Live Diff Visualizer Screensaver
The Live Diff Visualizer screensaver runs a real line-based diff algorithm on two evolving text blocks, marking real additions, deletions and unchanged lines. It is free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.
How the Live Diff Visualizer screensaver works
The saver keeps two versions of a small text block and computes their real longest-common-subsequence-based line diff.
Lines present in both versions are marked unchanged; lines only in the new version are marked as real additions, and lines only in the old one as real deletions.
Every few seconds a real random edit — an insert, delete or line change — is applied to the new version, and the diff recomputes live.
The updated diff redraws immediately, so you watch genuinely new additions and deletions appear as the text keeps evolving.
A worked example
Inserting a single new line shifts every line below it down by one, and the real diff correctly marks only that one line as added, leaving the rest correctly matched as unchanged.
Settings & tips
- Accent recolours added lines; deletions use a contrasting tone.
- This is a real, correct line-diff algorithm, not a scripted animation.
- A fresh random edit applies automatically every few seconds.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this a real diff algorithm?
- Yes — a real longest-common-subsequence-based line diff, the same family of algorithm real version-control tools use.
- Where does the text come from?
- A small embedded sample block, randomly edited line by line so the diff has something genuine to compare each cycle.
- Is a key needed?
- No — it is a pure local computation.
- Is it free?
- Yes — free, no download, in your browser.