How to compare directories with binary files

Question

I'd like to compare directories with binary files. Actually, I'm not interested in what the actual differences between files are, but to know if there's a differ (and what files differ). Previously I used meld, but it's cannot compare binary files.

What such file comparison tool can do this?

NOTE: It doesn't matter if it's a graphical tool or is just has a command-line.

Answer 1

This can easily be done with diff. For example:

$ ls -l foo/
total 2132
-rwxr-xr-x 1 terdon terdon 1029624 Nov 18 13:13 bash
-rwxr-xr-x 1 terdon terdon 1029624 Nov 18 13:13 bash2
-rwxr-xr-x 1 terdon terdon  118280 Nov 18 13:13 ls

$ ls -l bar/
total 1124
-rwxr-xr-x 1 terdon terdon 1029624 Nov 18 13:14 bash
-rwxr-xr-x 1 terdon terdon  118280 Nov 18 13:14 ls

$ diff bar/ foo/
Only in foo/: bash2

In the example above, the foo/ and bar/ directories contain binary files and bash2 is only in foo/.

So, you could run something simple like:

$ diff bar/ foo/ && echo "The directories' contents are identical"

That will show you the different files, if any, or print "The directories' contents are identical" if they are. To compare subdirectories and any files they may contain as well, use diff -r. Combine it with -q to suppress the output for text files.

Answer 2

You can compare two files using cmp command

usage:

cmp file1 file2

It will give the number bytes difference and line number

Answer 3

A complete comparison, showing identical, different and only in one or the other folder or subfolders:

diff -rqs bar/ foo/

(You'll get some output for each file, no need for the 'directories identical')