SYNOPSIS
--------
-'git difftool' [--tool=<tool>] [-y|--no-prompt|--prompt] [<'git diff' options>]
+[verse]
+'git difftool' [<options>] [<commit> [<commit>]] [--] [<path>...]
DESCRIPTION
-----------
-'git-difftool' is a git command that allows you to compare and edit files
+'git difftool' is a git command that allows you to compare and edit files
between revisions using common diff tools. 'git difftool' is a frontend
-to 'git-diff' and accepts the same options and arguments.
+to 'git diff' and accepts the same options and arguments. See
+linkgit:git-diff[1].
OPTIONS
-------
+-d::
+--dir-diff::
+ Copy the modified files to a temporary location and perform
+ a directory diff on them. This mode never prompts before
+ launching the diff tool.
+
-y::
--no-prompt::
Do not prompt before launching a diff tool.
-t <tool>::
--tool=<tool>::
- Use the diff tool specified by <tool>.
- Valid merge tools are:
- kdiff3, kompare, tkdiff, meld, xxdiff, emerge, vimdiff, gvimdiff,
- ecmerge, diffuse and opendiff
+ Use the diff tool specified by <tool>. Valid values include
+ emerge, kompare, meld, and vimdiff. Run `git difftool --tool-help`
+ for the list of valid <tool> settings.
+
-If a diff tool is not specified, 'git-difftool'
+If a diff tool is not specified, 'git difftool'
will use the configuration variable `diff.tool`. If the
-configuration variable `diff.tool` is not set, 'git-difftool'
+configuration variable `diff.tool` is not set, 'git difftool'
will pick a suitable default.
+
You can explicitly provide a full path to the tool by setting the
configuration variable `difftool.<tool>.path`. For example, you
can configure the absolute path to kdiff3 by setting
-`difftool.kdiff3.path`. Otherwise, 'git-difftool' assumes the
+`difftool.kdiff3.path`. Otherwise, 'git difftool' assumes the
tool is available in PATH.
+
Instead of running one of the known diff tools,
-'git-difftool' can be customized to run an alternative program
+'git difftool' can be customized to run an alternative program
by specifying the command line to invoke in a configuration
variable `difftool.<tool>.cmd`.
+
-When 'git-difftool' is invoked with this tool (either through the
+When 'git difftool' is invoked with this tool (either through the
`-t` or `--tool` option or the `diff.tool` configuration variable)
the configured command line will be invoked with the following
variables available: `$LOCAL` is set to the name of the temporary
file containing the contents of the diff pre-image and `$REMOTE`
is set to the name of the temporary file containing the contents
-of the diff post-image. `$BASE` is provided for compatibility
-with custom merge tool commands and has the same value as `$LOCAL`.
+of the diff post-image. `$MERGED` is the name of the file which is
+being compared. `$BASE` is provided for compatibility
+with custom merge tool commands and has the same value as `$MERGED`.
+
+--tool-help::
+ Print a list of diff tools that may be used with `--tool`.
+
+-x <command>::
+--extcmd=<command>::
+ Specify a custom command for viewing diffs.
+ 'git-difftool' ignores the configured defaults and runs
+ `$command $LOCAL $REMOTE` when this option is specified.
+ Additionally, `$BASE` is set in the environment.
+
+-g::
+--gui::
+ When 'git-difftool' is invoked with the `-g` or `--gui` option
+ the default diff tool will be read from the configured
+ `diff.guitool` variable instead of `diff.tool`.
See linkgit:git-diff[1] for the full list of supported options.
CONFIG VARIABLES
----------------
-'git-difftool' falls back to 'git-mergetool' config variables when the
+'git difftool' falls back to 'git mergetool' config variables when the
difftool equivalents have not been defined.
diff.tool::
The default diff tool to use.
+diff.guitool::
+ The default diff tool to use when `--gui` is specified.
+
difftool.<tool>.path::
Override the path for the given tool. This is useful in case
your tool is not in the PATH.
linkgit:git-config[1]::
Get and set repository or global options
-
-AUTHOR
-------
-Written by David Aguilar <davvid@gmail.com>.
-
-Documentation
---------------
-Documentation by David Aguilar and the git-list <git@vger.kernel.org>.
-
GIT
---
Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite