Comparator is a small tool to generate hashes of two files or directories and compare them with each other, written in Python 3.12 with PyQT6.
When comparing folders with each other, the folder names must be identical, including the root folder selected. However, when comparing single files with each other, file names can be optionally ignored.
The algorithm used defaults to md5, with SHA-1 as a fallback, but you can select any algorithm available to your Python 3 installation.
Because Comparator is written in 64-bit Python and packaged as an executable zip, a 64-bit Python 3 installation is required to run it. It was written and tested in Python 3.12, though it may or may not run in other versions of Python 3.
On Windows, an appropriate Python installation is included with the release, and does not need to be installed or downloaded separately.
Simply download the .zip file of the latest Windows release from this repository, unzip it wherever you like, and double-click on the Create Shortcut.bat file within the app folder. This will create a shortcut in your Start menu that allows you to run the app.
On Linux, Comparator has only been built and tested for Kubuntu 24.04. It probably runs just fine on many other distros, but you're on your own as far as resolving any problems or differences.
It is generally assumed that you already have 64-bit Python 3 installed as part of your distro. If your distro has 3.12, you should be fine; otherwise, you may or may not need to install 3.12.
First, download the .zip file of the latest Linux release from this repository, and unzip it wherever you like (probably easiest somewhere in your Home). To run the app, open a terminal in the app's directory and use the following command:
python3 Comparator.pyzw
Alternatively, you can use the included Python interpreter (after giving Python Interpreter - Linux/bin/python3 executable permissions, if needed):
"Python Interpreter - Linux/bin/python3" Comparator.pyzw
However, for convenience, consider running python3 CreateLinuxDesktopFile.py or python3 CreateLinuxDesktopFileForIncludedInterpreter.py (also in the app's directory; they will not work properly with any other working directory). This will generate a .desktop file, which will then be moved to ~/.local/share/applications/. Now Comparator should show up along with your other apps in your desktop menus.
If you prefer not to use the included interpreter, consider deleting the Python Interpreter - Linux folder to save space.
If Comparator does not run at first, you probably need to resolve some dependencies. First, try sudo apt install libxcb-xinerama0. If that doesn't resolve the issue, try installing PyQT6 with sudo apt install python3-pyqt6; if this does resolve the issue, you might even be able to (partially) uninstall it with sudo apt remove python3-pyqt6 and still run Comparator, as long as you don't autoremove the additional packages that were installed with it. If installing PyQT6 through APT doesn't work, try installing it through pip; if you don't have pip already, use sudo apt install python3-pip, then run pip3 install pyqt6. Other issues have not yet been encountered and will require you to do some research and troubleshooting to resolve on your system.
Updating Comparator is as simple as deleting all files wherever you installed it except the Configs folder, and then extracting the contents of the latest release to the installation folder. Any shortcuts in place should resolve without issue to the updated version. If you are using the included interpreter, you may have to give it executable permissions after updating.
The Configs folder should be left in place as it stores settings and contexts between uses of the app.
Uninstalling Comparator itself only requires deleting the directory you extracted it to, along with any shortcuts you created.
If you need to uninstall Python 3.12 or, on Linux, PyQT6, consult their documentation.