UNIX in a Nutshell: System V Edition

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Unix Commands
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cmp

cmp [options] file1 file2

Compare file1 with file2. Use standard input if file1 or file2 is -. See also comm and diff. The exit codes are as follows:

0

Files are identical.

1

Files are different.

2

Files are inaccessible.

Options

-l

For each difference, print the byte number in decimal and the differing bytes in octal.

-s

Work silently; print nothing, but return exit codes.

Example

Print a message if two files are the same (exit code is 0):

cmp -s old new && echo 'no changes'


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