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BSDIFF(1)		    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.

FreeBSD	14.3			 May 18, 2003			     BSDIFF(1)

Want to link to this manual page? Use this URL:
<https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=bsdiff&manpath=FreeBSD+14.3-RELEASE+and+Ports>

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