How to Install Meld on Ubuntu

Meld is a visual comparison and merging tool that primarily targets developers, although it can be used by end-users as well. In this article, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to install Meld on Ubuntu, along with an explanation of its features.

Before diving into the installation process, it's worth noting that all the examples and instructions provided in this tutorial have been tested on Ubuntu 14.04 and Meld version 3.14.2. This is because not everyone is comfortable using the command line, and command-line based comparison tools can be more difficult to learn for some.

In this series of tutorials, we will cover both command-line and GUI-based diff/merge tools available for Linux. In our previous articles, we have covered command-line based diff/merge tools, and now it's time to explore visual diff/merge tools like Meld.

To install Meld on Ubuntu, you need to add the PPA repository first. You can do this by running the following command:

```

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tsvetko.tsvetkov/trusty-backports

```

After adding the PPA repository, update your package list by running:

```

$ sudo apt-get update

```

Once your package list is updated, you can install Meld using the following command:

```

$ sudo apt-get install meld

```

Meld provides a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to compare and merge files. To use Meld with Git, you need to configure Git to remember which merge tool you want to use. You can do this by running the following command:

```

$ git config --global merge.tool meld

```

When you run `git merge` or `git pull`, Meld will be used as the default merge tool.

Now, let's talk about how to resolve conflicts while merging Git branches using Meld. When there are conflicts, Meld displays three windows: the 'remote' version (from the other branch), the current version that you are merging into (the final solution), and a window showing the differences between the two.

To choose the text from the desired brunch, click on the black arrow indicating direction. This allows you to select the text from one of the three windows and merge it with the other.

If there are conflicts, Meld will display a conflict resolution window that shows the conflicting lines in all three files. You can then use this window to resolve the conflicts by selecting the desired text and merging it with the other.

Once you have resolved the conflicts, save the file and commit your changes using `git add` and `git commit`. This way, you can keep track of your changes and collaborate with others more effectively.

In conclusion, Meld is a powerful visual comparison and merging tool that can be used to resolve conflicts while merging Git branches. By following these steps, you can install Meld on Ubuntu and start using it to merge files with ease.

How to install meld on ubuntu