ZDIFF(1) | General Commands Manual | ZDIFF(1)

# NAME

`zcmp`, `zdiff` — compare compressed files

# SYNOPSIS

`zcmp` | [options] file1 [file2]

`zdiff` | [options] file1 [file2]

# DESCRIPTION

`zcmp` and `zdiff` are filters that invoke cmp(1) or diff(1) respectively to compare compressed files. Such files generally have a “Z” or “gz” extension (both the compress(1) and gzip(1) formats are supported). Any options that are specified are passed to cmp(1) or diff(1).

If only file1 is specified, it is compared against a file with the same name, but with the extension removed. When both file1 or file2 are specified, either file may be compressed.

# ENVIRONMENT

`TMPDIR`
  Directory in which to place temporary files. If unset, /tmp is used.

# FILES

/tmp/zcmp.XXXXXXXXXX
  Temporary file for `zcmp`.
/tmp/zdiff.XXXXXXXXXX
  Temporary file for `zdiff`.

# SEE ALSO

cmp(1), compress(1), diff(1), gzip(1)

# CAVEATS

`zcmp` and `zdiff` rely solely on the file extension to determine what is, or is not, a compressed file. Consequently, the following are not supported as arguments:

- directories
- device special files
- filenames indicating the standard input (‘-’)

January 25, 2019 | Debian