Meld vs CodeCompare
When comparing Meld vs CodeCompare, the Slant community recommends Meld for most people. In the question“What are the best folder/file compare/diff tools for either OSX, Linux or Windows?” Meld is ranked 1st while CodeCompare is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Meld is:
In addition to comparing two files it also allows you to edit them right in place. What's more, the diffs are updated automatically.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Supports editing files directly
In addition to comparing two files it also allows you to edit them right in place. What's more, the diffs are updated automatically.
Pro Free and open source
Meld is freely available on Linux, Windows and OSX (through MacPorts, Fink or Brew).
It's also open source and distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
Pro Comparing two or more different folders is supported
Meld allows users to compare two or three different folders for differences. But if a user wants to 'zoom in' and compare files contained in these folders, Meld gives you the ability to do so and launch file comparisons between files contained in different folders or in the same folder.
Pro Supports some simple version control actions
Meld supports the major version control systems (Git, Mercurial, Subversion and Bazaar). You can launch file comparisons between different versions to see what parts changed before commiting.
Simple version control actions are also supported and possible. For example: commit/update/add/remove/delete files.
Pro Three way comparisons
You can compare up to three different files for differences. Plus you can edit files from the comparison view and the diff will automatically update.
Pro Simple GUI
Pro Easy to use and visually appealing
Stragihtforward and you don't need to read tutorials to use it. Just click and select and you instantly see how the difference and merges are connected to eachother.
3 sub- windows, instead of 4, which reduces the mess during merge and let you see more of the surrounding files rather than just 5 lines.
Pro Fast on Linux
Relatively fast on Linux.
Pro Internationalization
Through the GNOME Translation project and the translators that have worked for it, Meld is available in multiple languages. You can check if your language is supported in the translation statistics page.
If you can't find your language or if your language translation is unfinished and you want to help, you can do so by joining the GNOME Translation Project.
Pro Graphical showing of where code is added or removed
It does not add a blank line in the other code-pane to show where code was added or deleted. It simply draws a line to show point out its location.
Pro Three-way comparison and automatic merging
Three comparison panes with horizontal and vertical layouts
- Integrates with version control systems as the merging tool for conflicting file revisions
- Non-conflicting changes are merged automatically
- Merging conflicts are highlighted
- One-click conflict resolution with a mouse button
Pro Supports comparing folders
Can diff entire folders.
Pro Integrated into Visual Studio
Can be used either as a stand-alone product or as the built in diff/merge tool for Visual Studio.
Pro Clear overview that marks only the changes, not every line with a change
Most compare tools mark every changed line with colour, making the code just a mess with thousands of coloured lines, while all that might be changed is a sign/character on each line. Code Compare draws boxes around each changed segment and highlights only the real change with a colour.
Pro Offers free version and paid for version
You get a lot more if you pay for the pro version.
Cons
Con Slow on large files
While larger files are supported, they can take a long time to load. (20,000 lines+)
Con Program opens slow on Windows
Update: This issue should be fixed on Meld-3.18.1-win32.msi released on 27 May 2018. See http://meldmerge.org/news.html
Con Very slow mac OS port
Con No option to compare individual rows horizontally
Unlike other options, like Beyond Compare, Meld has no option to compare individual rows horizontally.
Con Not having a base value to reference can make merging less certain
Con No Explorer context menu integration
In Windows, there is no option to right-click and compare files easily.
Con No official OSX Support
Some attempts have been made to port, but nothing easy or fully working.
Con Missing contextual command line options
Not all contextual elements are exposed to the cli. Specifically the ability to follow our not follow symlinks, but also things like file system metadata parsing. These options and others can only be toggled via the gui's settings window.
Con No longer supported
Problematic with Visual Studio 2022. Semantic code comparison (its main selling point) does not support newer language variations.
Con Does not support custom comment markings
Some compilers use ";" to specify in-line commenting. But as that is not a common method, all added comments are marked as new code. So it becomes difficult to find changes in the functionality of the code.
Con Does not support move-detection
Very few programs detect move of blocks of code. Most just show deleted and added instead.
Con Free version is limited
Whereas there is a free version, it is missing a lot of great features that you're forced to pay for if you want.