File Compare
| Company type | Utility software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computing / Software |
| Founded | 1984 or 1985 (introduced in MS-DOS version 2.11 and DEC Rainbow edition) |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | File comparison tool |
In the realm of computing, the fc (short for File Compare) utility serves as a command-line tool available in DOS, IBM OS/2, and Microsoft Windows operating environments. Its primary function is to analyze and contrast multiple files, displaying the distinctions between them. This tool performs a role similar to Unix utilities such as comm, cmp, and diff.
History
Since its introduction in Microsoft operating systems beginning with MS-DOS version 2.11—most notably included in the 1984/85 DEC Rainbow edition—the fc command has been a consistent feature across all subsequent Microsoft Windows releases. Additionally, it was incorporated into IBM OS/2 starting with Version 2.0.
The fc command also appears in DR DOS 6.0 with a distinct implementation, and it is present in FreeDOS, where it is distributed under the terms of the GPLv2+ license.
Functionality
Designed to compare both text files and binary files, fc supports modern text formats including ASCII and Unicode. It delivers its comparison results through standard output, focusing on readability for users rather than facilitating straightforward automation or integration with other programs.