BSDIFF(1)		  BSD 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.

BSD				 May 18, 2003				   BSD