How do I create use the patch command to make sure two file are identical?
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Also see:
Man page for patch.We start off with two demo files. fileb is our changed file, we want filea to be the same as fileb.
$ cat filea Shell scripting is foun $ cat fileb Shell scripting is fun
Create a file of differences, using diff.
$ diff -c file[ba] > file.changes
The file.changes file looks like this.
$ cat file.changes *** filea 2020-11-17 11:55:16.364702950 -0800 --- fileb 2020-11-17 11:55:19.688756600 -0800 *************** *** 1 **** ! Shell scripting is foun --- 1 ---- ! Shell scripting is fun
Let's patch filea with the changes of fileb.
$ patch -c filea file.changes patching file filea
To verify.
$ cat filea Shell scripting is fun
This is an alternative to cut & paste, where many a mistake can be made, extra spaces, blank lines. Of course you can copy and paste and then do you diffs too.
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