Built-in semantic diff

Tracks moved code to help you focus on the relevant changes

• 1

  Check the next diff: one method was moved to a new class and changed at the same time. Plastic detects that and shows the diffs semantically. Note how the deleted "usings" are also correctly identified.

  

• Check the second example: it is a crisscross diff that happens when two methods swap their relative positions on the file. Plastic parses the code, finds where the methods are, and then diffs them. A traditional text-based diff tries to match line by line, which doesn’t work here.

  

• The integrated semantic diff also adds an outline on the left to quickly navigate and highlight changes.

  

• Plastic also includes a "visual diff" to understand the refactors at a higher level:

  

  Learn more about what our semantic technology and the Plastic "merge engine" can do:
  Semantic Version Control
  Track cross-file refactors
  Combining semantic and Plastic to solve really complex merges
  How to add custom languages

• 2

  Refactor Analysis adds multi-file semantic diff capabilities – what if you decide to split a class in two and move one of them to another file? The new “analyze refactors” in Plastic SCM can easily track it.

  Take a careful look at the example below: the old Socket class was split in two. The “Listen()” method was moved to the new ServerSocket.cs file and Plastic can track it and show you how it was changed!

  Refactoring is key to keep code quality high and now diffing the refactored code will be straightforward.

  

  As you can see, Refactor Analysis or multi-file semantic diff is a huge step ahead in what the version control can do and how it can help you being more productive on a daily basis. We think that what you see here today will be the standard in a few years.

  
  

  Check the next screenshot to see how the regular file diff is decorated with new icons to explain that a “cross-file diff” has been detected.

  

• 3

  Semantic Method History – ever wanted to see the history of a method? Yes, a method, not a file. Even if the method was renamed or moved inside the file...

  

  Find more about Semantic Method History in the following blogpost:
  New Semantic MethodHist is now out!