⚡ FAST COMPARE ⚡

Enables fast way of comparing two files via Context Menu Action on Text Editor Title.

Installation from a GitHub release

Each GitHub release includes a versioned .vsix file. Download it from the release assets and install it with Extensions: Install from VSIX... in VS Code, or run:

code --install-extension fastcompare-<version>.vsix

To create the same package locally, run npm ci followed by npm run package:vsix -- --out fastcompare-<version>.vsix.

Development requirements

The extension remains compatible with VS Code 1.70 and later. Building, testing, or packaging it from source requires a more recent development environment:

• Node.js 22.13 or later.
• npm, included with the standard Node.js installation.
• Network access when running npm ci, packaging the extension for the first time, or running the integration tests. The test runner downloads a compatible VS Code Electron build into .vscode-test/.

Install the dependencies and run the complete validation suite with:

npm ci
npm test

The test command compiles the TypeScript sources, runs ESLint, launches the VS Code integration-test environment, and executes the extension tests. To create a local release package after validation, run:

npm run package:vsix -- --out fastcompare-<version>.vsix

Release Notes

1.3.0

• GitHub releases now include a ready-to-install .vsix package, allowing Fast Compare to be installed directly from the release assets.
• Added automated linting, compilation, testing, VSIX packaging, and GitHub Release creation when a version tag is pushed.
• Modernized the development toolchain to TypeScript 6, ESLint 10, and TypeScript-ESLint 8, including migration to ESLint flat configuration.
• Updated the VS Code integration-test stack to Mocha 11, Glob 13, and VS Code Test Electron 3, with test discovery migrated to the promise-based Glob API.
• Updated and consolidated development dependencies, removing all known high severity findings from the npm audit report.

1.2.1

Removed ability to swap compared files since this feature was added to VSCode in version 1.86. https://stackoverflow.com/a/77638341

1.2.0

Added ability to Compare with active file in Explorer's folder view.

1.1.1

Restricted mode compatibility added! Now you can use the extension while in restricted mode.

1.1.0

Swap feature added! You can now easily swap the files you are comparing. Command is assignable to a key shortcut.

1.0.4

Fixed a bug with some files not being found.

1.0.3

Minor fixes.

1.0.2

Extension now has an icon!

1.0.1

Extension now supports in-memory files (not saved).

1.0.0

Initial release of Fast Compare.