BSDIFF(1) BSD General Commands Manual BSDIFF(1)
NAME
bsdiff -- generate a patch between two binary files
SYNOPSIS
bsdiff oldfile newfile patchfile
DESCRIPTION
The bsdiff utility compares oldfile to newfile and writes to patchfile a binary patch suitable for use by bspatch(1). When oldfile and
newfile are two versions of an executable program, the patches produced are on average a factor of five smaller than those produced by any
other binary patch tool known to the author.
The bsdiff utility uses memory equal to 17 times the size of oldfile, and requires an absolute minimum working set size of 8 times the size
of oldfile.
SEE ALSO
bspatch(1)
AUTHORS
Colin Percival <cperciva@FreeBSD.org>
BUGS
The bsdiff utility does not store the hashes of oldfile or newfile in patchfile. As a result, it is possible to apply a patch to the wrong
file; this will usually produce garbage. It is recommended that users of bsdiff store the hashes of oldfile and newfile and compare against
them before and after applying patchfile.
BSD
May 18, 2003 BSD
