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Devart proudly presents Code Compare - an advanced visual file comparison tool and a major step forward in source code comparison. Our programmer-to-programmer philosophy ensures that both freeware Code Compare and powerful Code Compare Pro software are tailored to perfectly meet your needs in change tracking and file merging.

Intuitive and user-friendly interface guarantees you can start comparing and merging your source files in a snap. Packed with numerous cutting-edge features and distributed as a standalone application or as a Visual Studio add-in, this code comparison tool vividly demonstrates that we could never offer our customers anything but the best file comparison software.

You can replace default diff and merge tools in SVN, TFS, Git, Mercurial or in any other version control system, supporting external tools, with Code Compare. By doing so, you will get significant advantages in tracking changes gradually implemented into your project files over time.

Code Oriented

Code Orientation

Source code comparison has just become a child's play! Code Compare introduces the concept of Code Orientation, ultimately standing it out of competitive file comparison software. The concept implies syntax highlighting as well as unique structure and lexical comparison algorithms. The file comparison tool takes into account language specifics, which allows comparing sources in several of the most popular programming languages as code!

Syntax Highlighting

Code Compare recognizes language syntax elements and highlights them in different colors, which makes visual file comparison and merge considerably easier. This is complemented with the Brace Matching feature, which highlights the beginning and the end of a code block. Ultimately you are able to experience an incomparably convenient code reading for comprehensive file comparison.

Structure Comparison

The concept of Code Orientation involves several pillars. One of them is Structure Comparison. This methodology allows comparing source code by its signature, instead of its location only. Code Compare supports Structure Comparison in several most popular languages, namely C#, JavaScript, Java and Visual Basic altogether making it a comprehensive tool for source code comparison.

Lexical Comparison

Another key point in the concept of code orientation is Lexical Comparison. This algorithm is triggered when you choose Symbol By Symbol comparison mode. It detects lexemes from supported languages and compares them word by word. Code Compare supports C#, C++, Visual Basic and JavaScript sources for Lexical Comparison.

Difference Explorer

The final element of source-oriented file comparison is Difference Explorer. This advanced option (available in Code Compare Pro only) shows changes in class structure between revisions. It displays structure tree of source files and marks changes by colors. This way you can visually review changes in the code and navigate between them.

Visual Studio Integration

Smooth Visual Studio Integration

Striving to make source file comparison and merge even more effective, we've added unique Visual Studio integration functionality to Code Compare. The true freedom of performing all the development and merging operations within one environment at the same time is finally at your hands. With a file comparison tool integrated, Visual Studio receives a special Code Compare menu and toolbar, which contain every function you needed for file comparison and 3-way merge.

Visual Studio 2008

Visual Studio 2010

The one environment for development and merge!

While distributed as a standalone file comparison tool, Code Compare can also be smoothly integrated into different software environments, e.g. Windows Explorer, version control systems and most prominently - Microsoft Visual Studio integrated development environment.

When integrated into Visual Studio 2008 or Visual Studio 2010 Code Compare receives numerous benefits in terms of file comparison and merging.

For instance, you can view and compare the code directly in the native Visual Studio code editor, using all of its functionality, including keyboard shortcuts, code formatting and syntax validation the way you are used to. As a part of its advanced Visual Studio integration capabilities, Code Compare uses native Visual Studio colors to highlight syntax. Also, in this case Code Navigation and Intellisense function in the context of currently open solution.

Comparing the project structure and merging its elements can now be performed using the solution explorer menu, containing a Code Compare item.

3-Way Merge

Three-way Merge

Three-way comparison and merge is one of the strongest functions incorporated in Code Compare tool. This function uses all the features native to two-way file comparison processing three files at once. The main goal is comparing one base file with two of its editions. Highly-customizable GUI and one-click operation make three-way merge an ultimately convenient solution for team projects.

3-Way Merge - Vertical Layout

3-Way Merge - Mixed Layout

Three-way merge in a snap!

Using this feature the content of one file placed on the center pane is compared with the content of left and right pane content simultaneously. You can open any three files using Browse button as well as Windows Explorer context menu or drag and drop.

Yet, this feature is most commonly used to solve conflicts in version control systems. Three-way file merging allows you to merge two derived files to a base file or to a result file.

As one of its newest additions, Code Compare GUI features a special toolbar for working with pane layout. Using these panes you can quickly switch between horizontal or vertical layout as well as hide any of the displayed panes, leaving only the ones necessary for you.

Folder Synchronization

Folder Synchronization

From now on even if you don't use any version control systems, the extensive functionality of Code Compare can come in handy when you need to compare and merge entire folders. This application is very useful for detecting changes in different versions of source code or web pages. Advanced integration capabilities of this file comparison tool couldn't miss Windows Explorer. All you have to do in order to compare the contents of two folders is select them and choose the respective option from the context menu.

Folder Synchronization

Folder Synchronization Options

Compare folders and copy changes - it's as easy as that!

The folder comparison feature uses color highlighting to mark differences. You can merge folders with the help of Copy to Left and Copy to Right items of the context menu. If you want to compare a file from one folder with a respective file from another folder just double-click on the file or press ENTER on it.

The resulting comparison is fairly quick, yet it can be further enhanced due to an additional option, which skips files with equal size and timestamp.

Another helpful option is the possibility to filter files and folders. For instance, it allows you to ignore binary files and subversion folders.

Comparison of individual files can be called by simple double-clicking or using Windows Explorer menu, integrated in context menu of files and folders. Finally, you can merge separated files one-by-one or whole folders from one pane to another.



  • Code Compare Overview
  • Code Compare Oriented
  • Code Compare Integration to Visual Studio
  • Three-way comparison and merge
  • Folder Synchronization