pdfdiff.py is a small python script that can be used to view the difference between two PDF or PS files.

Download

Download pdfdiff.py 0.92, released on October 4, 2007.

After downloading, either run it through python or make it executable (chmod +x pdfdiff.py) to use it directly from the commandline.

Requirements

  • pdftotext, which is part of the xpdf package.
  • Python
  • A diff viewer, preferably one that supports unicode, like kdiff3 or meld. If these don't work for you, you can use xxdiff, tkdiff, opendiff, vimdiff, or even good old diff. You only need one of these to use pdfdiff.py.

Note that for most Linux distributions, installing xpdf is usually sufficient to get it working. (Afterwards one might want to upgrade to a better diff viewer though).

Use cases

  • (Scientific) Reviews: you reviewed version A of a paper, and receive version B, and wonder what the changes are.

(Feel free to invent your own cases, and let me know.)