Download Changes for Mac - Directory comparison and file differencing tool. MacUpdate Mac Source Software Downloads

Changes is a directory comparison and file differencing tool for OS X. It offers easy integration with subversion, CVS, git, svnX, TextMate, BBEdit, TextWrangler, and Xcode. Changes includes deep integration and support for MacFUSE, allowing you to compare files on SFTP shares transparently and with a minimum of fuss. Powered by OS X 10.5's Core Animation - Changes sports a beautiful and functional user experience.

Version 1.5.6:

Added the "Return" key-shortcut to the SCM HUD, pressing this key will execute the comparison.
Fixed an issue where a copy or a move would hang the directory comparison view.
Addressed performance regressions in the directory comparison view.
Text diff should use linear time and memory when performing the difference.
Fixed the mis-detection of unicode files.
Changes now displays the directory tree "as fast as possible". Directory refreshes are cancellable w/o nuking the displayed files.

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Suggest something else:

SHATFIELD No "follow symbolic link" option?! Without that, Changes is completely useless to me.
(Version 1.5.6)

WALTERS Just spent a hour playing with Changes. Looking at the feature set, this looked to be excatly what I was looking for.

I am a Windows convert and I am looking for something to replace the combination of WebDrive and WinMerge on WinXP for inspecting and deploying changes to web apps I write.

I am really bummed about Changes because it is so close, but yet so far away from what I need. The built in MacFUSE seemed to work well and connected to my web server, the display of the changed files looks pretty good, but then things started falling apart.

I have a large number of log files I need to filter so I tried to set up an exclusion filter. From what I can tell Changes pulls down all the files, then filters them instead of seeing the name is excluded and passing over it. This makes a refresh of the display so slow as to be unusable.

Refresh on WinXP - 4.22 sec

Changes seems like forever. Tried to time it but Changes flooded my ISP with bad requests and got my IP address blacklisted on the server. Had to contact the ISP to get off the black list (nightmare).

I did have it working for about an half an hour and tried to update a file on the server. Never did figure it out. Seems like every time I clicked some thing I got the dreaded Mac spinning beach ball. And I never got any status messages so I was lost on what was happening. After 10 minutes of waiting on Changes I pressed the refresh button and that is when I was blacklisted (see above).

At this point I gave up. I really wish Changes had worked out. The only viable solution I have found on the Mac to replace WebDrive - WinMerge is a combination of ExpanDrive and Araxis Merge. Way more $$$ than any other alternative, but at this point the only thing that seems to work. I did try MacFusion 2.0.3 with Araxis Merge to save some money, but MacFusion got me blacklisted also. I did not have this problem with ExpanDrive.

I guess this is one of those situations where you get what you pay for. Bummer.
(Version 1.0.4 (41))

SEMIOTICMONKEY let me suggest the addition of a useful feature.

'open invisible files'.

cvs puts his old working copy as invisible file and the option to open it directly from Changes would be a welcome addition.

same rating as my previous review as nothing changed (no pun intended) from the last time.
(Version 1.0.2 (34))

SKORPIOSTECH The idea of this app is to serve a need which is currently unserved by FileMerge or Eclipse.

Eclipse is good, but is often not considered due to its dependency on Java. It's also pretty tough to use in my opinion. If you have a non-Java workflow, I'm pretty sure you're not going to be interested in Eclipse.

FileMerge lacks in place editing and requires a merge output file. Plus, it doesn't attempt to match the lines in the diff blocks, making it more difficult to tell what changed in the text file.

As far as vfx, I don't understand why this is a net negative in a development tool. One could make this argument for any application, are developer tools _supposed_ to be ugly and difficult to use?
(Version 1.0b10(21))

Replies:

Feb 15 2008

SEMIOTICMONKEY i'm using eclipse in a Textmate-CSSedit combo, so it is a viable option in a non Java centric worflow. i don't need to install a cvs client, a diff and a merge tool. it is all in one package. a free one. it is not so tought to use and, yes, it eats 100MB RAM on my macbook 4GB RAM loaded.

it has its quircks, sure. its workspace management is irritable.

i agree with you on filemerge but, again, it is free.

let me cleary iterate on this. i appreciate your work and i tried your application to see if it can help me in my work. i'm willing to pony up my money, as i've done with TextMate and CSSedit and other application i use everyday for work, but for something cleary on top of which i already use for free.

in my opinion and, i iterate, in this moment, your application it is not cleary offering enough features to justify the cost.

not, a dev tool it is not supposed to be ugly (CSSedit is a beautiful GUI and workflow) but there is a 'limen' (threshold) between form and function. the vfx i see is a bit too on the form side for my taste (for my taste). what information the fading of the window give me on the start up? i clicked on the dock icon, i know it is starting, i expect the window to pop up. so?

maybe, and it is again my opinion, better you look at those icons to help users recognizing actions. there is where i would look to improve the usability (and, togheter, the look and feel) of Changes.

keep up the good works. i would download your upgrades to check and, maybe, to buy.
(Version 1.0b10(21))

Feb 15 2008

SKORPIOSTECH Thanks for the clarification! Sorry you feel there aren't enough features to justify the price. I beg to differ, but I'm biased because I'm the developer.

You mentioned CSSEdit and TextMate, two great apps. I'm currently working on integrating Changes closely with TextMate. If you're a subversion user, there's a version of svnX on the wiki (http://wiki.changesapp.com/) which integrates with Changes as well.

I'll look into the icons issue you mention, maybe an improvement could be made there.
(Version 1.0b10(21))

Feb 15 2008

SEMIOTICMONKEY yep! the TextMate integration would be a much appreciated feature.

i already looked at the wiki page (congrats for the TextMate wiki mood. i hope it helps the application to grow with the help of its users) and downloaded the svnX integration (good work on this one too).

i'll look permanently at your work. be warned! :)
(Version 1.0b10(21))

SEMIOTICMONKEY good first shot for a valuable niche but...it needs more and more features to justify the price as the optimus FileMerge is free with the Apple Dev Tools and you can, like me, use Eclipse only loaded with the CVS, SVN modules (fast loading time and central control over yours repos). Eclispe has a very good diff tool full of option and working with the local history too (apart from the repo).

Changes lacks all the bells and whistles from the duo above (integration and tools) and in this incarnation is quite a very barebone diff with the merge addon as a bonus (textwrangler has an efficient but

limited diff too. but it is free).

It needs more visual rapresentation of conflicts, more info about the files being edited and where they are and so on and less vfx (sorry, a merge tool isn't a delecious generation tool).

A more mature CM and an effective syntax coloring are welcome too.

Apart from these point i like to have a new native kid on the block cause we need more options. I believe it has all the time to grow in a more mature application as the time goes on and the dev keeps focused on features and not on vfx.

keep the good work.
(Version 1.0b10(17))