Re: Does diff generate diff or patch files?

[Bob Rossi]

On Sat, Feb 11, 2006 at 01:32:37AM +0000, Hans-Bernhard Broeker wrote:
> Bob Rossi <address@hidden> wrote:
> 
> > Is `diff f.1 f.2 > f.diff' more appropriate than `diff f.1 f.2 > f.patch'?
> 
> The question doesn't make terribly much sense.  It is based on the
> assumption that the name of a file is, in any way, shape or form, an
> important part of it.  It's not.  A name is no more part of a file
> than your name is part of you.  Was it more appropriate for your
> parents to call you "Bob" or "Charles"?

Very much understood. I probably should have asked: does the diff
program output `diff' files or `patch' files.

> That said, the second command line you showed actually is a bit less
> appropriate than the former: non-context diffs may sometimes be
> tolerable for a simple file comparison', but they're a guaranteed bad
> idea if you're going to use that file with 'patch'.

Thanks, that's interesting. BTW, since you seem to understand the
subject, is context (-c) or unified (-u) a better form of (diff|patch)?
file format, for the patch program to accept?

Thanks,
Bob Rossi