Compare two directory trees without reading file bodies
Build a paste-ready command, then review its compatibility and effects before running it.
diff -qr <source> <destination>Complete required fields to copy the generated command.
read-onlyno known side effects Compatibility
Linux + macOSVerified for Linux, macOS using bash, zsh syntax.
Operational knowledgereview due 2027-01-19
Requirementsdiffdiff must be installed and available on PATH.
Version supportdiff Current supported releasesVerified for linux, macos using bash, zsh syntax; consult compatibility notes for platform-specific differences.
Expected signalsFiles ./release-a/app.js and ./release-b/app.js differRepresentative successful output; values vary with the selected target and system state.
Known errorsdiff: command not founddiff is missing or is not available on PATH.
Verifydiff -qr {{source}} {{destination}}The output matches the expected target and exits without an error.Rollback noteNot required: this command is read-only and does not change system state.
Command breakdown
01diffCommandRuns the diff stage of this one-liner.
02-qrOptionConfigures diff with the -qr option.
03<source>ParameterA value supplied in the Fill parameters section.
04<destination>ParameterA value supplied in the Fill parameters section.
This advanced community-curated one-liner combines several stages. Review every option and placeholder before running it.
Example input
diff -qr ./release-a ./release-b
Example output
Files ./release-a/app.js and ./release-b/app.js differ
Only in ./release-b: manifest.json
Illustrative output — exact values vary by system and data.
Official sources