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DeltaWalker is a tool for programmers, lawyers, and others who create documents and files in which one small change can have drastic effects.

It allows for comparing different versions of a text file, with visual cues to quickly identify differences or reproduce a change from one file to another. The app can pull in files from a local hard drive or remote files via FTP, SFTP, HTTP or HTTPS. You can also compare folders and see what files might be missing or different between them, based on file size or modified date.

DeltaWalker sports a tabbed interface that allows for running multiple file or folder comparisons at one time. You can switch between horizontal and vertical views.

While DeltaWalker could prove useful for comparing contracts and other legal documents, you can't directly compare different Microsoft Word or other word processor files. You'll first need to copy and paste the text into the built-in DeltaWalker text editor.

Because of that limitation, DeltaWalker is likely best suited for Web designers and programmers. It can compare text-based Web files such as .htm and .asp files along with a wide array of program text files such as .vbs, .java and .cpp.

You can try DeltaWalker for free for 30 days. After that the standard edition costs $40 for a personal license or $100 for a commercial license. An Oro edition allows for comparing three different files or folders at once (instead of the standard 2), as well as XML file comparisons. The initial cost covers updates for one year, after which you'll need to pay a renewal fee.

DeltaWalker's intuitive and smooth interface for comparing files could delight programmers, particularly if they can get their employer to shell out the $40 software cost.

--Erik Larkin