Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

xxdiff VS Meld

Compare xxdiff VS Meld and see what are their differences

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xxdiff logo xxdiff

XXDiff is the name of a graphical file and directories comparison system.

Meld logo Meld

What is Meld? Meld is a visual diff and merge tool targeted at developers.
  • xxdiff Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-22
  • Meld Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-19

xxdiff features and specs

  • Graphical Interface
    xxdiff provides a graphical user interface, making it easier for users to visualize differences between files compared to command-line diff tools.
  • Three-way comparison
    It supports three-way comparisons, which is particularly useful for merging changes from different branches in version control.
  • Multiple File Formats
    The tool can handle text files and other formats, providing more flexibility in the type of files that can be compared.
  • Customizable Filters
    Users can apply customizable filters to ignore certain types of differences, such as white space or specific lines, tailored to the needs of the comparison.
  • Integration with Version Control Systems
    xxdiff can be integrated with version control systems like CVS, Subversion, and Git, enhancing its utility in collaborative development environments.

Possible disadvantages of xxdiff

  • Limited Platform Support
    Primarily supports Unix-based systems, which may limit its use for users on Windows systems without compatibility layers like Cygwin.
  • No Unicode Support
    Lacks native support for Unicode, which can be a significant limitation for users dealing with internationalization or files containing multibyte character sets.
  • Performance on Large Files
    Users have reported performance issues when dealing with particularly large files or directories, potentially slowing down the workflow.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface appears dated compared to more modern diff tools, which may affect the user experience and ease of use.
  • Limited Community and Support
    A smaller user community and less active development may result in fewer available resources, tutorials, and updates compared to more popular tools.

Meld features and specs

  • Open Source
    Meld is free and open-source software, allowing users to inspect the code, contribute to its development, and use it without financial cost.
  • Visual Diff and Merge
    Meld provides a graphical user interface that visually presents differences between files and directories, making it easier to identify and resolve conflicts.
  • Three-Way Merge
    Supports three-way merges, which is particularly useful for version control scenarios where changes are made across multiple branches.
  • Version Control Integration
    Meld integrates well with popular version control systems like Git, SVN, and Mercurial, providing seamless workflow integration for developers.
  • Customization and Preferences
    Users can customize keyboard shortcuts, color schemes, and other settings to tailor the tool to their personal preferences and workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Meld

  • Limited to Graphical Mode
    Meld operates only in graphical mode, making it less suitable for users who prefer or need to work in terminal or headless environments.
  • Performance Issues with Large Files
    Meld may experience performance degradation when dealing with very large files or directories, making it slower and less responsive in such cases.
  • Platform Limitations
    While Meld is available for Linux and Windows, the macOS version is less polished and might require additional steps like using third-party package managers for installation.
  • Learning Curve
    While Meld is generally user-friendly, users unfamiliar with diff and merge tools may need some time to learn how to effectively use all its features.
  • No Built-in Conflict Resolution Assistance
    Unlike some modern merge tools, Meld does not offer automated conflict resolution suggestions, requiring users to manually resolve conflicts.

Analysis of Meld

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Meld is considered a good tool, especially for those looking for a free and open-source solution for comparing and merging files. It is user-friendly, has a clear graphical interface, and supports a variety of platforms.

Why this product is good

  • Meld is a visual diff and merge tool designed to help with file and directory comparisons. It efficiently highlights differences, supports three-way merges, and integrates well with version control systems like Git, making it particularly useful for programmers and software developers.

Recommended for

  • Software developers who need to track changes in code.
  • Individuals who frequently work with text files and need to perform merges.
  • Users of version control systems seeking a visual diff tool.
  • Open-source enthusiasts looking for a reliable and free alternative to commercial diff tools.

xxdiff videos

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Meld videos

What is Property Meld

More videos:

  • Review - Meld Review ST VOY S2 E16
  • Review - Comparing Files & Folders - Meld - Ubuntu 9.10
  • Tutorial - Meld: Using a Git Merge Tool

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to xxdiff and Meld)
File Management
10 10%
90% 90
Merge Tools
12 12%
88% 88
Diff And Merge Tools
9 9%
91% 91
Comparison
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare xxdiff and Meld

xxdiff Reviews

20 Best Diff Tools to Compare File Contents on Linux
XXdiff is yet another diff and merge tool that runs on multiple operating systems. It is a graphical tool used for viewing the difference between two or three files and directories. It uses external diff tools to compute differences.
Source: linuxopsys.com
7 WinMerge Alternatives
Taking our roundup of applications similar to WinMerge further is xxdiff, a graphical file and directories comparator that lets you merge documents. As it has acquired the GNU GPL license, you can download it without shelling out even a single penny. The program can be utilized for the purpose of comparing either two files, three files or two directories and offers...
15 Best Alternatives to WinMerge for 2021
xxdiff isa convenient WinMerge alternative you may try. Itis a graphical file that compares directories and merges them. It’s an open-source software. It helps spot the differences that exist between files and directories and then come up with a merged version. The texts contained in the files are arranged beside each other and the differences are marked out in colors for...

Meld Reviews

9 Best Mac File Comparison Tools To Save Time and Hassle
Two vertical bars on the two respective sides of the panel help you sort out the changes made (addition, deletion, or change) and the portions that require some corrections, thus, making Meld extremely user-friendly and time-conserving.
11 Diff and Merge Tools to Simplify Your File Inspection
Meld is a robust diff and merge tool that assists you in comparing files, directories, and version-controlled projects. This open-source tool is available for Linux, Windows, and MacOS and supports popular version control systems. Moreover, the tool helps you to get a thorough overview of code changes and understand the patches.
Source: geekflare.com
20 Best Diff Tools to Compare File Contents on Linux
Meld is a diff and merge tool, made especially for developers, who need to compare files. It is a lightweight tool and allows you to compare files, directories, and version controlled programs.
Source: linuxopsys.com
7 WinMerge Alternatives
Meld, a visual diff and merge tool assists developers with the task of comparing various files and even pledges support to some of the popular version control systems. You can expect two- and three-way comparison between files and directories and even review your code changes. There’s auto-merge mode and the comparisons are updated as soon as you modify your text. Another...
15 Best Alternatives to WinMerge for 2021
Meant for developers, Meld is a visual difference locater and works as a merging tool. Not only files and folders, with Meld, you can compare version-controlled projects too. Meld is capable of two and three-way comparisons. Both files and directories can be compared. You can understand patches with Meld by reviewing code changes. That way, you can make out what’s happening...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Meld seems to be a lot more popular than xxdiff. While we know about 44 links to Meld, we've tracked only 1 mention of xxdiff. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

xxdiff mentions (1)

Meld mentions (44)

  • CocoIndex Changelog 2025-04-05
    It dumps what should be indexed to files under a directory. And users could compare the output with golden files using tools like DirEqual or Meld. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Automate structured data extraction from PDF / Word by OpenAI and CocoIndex
    I used a tool called DirEqual for mac. We also recommend Meld for Linux and Windows. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Suggestions: A simple human-readable format for suggesting changes to text files
    Even simpler: Step 1: give me your edited `.tex` file. Step 2: I selectively merge it into mine. Step 3: There is no step 3. To selectively merge, I use `meld` https://meldmerge.org/ but there are others. Benefits of this even simpler approach: - We continue to use the tools we are used to. - We and our software don't have to learn a new inline diff format. - Both files retain valid syntax before and during the... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What perfect software did you discover of recent?
    There is also https://meldmerge.org/ which I've used on Linux and Mac before. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What work/office purchase transformed your life?
    You've maybe tried it, but if not check out https://meldmerge.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing xxdiff and Meld, you can also consider the following products

WinMerge - WinMerge is an open source differencing and merging tool for Windows.

kdiff3 - KDiff3 is a file and directory diff and merge tool which compares and merges two or three text...

Beyond Compare - Beyond Compare allows you to compare files and folders.

DiffMerge - DiffMerge is a graphical file comparison program for Windows, Mac OS X and Unix, published by...

Diff Checker - Diff Checker is a free online diff tool that quickly and easily gives you the text differences...

Kompare - Kompare is a GUI front-end program that enables differences between source files to be viewed and merged.