YAML
Diffing YAML Files Without Whitespace Noise or Reordering
diff -w hides YAML indentation changes that alter meaning. Normalize both files with yq sort_keys and compare as data to ignore layout and order only.
6 min read
Tag
diff
12 posts
XML
Sorting XML Elements for Stable Output and Clean Diffs
Sort XML records by a key with XSLT or lxml so two exports of the same data produce the same file, including numeric keys and nested children.
6 min read
XML
Merging XML Config Files in Git Without Manual Conflicts
Two branches each add a dependency to the same pom.xml and Git reports a conflict. See why, then use the union merge driver and a manual rule that works.
6 min read
XML
Detecting Structure Changes in an XML Feed Over Time
A feed renamed price to cost and the loader kept running with empty columns. A short script compares element path snapshots and reports the change.
6 min read
XML
Pretty Printing XML for Cleaner Git History and Reviews
A one-line XML file turns every change into one giant diff. Two ways to fix it, a textconv diff driver and a formatted file in the repo, with real output.
7 min read
XML
Diffing XML Ignoring Attribute Order and Layout Noise
Make a line diff of two XML files show real changes only, by canonicalizing both sides, then use xmldiff when you need structural edit actions.
6 min read
XML
Canonical XML and Why Your Diffs Need It Before Comparing
Three XML files with the same meaning gave three different checksums. Canonical XML (C14N) fixes attribute order and quoting, but not whitespace.
6 min read
JSONGuide
Comparing and Patching JSON Documents Without Surprises
A tested guide to diffing, patching and merging JSON: normalizing, array identity, JSON Patch, Merge Patch, atomic apply, deep merge, history and tests.
17 min read
CSV
Doing a Three Way Merge of CSV Edits by Key and by Cell
Merge two people's edits of a CSV against a common base: git merge-file conflicts when both touch a row, merging by key and cell resolves different cells.
6 min read
CSV
Keeping a CSV Sorted So Diffs Stay Small in Version Control
Keep a CSV sorted by its key so a one-row change is a one-line diff: sort the body not the header, use byte order and numeric keys, and sort in the writer.
6 min read
CSV
Using git diff Sensibly on a CSV File With Word Diff
Make git diff readable for a CSV: word diff on commas, a textconv that aligns columns, a sorted file with one record per line and a trailing newline.
6 min read
XMLGuide
Comparing and Versioning XML Files in Git and in Pipelines
A tested guide to comparing XML, from canonical form and keyed record diffs to Git diffs, merges, feed shape checks and schema compatibility.
18 min read