Compare Two Folders In Windows Using DIFF Command

To compare the content of two folders in Windows you can use diff command.

Normally, to compare to files you use this command:

C:\Users\hardono>diff file1.txt file2.txt

To compare two folder, use the parameter -rq:

C:\Users\hardono>diff -rq T:\ C:\Projects\Java\TMS

Below is the result’s snippet:

Only in C:\Projects\Java\TMS: .git
Files T:\checkpassword.asp and C:\Projects\Java\TMS/checkpassword.asp differ
Files T:\contact/Thumbs.db and C:\Projects\Java\TMS/contact/Thumbs.db differ
Only in T:\: crystalreportviewers10
Only in C:\Projects\Java\TMS/etrack: _notes
Files T:\etrack/trucker_pictures/Thumbs.db and C:\Projects\Java\TMS/etrack/trucker_pictures/Thumbs.db differ
Only in C:\Projects\Java\TMS/etrack/trucker_pictures: _notes
Files T:\images/Thumbs.db and C:\Projects\Java\TMS/images/Thumbs.db differ
Only in T:\invoice: testing.asp
Only in C:\Projects\Java\TMS/jobsummary: _notes
Files T:\jobsummary/daily_cargo_report.asp and C:\Projects\Java\TMS/jobsummary/daily_cargo_report.asp differ
Only in C:\Projects\Java\TMS/misc: _notes
Only in T:\misc/songs: newyearsong-old.mp3
Only in C:\Projects\Java\TMS/misc_new: _notes
Only in T:\misc_new/songs: newyearsong-old.mp3

If you receive error like below, it means you haven’t install Git.

You can download Git for Windows from http://msysgit.github.io/

Once you’ve have installed it, don’t forget to add C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin or C:\Program Files\Git\bin (depending on the version you installed) to System’s Environment variable:

I hope it helps, cheers!

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