How to use Xcode's FileMerge tool to compare files
The often overlooked Xcode FileMerge app lets you spot what's changed between two files. Here's how to spot the differences using the tool.
Chip is a 30-year Apple industry veteran, is author of 18 commercial Mac software products, and is a former Apple and Sony employee. He began hacking away on Apple computers on the Apple II+ in high school in the mid 1980's, then moved on to the Mac in the early 90's. In a previous life he created the game developer audio tools for Playstation 2 at Sony, and worked on the New World OpenFirmware found in late 90's Macs.
The often overlooked Xcode FileMerge app lets you spot what's changed between two files. Here's how to spot the differences using the tool.
Most Mac users know familiar Finder window backgrounds, but few know you can also set Finder window backgrounds to any color you like. Here's how to do it.
A little-known feature in iOS and iPadOS lets you turn images into stickers. Here's how to make your own affixable images on an iPad.
Apple Vision Pro's release is imminent, and there are lot of things for developers to consider when building apps for the headset. Here's what you should think about when making visionOS apps.
For developers, threading is an important issue that impacts game performance. Here's how task scheduling works in Apple Silicon games.
Xcode Cloud is Apple's Continuous Integration build service for developers. Here's how to get started using it for your own software creations.
The Erase Assistant in macOS allows you to restore your Mac to its original state. Here's how to use it and get back to a fresh desktop.
Xcode allows you to live preview your iOS views using Xcode Previews, so you can see how the app appears as you're actively developing it. Here's how to use them.
Mozilla's macOS Firefox browser stores cached files on your Startup Disk and can take up space. This is how to reset Firefox to get back some of that consumed storage.
Apple's addition of Sandboxing in macOS added predefined app folders to the operating system. Here's how to remove some of those folders that you probably don't need and get some drive space back.
Blender Foundation has released version 4 of the popular Blender 3D design app, bringing interface changes, feature improvements, and most importantly speed boosts for Apple Silicon Macs.
The Terminal app in macOS keeps track of recent commands you've used so you can reuse them at a later time. Here's how to clear Terminal's command history.
When Mac users think about search in macOS, they often think about Spotlight, but there's another way. Here's how to use the Finder's built-in search instead.
Cross-platform game development engine Unity 6 has arrived, with a bundle of new improvements incorporating AI features for characters, and better support for headsets including the forthcoming Apple Vision Pro.
Safari tab groups have been in iPadOS for several years, and can really help you organize pages you've browsed. Here's how to use them in iPadOS 17.
The .NET framework allows cross-platform development on Windows and Mac, and Microsoft released version 8 for both in November. Here's what that means to developers.
You can now play classic DOS games on your Mac in your browser, thanks to the online service DOS_deck. Here's how to use it.
Apple added dynamic desktop wallpapers in macOS Sonoma, but not everyone wants them. Here's how to remove the new additions from your Mac.
Adobe Photoshop stores lots of temporary files on your Mac during editing, which can have side-effects. Here's how to clear them out in macOS.
In a previous article, we explained how to change Notes attachment sizes in macOS Sonoma. Here's how to do it in iOS.
The Basilisk II emulator can be used to run old versions of Mac OS 8 and System 7 on a modern Mac. Here's how to get started using it.
Apple changed the behavior of Notes attachments sizes in macOS Sonoma. Here's how to get the old behavior back.
Postscript is all but gone, and today, newer font standards such as TrueType and OpenType rule the roost. Here's how we got from desktop PostScript in the early '80s to today.
Apple removes support for old Mac hardware in new macOS releases. Here's how to run modern macOS on older Macs using OpenCore.
Apple ended direct PostScript file support in macOS Sonoma, but you can still peek inside PDF files to see what they contain, by using PDF Debugger.
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