I was kinda looking at this latest version of CSplit, and in trying to get it
to work on my compiler, I found some problems.  Which I then kinda posted.
I'm wondering if it would be worth hosting a contest to create a program with
the following spec:

1. Written in pure, portable C or C++, where "portable" means
that it works on
multiple compilers on multiple OS's, even if that means using dirport.h or 
other such time-saving devices from the Snippets.

2. Can produce a "diff", or "difference", between
original and changed files. 
This should not be line-number dependant, but should be able to use
"context". 
Should be able to handle removals as well as additions.  (Replacements can be 
handled separately, but probably are best handled as a removal followed by an 
addition.)

3. No line, whether context, addition or deletion, should exceed 75 
characters, whether or not the context, addition, or deletion exceeds 75
characters.  See CSplit's handling.

4. Can have a maximum number of lines per output file.  See CSplit.

5. Can handle multiple files simultaneously, and put all the output into one 
set of files.

From what I can see, this would involve a number of "engines" to
make this all 
straight forward.  These engines could either be modules (C) or objects (C++).

Read/Write line: Read a line from a file.  Should not depend on a maximum 
possible length, but be dynamic.  Something like C++'s string object.  Lowest 
level access to files.

Read/Write diff file: When writing, will use the given maximum lines, and 
start new files appropriately.  Low level access to the diff files.

Read/Write diff line: When writing, will split the line.  When reading, will
rejoin the line(s).  Abstracts the access to the diff files.

Comparator: This will need some sort of memory to remember a number of lines 
to produce the context for output.  During the application of a diff file, the 
memory isn't actually needed.  Should be a straight, case-sensitive comparison
of line to line, although the line numbers may not match up.  May have enough 
intelligence to know that when a single line has had the line before and after 
it added, but it hasn't changed, that removing the line then adding three 
lines may produce a tighter diff file (bonus points :->).

Anyone want to take a crack at it?  :-)


                        

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