'Kaleidoscope 2' Lets Users Quickly Spot Differences in Code, Text and Images - MacRumors
Skip to Content

'Kaleidoscope 2' Lets Users Quickly Spot Differences in Code, Text and Images

by

Black Pixel has announced the release of its first major in-house app, Kaleidoscope 2, an app that helps coders, writers and others to compare the differences in folders, images, text, and more.

NewImage
The Next Web's Matthew Panzarino has a lengthy interview with the team behind the app, including former Apple employee Michael Jurewitz, who left Apple for the company earlier this year. Panzarino describes the app thusly:

Kaleidoscope 2 is a lovely comparison app that allows you to take two or more files, folders or images and compare them to one another. The applications are broad, with benefits that swing from developers on one end to those simply looking to compare two images side-by-side. It has full integration with Git, Subversion, Mercurial, and Bazaar. The app can be used as the default conflict resolver for code with its command line integration or simply to check the changed passages in a collaborative word document. It’s beautifully designed, fast and wonderful to use. It’s become an essential part of my toolkit already.

Black Pixel acquired Kaleidoscope and Versions last year, as well as the popular RSS reader NetNewsWire. Version 2 of Kaleidoscope is the first major bit of software that Black Pixel has put its own name on -- previously, the company focused on developing apps for outside clients.

Kaleidoscope 2 is currently available as a public beta with a 15-day trial. Users can purchase it during the beta period for $34.99, half off the final retail price of $70.

Top Rated Comments

ELMI0001 Avatar
178 months ago
Was hoping this was related to Kaleidoscope theme switcher from OS 9 days.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
178 months ago
Was hoping this was related to Kaleidoscope theme switcher from OS 9 days.

Yeah, it immediately came to my mind also) Those were the days )))
http://kaleidoscope.net/schemes/schemespotlight.shtml (http://kaleidoscope.net/schemes/schemespotlight.shtml)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glassed Silver Avatar
178 months ago
kdiff3 hands down, people.
Don't kid yourselves and go for that instead.

I wish there were ready binaries available for the latest build though, because my attempts at compiling are unsuccessful. meh.

Glassed Silver:mac
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
InLikeALion Avatar
178 months ago
I work as a web developer and we have guys who run Windows in virtual machines 24/7 simply to use Beyond Compare for real compare/merge. NOTHING on OS X compares to the necessary and comprehensive features it has.

If K2 covers our needs, shelling out $70 a license won't be a problem. After all, pros pay $1200+ for Creative Suite for each member of their designer & developer teams. People doing this for real need pro software and know they have to pay for it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
178 months ago
this CompareMerge app also can do compare and merge with only 9$.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id571389471?mt=12 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id571389471?mt=12)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Poisednoise Avatar
178 months ago
Yeah, it immediately came to my mind also) Those were the days )))
http://kaleidoscope.net/schemes/schemespotlight.shtml (http://kaleidoscope.net/schemes/schemespotlight.shtml)

Good old Arlo Rose. The hours I spent on my theme.....
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Friday July 17, 2026 10:39 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
Apple AppleCare One Feature

'AppleCare One' is Now Even More Valuable

Saturday July 18, 2026 6:25 am PDT by
While the monthly and annual prices of AppleCare+ plans for Macs and iPads received a slight increase this week, AppleCare One continues to start at $19.99 per month in the U.S., making the multi-device plan even more valuable. Launched in July 2025, AppleCare One allows you to cover up to three devices as part of a single subscription for $19.99 per month, and additional devices can be...
Apple Up Arrow Fearture

Apple's Latest Price Increases Go Beyond Macs and iPads

Sunday July 19, 2026 8:50 am PDT by
After raising prices on all Macs and iPads worldwide last month, Apple increased prices on more products and services on Friday. Apple has raised prices on Apple Music and Apple One plans around the world, iCloud+ plans in eight countries, and on iPhone models in Japan.Apple Music Now Costs $11.99 as Apple Increases Subscription Prices Apple Raises iCloud+ Prices in 8 Countries Apple...