Re: diff question

[Bob Proulx]

Chapman, David W wrote:
> I performed a diff on two files using diff (GNU diffutils) 2.8.7.
> 
> Both HP-UX and Solaris produced identical results with the same two files.

Both HP-UX and Solaris use a SysV derived diff program.

> I am running SUSE Linux 10 SP1 (GNU/Linux 2.6.16.46-0.12-smp).

SuSE uses the GNU diff program which is an independently created
program.

> The diff command on SUSE Linux produced a slightly different result (one 
> "hunk"):
> ...
> Both HP-UX and Solaris showed this as two "hunks":
> ...
> Is there a default option in the HP-UX / Solaris world that is
> different in the GNU/Linux world?

Is either incorrect?  I presume that both diff outputs are correct but
just different from each other.  Is that right?  In which case that
might be expected between two different programs that were created
independently from each other.

> If you want, I can send you the two files and the diff results from
> HP-UX, Solaris, and Linux.

Only if the GNU diff output is incorrect.  Otherwise if GNU diff is
performing correctly then it is okay even if it is different from
another non-GNU diff program.

Bob