Meld
Meld is an open-source, Python-based visual diff and merge tool that allows you to compare and edit files, supports syntax highlighting, and integrates with version control systems like CVS, Subversion, and Mercurial for dynamic diff updates. It works offline, is lightweight, portable, and ad-free.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Python
- GTK
Features
Properties
- Lightweight
Features
- Compare Source Code
- Folder Comparison
- Syntax Highlighting
- Comparing folders
- 3 way merge
- File Comparison
- Ad-free
- Works Offline
- No registration required
- One-click merging
- Portable
- Real Time Comparison
Tags
- merge-folders
- merging
Meld News & Activities
Recent News
Recent activities
nabbisen added Meld as alternative to ForskScope- RemovedUser added Meld as alternative to ForskScope
- share-afraid-speak liked Meld
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What is Meld?
Meld is a visual diff and merge tool. You can compare two or three files and edit them in place (diffs update dynamically). You can compare two or three folders and launch file comparisons. You can browse and view a working copy from popular version control systems such such as CVS, Subversion, Bazaar-ng and Mercurial. Written with Python and GTK.
Note: There are ports to Mac but the app doesn't "officially" run on Mac.
Meld information
Developed by
Kai Willadsen Licensing
Open Source (GPL-2.0) and Free product.Rating
Average rating of 3.7Alternatives
52 alternatives listedSupported Languages
- English
Comments and Reviews
Visually pretty ok. Functionality superb. Folder, files, merging - works like a charm. You MUST enter the preferences and turn on the features other tools have enabled by default. The color themes are not as good. is able to view git changes (can you commit and pull?) and can create patches.
Would love to see a more windows native theme - and a better color theme with more color styles (syntax is not colored with enough differences).
Diff bars are on the outside --- love to see them in the middle :)
The interface is more basic compared to Beyond Compare and it's not possible to paste the path to compare files and folders
Works OK if you're not doing anything too complicated or comparing anything too large. Not recommended for checking the state of your long-term large-data backup. Even just comparing a single music file takes absolute ages, and if it's entire folders full of them you might see random crashes or freezes, and it might even slow down the whole system. I suicided some neurons using it for a few days, but after a while I couldn't take it anymore and installed BeyondCompare for the sheer speed.
The major thing Meld has on BeyondCompare is it can copy from one side to the other without throwing mysterious errors if it's not started with sudo on Linux. Other than that it quickly becomes unbearable.
Sadly Meld in 2023 still does not have an official MacOS build and the fact that the unsupported build are not signed makes it impractical to use. With free Github Actions, the developers cannot claim that they don't have access for a mac for CI/CD purposes.
Meld is similar to the program Diffinity, but on an average seems to lack the refinement. No Context Menu choice is a big drawback. Unlike Diffinity, I have an immediate urge to change settings.. The text shows big. The colors a bit louder. Very direct messages that must be clicked away.. such as when 2 files are identical. It does have an advantage.. it will wrap words.
Crossplatform, Free, Opensource, Highlight line difference.
Meld is OK for comparing files and directories only. What it doesn't do anymore is allow you to copy changes from one side to the other. For a few years now the "Copy to Left" and "Copy to Right" buttons have been greyed out on every system I've tried it on (Linux, Windows, Mac)