fc

The "fc" command line tool, also known as file compare, is a built-in command in various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is primarily used to compare two text files or sets of text files and display the differences between them.

Here are some key features and usage details of the "fc" command:

1. Syntax: On Windows, the syntax is "fc file1 file2", and on Unix-like systems, it is "fc file1 file2 [output]".

2. Text comparison: "fc" compares files line by line and displays the differences between corresponding lines. It identifies added, deleted, and modified lines in the files.

3. Output options: In Windows, the command displays the differences in the console by default. However, you can redirect the output to a file using the "> filename" syntax. On Unix-like systems, you can use the optional "output" argument to save the differences to a file instead of displaying them in the console.

4. File format support: "fc" works with plain text files. It may not be suitable for comparing binary files or files with complex formatting, such as word processor documents.

5. Case sensitivity: By default, "fc" treats text as case-insensitive. However, you can use the "/c" option on Windows to enable case-sensitive comparison.

6. Line numbers: The command displays line numbers alongside the differences, making it easier to identify the location of each change.

7. Automation: "fc" can be used in scripts or batch files to automate file comparison tasks.

Overall, the "fc" command line tool is a convenient way to compare text files and identify differences between them. It is useful for various scenarios, including code versioning, document comparison, and troubleshooting.