Pros/Cons of External File Comparison Tools for Use with EG

[TBarker]

We're starting to look into using the File Comparison feature of EG. We are looking for recommendations as to which of the three tools included in the EG pick list (WinMerge, KDiff3, Beyond Compare 3) - or other file comparison tools not listed - is best for use with SAS or at least pros/cons of each based on SAS users' experience. I've read this 2015 thread with comments from @ChrisHemedinger in it - 

https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Enterprise-Guide/Code-comparison-in-EG-7-1/td-p/212611 - but we're four years later, so I'd like to know if the WinMerge recommendation from Chris and a few other folks on the thread still holds up after four years. To the best of our knowledge, our company doesn't have any of the three tools, so we just need to make a case for which one will be best for our use.

[VDD]

I my experience I use SAS tools, MS tools and the x command for comparing.

DOS fc has its advantages while proc compare also has its advantages.  Together they normally assist me if finding what was changes by who, were and sometimes answers why.

[SASKiwi]

If you are serious about tracking code changes then version control tools like GIT, MS Visual Studio / TFS are the way to go. All of these tools have great program compare utilities. I would consider it best practice to version control all business-critical or "business-important" SAS applications.

[ChrisHemedinger]

For my part, I still like WinMerge as a free option.  I haven't needed anything else, but my needs are simple. My tasks, in descending order of frequency:

 - are these files different? (text or binary)

 - what lines are different in these text files?

 - I need to apply a few of the diff'd lines in one file into another file.

WinMerge does all of those well.

I have colleagues who love Beyond Compare and consider it worth the small cost.

[AlanC]

I swear by BeyondCompare. Have tried others but nothing beats BC, IMO.

That said, using GIT is highly recommended as well.

[andreas_lds]

Using git + sourcetree + kdiff3, kdiff3 is used by sourcetree and helps solving merge conflicts.

[Patrick]

@TBarker 

I'm not arguing with anyone that proper version control is done using GIT and the like. But for simple text compares and merges: I just love BeyondCompare. I've tried other tools but nothing beat it in its combination of ease of use and richness in features. It doesn't cost much and is worth supporting, ....else: the eval license actually never really expires.

One of the features most useful to me: Files don't need to be local to be accessible.

[TBarker]

I love SAS Communities and SAS users! Y'all are always so helpful.