CODEWITHSUNDEEP
linuxgit
user2040158
user2040158

Reputation:

How to color a patch file generated from git

I have a file.patch file generated from someone else. I want to review the patch file, but I would like to be able to apply my own git color config to the file.

I may not currently be in a git project directory and I may not even know what repo the patch file came from, but I just want to see basically context/additions/deletions colored with my normal git colors.

I'm looking for a pipeline solution rather than some external library. Something like: git --please-color-this file.patch | less

Upvotes: 5

Views: 1525

Answers (3)

Tim Hughes
Tim Hughes

Reputation: 3571

You can use Vim for this. Just open the file with vim file.patch

If you are worried about changing the file then use the -M read-only flag vim -M file.patch

If you are trying to view it when reading from a pipe, you can tell vim to read from STDIN by using a - as the file name.

diff -u file_a.py file_b.py | vim -M -

Upvotes: 2

espakm
espakm

Reputation: 119

colordiff < file.patch | less -R

The 'less' command is optional but I find it useful, e.g. for scrolling, searching.

Upvotes: 4

NadavS
NadavS

Reputation: 777

less is not the program you're looking for, the colors are not stored in the file and less doesn't understand the diff format. Instead, use a tool that understands the diff format, for instance text editors such as vscode or vim. The best program is the program you currently use for merge conflicts.

Upvotes: 0

Related Questions