diff
/dif/ n. 1. A change listing, especially giving
differences between (and additions to) source code or documents
(the term is often used in the plural `diffs'). "Send me your
diffs for the Jargon File!" Compare vdiff. 2. Specifically,
such a listing produced by the `diff(1)' command, esp. when
used as specification input to the `patch(1)' utility (which
can actually perform the modifications; see patch). This is a
common method of distributing patches and source updates in the
UNIX/C world. 3. v. To compare (whether or not by use of automated
tools on machine-readable files); see also vdiff,
mod.
