacman95%

diffutils 3.12-2

Utility programs used for creating patch files

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils

sudo pacman -S diffutils

License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: diffutils from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/core/os/x86_64/core.db.tar.gz

zypper95%

diffutils 3.12-1.3

GNU diff Utilities

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

sudo zypper install diffutils

License: GFDL-1.2-only AND GPL-3.0-or-later
Category: Productivity/Text/Utilities
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: diffutils
1 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: diffutils from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

zypper95%

diffutils-lang 3.12-1.3

Translations for package diffutils

https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/

sudo zypper install diffutils-lang

License: GFDL-1.2-only AND GPL-3.0-or-later
Category: System/Localization
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: diffutils
1 dependencies
3 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: diffutils-lang from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

MacPorts95%

diffutils

sudo port install diffutils

normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/diffutils/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Chocolatey95%

diffutils

choco install diffutils

normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Chocolatey community package catalog · community.chocolatey.org · Chocolatey community package catalog: diffutils from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','dell-omsa'

Scoop95%

main/diffutils

scoop install main/diffutils

normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/diffutils.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

winget95%

uutils.diffutils

winget install --id uutils.diffutils -e

normalized package name match
Matched by: Diffutils

Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: uutils.diffutils from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

winget92%

DBAdminX.Diff

winget install --id DBAdminX.Diff -e

installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Diff

Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: DBAdminX.Diff from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/diffutils.yml

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

Install diffutils with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, winget, zypper

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Windows

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: green

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources