Patch Playground
Interactively apply a patch to a virtual file and see the results live.
How to Use
Input File and Patch: Paste the original file content and the patch in their respective text areas.
Live Preview: The patched result is automatically generated in the result pane.
Undo/Redo: Use the undo and redo buttons to step through changes.
Virtual File
Patch
Result
The patched file will appear here...
What is a Patch Playground?
A patch playground is an interactive tool that allows you to simulate the application of a patch (or diff) to a file without actually modifying any files on your system. It's a safe and educational way to understand how patches work and to preview changes before applying them to your codebase.
Common Use Cases
Learning Git
Understand how `git apply` or `git patch` works by seeing the changes in real-time.
Code Review
Test a patch from a colleague or a GitHub pull request without having to check out the branch.
Debugging Patches
Quickly identify issues in a patch that fails to apply correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What format should the patch be in?
The playground works best with the unified diff format, which is the standard format for git diff and is used in .patch and .diff files.
What is 'Educational Mode'?
Educational mode will provide a more detailed, step-by-step visualization of how the patch is applied, explaining each line change. This feature is coming soon!
Does this tool handle all types of patches?
This tool provides a simulation and may not handle all edge cases of complex patches (e.g., binary files, file mode changes) in the same way that git would. It is intended for educational and preview purposes with standard text-based patches.
Is my code and patch data secure?
Yes, absolutely. All processing is done client-side in your browser. Your data is never sent to our servers, ensuring complete privacy.
Why is the output not what I expected?
This can happen if the patch was created from a different version of the original file. The patch needs the correct context lines to be applied correctly. Ensure your 'Virtual File' content is the exact version the patch was created from.