Why the Mac App Store version needs it

The Mac App Store version of Diff Anything runs in Apple's sandbox, which lets it read only the files you open in the app. A command run in Terminal or by Git names files the app has not been given, so the app's own executable cannot read them.

The helper is the same command line built as a separate program, signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple, that runs outside the sandbox. Every command and Git setting written for diff-anything works with it unchanged.

Install and check

Open the downloaded package and follow the installer. It puts the helper in /usr/local/lib/diff-anything and links it as /usr/local/bin/diff-anything, which every shell finds on its default PATH. Open a new Terminal window to check it:

Terminal

which -a diff-anything
diff-anything --version

Pro on the command line

The helper has Pro when you bought or restored Pro in the Diff Anything app on the same Mac, under the same macOS user. The app keeps the App Store's signed record of the purchase in a folder it shares with the helper, and the helper checks Apple's signature on it offline. After buying or restoring Pro, open the app once before you use Pro from the command line.

Without Pro, the helper works as the free command line: text, JSON, and notebook comparisons, 10 a day. A Pro feature tells you to open Diff Anything and buy or restore Pro, then run the command again.

Check whether Pro was found, and why not

diff-anything --pro-status

Compare from Terminal

The helper does not need --cli but accepts it, so commands written for other versions of Diff Anything run as they are. It can also open two files or folders in the app.

Compare two files and get an exit code

diff-anything --exit-code left.json right.json

Open two files in the app

diff-anything --compare-paths original.json updated.json

Use it with Git

Settings > Command line in the app shows these Git settings. As a merge tool, the helper reads the files, opens the merge in a window of the app, and writes the merged file when you choose Save & Close. Merging is included with Pro.

git difftool

git config --global diff.tool diff-anything
git config --global difftool.diff-anything.cmd 'diff-anything --cli --format terminal --color auto "$LOCAL" "$REMOTE"'

git mergetool

git config --global merge.tool diff-anything
git config --global mergetool.diff-anything.cmd 'diff-anything --merge-tool "$BASE" "$LOCAL" "$REMOTE" "$MERGED"'
git config --global mergetool.diff-anything.trustExitCode true

Private and offline

The helper never contacts the App Store or any other server, has no account, and never asks for anything. Your files are compared on your Mac and are never uploaded, and no AI is involved.

Uninstall

The helper comes with its own uninstall script, which removes it and its link.

Terminal

sudo /usr/local/lib/diff-anything/uninstall

On Windows

The Microsoft Store version of Diff Anything includes the command line and does not need this helper.