srpm-full-context-diff

Introduction

This is a simple tool for comparing difference between 2 source RPM packages. It is alternative for using classical rpmdiff and it focuses on showing graphically difference of those 2 packages.

The main purpose of this tool is to be able to review changes made by patches and to keep full context and understanding of what and where changed between 2 packages.

Both packages can even be a lot divergent from each other. The tool still tries to find difference no mather what happened which means it can be used for comparing 2 source packages across 2 different major versions.

How does it works?

Input files types

It expects 2 URIs for old and new package on command line. There are 2 types of files identification:

1. absolute or relative path in filesystem

2. URL address of those files on web.

Processing

It unpacks both sprm packages/containers in current directory to data_old and data_new folders. Then it applies patches.

Output

It displays difference between those 2 packages.

1. It compares all files and folders in meld tool which is designed for comparing difference between 2 files or directory structures in general.

2. It compares both spec files

Configuration

You just need to add this program to your $PATH or add this to you ~/.bashrc

export SFCD_REPO_PATH="<path_to_this_repo>"
alias sfcd="bash ${SFCD_REPO_PATH}/src/srpm-full-context-diff.sh"

Usage

Supported ussage: You run program from terminal in the current directory.

There are 2 modes how to get input files:

1. You can compare 2 RPMS files stored on Web. It will be downloaded to your local system:

sfcd --old https://fedora.com/srpms/my_older_package.src.rpm --new https://fedora.com/srpms/my_newer_package.src.rpm

2. You can compare 2 RPMS files already stored in your file system:

sfcd --old my_older_package.src.rpm --new my_newer_package.src.rpm

Requirements

• It requires the program meld for graphical comparision.

• It should support BASH version 4.2 or newer.

• It uses the local BASH Helper Functions (BHF) framework - local in this context means that it is copied version to this repository withou any other external resource or dependenciest.

LICENSE

MIT LICENSE