Modified Item.pyx to include diffs in ctime and mtime

src/borg/archive.py

@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@ def chunk_decref(id, stats):
             logger.warning("borg check --repair is required to free all space.")
 
     @staticmethod
-    def compare_archives_iter(archive1, archive2, matcher=None, can_compare_chunk_ids=False):
+    def compare_archives_iter(archive1, archive2, matcher=None, can_compare_chunk_ids=False, content_only=False):
         """
         Yields tuples with a path and an ItemDiff instance describing changes/indicating equality.
 
@@ -1111,6 +1111,7 @@ def compare_items(item1, item2):
                 archive1.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item1.get("chunks", [])]),
                 archive2.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item2.get("chunks", [])]),
                 can_compare_chunk_ids=can_compare_chunk_ids,
+                content_only=content_only,
             )
 
         orphans_archive1 = OrderedDict()

src/borg/archiver/diff_cmd.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from ..constants import *  # NOQA
 from ..helpers import archivename_validator
 from ..manifest import Manifest
+from ..helpers.parseformat import BorgJsonEncoder
 
 from ..logger import create_logger
 
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ def do_diff(self, args, repository, manifest, archive):
         """Diff contents of two archives"""
 
         def print_json_output(diff, path):
-            print(json.dumps({"path": path, "changes": [j for j, str in diff]}))
+            print(json.dumps({"path": path, "changes": [j for j, str in diff]}, sort_keys=True, cls=BorgJsonEncoder))
 
         def print_text_output(diff, path):
             print("{:<19} {}".format(" ".join([str for j, str in diff]), path))
@@ -42,7 +43,9 @@ def print_text_output(diff, path):
 
         matcher = build_matcher(args.patterns, args.paths)
 
-        diffs = Archive.compare_archives_iter(archive1, archive2, matcher, can_compare_chunk_ids=can_compare_chunk_ids)
+        diffs = Archive.compare_archives_iter(
+            archive1, archive2, matcher, can_compare_chunk_ids=can_compare_chunk_ids, content_only=args.content_only
+        )
         # Conversion to string and filtering for diff.equal to save memory if sorting
         diffs = ((path, diff.changes()) for path, diff in diffs if not diff.equal)
 
@@ -105,6 +108,11 @@ def build_parser_diff(self, subparsers, common_parser, mid_common_parser):
         )
         subparser.add_argument("--sort", dest="sort", action="store_true", help="Sort the output lines by file path.")
         subparser.add_argument("--json-lines", action="store_true", help="Format output as JSON Lines. ")
+        subparser.add_argument(
+            "--content-only",
+            action="store_true",
+            help="Only compare differences in content (exclude metadata differences)",
+        )
         subparser.add_argument("name", metavar="ARCHIVE1", type=archivename_validator, help="ARCHIVE1 name")
         subparser.add_argument("other_name", metavar="ARCHIVE2", type=archivename_validator, help="ARCHIVE2 name")
         subparser.add_argument(

src/borg/helpers/parseformat.py

@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ def __init__(self, archive, format, *, json_lines=False):
         self.used_call_keys = set(self.call_keys) & self.format_keys
 
     def format_item_json(self, item):
-        return json.dumps(self.get_item_data(item), cls=BorgJsonEncoder) + "\n"
+        return json.dumps(self.get_item_data(item), cls=BorgJsonEncoder, sort_keys=True) + "\n"
 
     def get_item_data(self, item):
         item_data = {}

src/borg/item.pyx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from .constants import ITEM_KEYS, ARCHIVE_KEYS
 from .helpers import StableDict
 from .helpers import format_file_size
 from .helpers.msgpack import timestamp_to_int, int_to_timestamp, Timestamp
+from .helpers.time import OutputTimestamp, safe_timestamp
 
 
 cdef extern from "_item.c":
@@ -626,9 +627,10 @@ class ItemDiff:
     It does not include extended or time attributes in the comparison.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, item1, item2, chunk_iterator1, chunk_iterator2, numeric_ids=False, can_compare_chunk_ids=False):
+    def __init__(self, item1, item2, chunk_iterator1, chunk_iterator2, numeric_ids=False, can_compare_chunk_ids=False, content_only=False):
         self._item1 = item1
         self._item2 = item2
+        self._content_only = content_only
         self._numeric_ids = numeric_ids
         self._can_compare_chunk_ids = can_compare_chunk_ids
         self.equal = self._equal(chunk_iterator1, chunk_iterator2)
@@ -652,9 +654,11 @@ class ItemDiff:
         if self._item1.is_fifo() or self._item2.is_fifo():
             changes.append(self._presence_diff('fifo'))
 
-        if not (self._item1.get('deleted') or self._item2.get('deleted')):
-            changes.append(self._owner_diff())
-            changes.append(self._mode_diff())
+        if not self._content_only:
+            if not (self._item1.get('deleted') or self._item2.get('deleted')):
+                changes.append(self._owner_diff())
+                changes.append(self._mode_diff())
+                changes.extend(self._time_diffs())
 
         # filter out empty changes
         self._changes = [ch for ch in changes if ch]
@@ -672,8 +676,12 @@ class ItemDiff:
         if self._item1.get('deleted') and self._item2.get('deleted'):
             return True
 
-        attr_list = ['deleted', 'mode', 'target']
-        attr_list += ['uid', 'gid'] if self._numeric_ids else ['user', 'group']
+        attr_list = ['deleted', 'target']
+
+        if not self._content_only:
+            attr_list += ['mode', 'ctime', 'mtime']
+            attr_list += ['uid', 'gid'] if self._numeric_ids else ['user', 'group']
+
         for attr in attr_list:
             if self._item1.get(attr) != self._item2.get(attr):
                 return False
@@ -736,6 +744,16 @@ class ItemDiff:
             mode2 = stat.filemode(self._item2.mode)
             return ({"type": "mode", "old_mode": mode1, "new_mode": mode2}, '[{} -> {}]'.format(mode1, mode2))
 
+    def _time_diffs(self):
+        changes = []
+        attrs = ["ctime", "mtime"]
+        for attr in attrs:
+            if attr in self._item1 and attr in self._item2 and self._item1.get(attr) != self._item2.get(attr):
+                ts1 = OutputTimestamp(safe_timestamp(self._item1.get(attr)))
+                ts2 = OutputTimestamp(safe_timestamp(self._item2.get(attr)))
+                changes.append(({"type": attr, f"old_{attr}": ts1, f"new_{attr}": ts2}, '[{}: {} -> {}]'.format(attr, ts1, ts2)))
+        return changes
+
     def _content_equal(self, chunk_iterator1, chunk_iterator2):
         if self._can_compare_chunk_ids:
             return self._item1.chunks == self._item2.chunks

src/borg/testsuite/__init__.py

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 except ImportError:
     posix = None
 
+import re
 import stat
 import sys
 import sysconfig
@@ -187,6 +188,9 @@ def assert_dirs_equal(self, dir1, dir2, **kwargs):
         diff = filecmp.dircmp(dir1, dir2)
         self._assert_dirs_equal_cmp(diff, **kwargs)
 
+    def assert_line_exists(self, lines, expected_regexpr):
+        assert any(re.search(expected_regexpr, line) for line in lines), f"no match for {expected_regexpr} in {lines}"
+
     def _assert_dirs_equal_cmp(self, diff, ignore_flags=False, ignore_xattrs=False, ignore_ns=False):
         self.assert_equal(diff.left_only, [])
         self.assert_equal(diff.right_only, [])

src/borg/testsuite/archiver/diff_cmd.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 import stat
+import time
 import unittest
 
 from ...constants import *  # NOQA
@@ -70,32 +71,33 @@ def test_basic_functionality(self):
         self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "create", "test1a", "input")
         self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "create", "test1b", "input", "--chunker-params", "16,18,17,4095")
 
-        def do_asserts(output, can_compare_ids):
+        def do_asserts(output, can_compare_ids, content_only=False):
             # File contents changed (deleted and replaced with a new file)
             change = "B" if can_compare_ids else "{:<19}".format("modified")
+            lines = output.splitlines()
             assert "file_replaced" in output  # added to debug #3494
-            assert f"{change} input/file_replaced" in output
+            self.assert_line_exists(lines, f"{change}.*input/file_replaced")
 
             # File unchanged
             assert "input/file_unchanged" not in output
 
             # Directory replaced with a regular file
-            if "BORG_TESTS_IGNORE_MODES" not in os.environ and not is_win32:
-                assert "[drwxr-xr-x -> -rwxr-xr-x] input/dir_replaced_with_file" in output
+            if "BORG_TESTS_IGNORE_MODES" not in os.environ and not is_win32 and not content_only:
+                self.assert_line_exists(lines, "drwxr-xr-x -> -rwxr-xr-x.*input/dir_replaced_with_file")
 
             # Basic directory cases
             assert "added directory     input/dir_added" in output
             assert "removed directory   input/dir_removed" in output
 
             if are_symlinks_supported():
                 # Basic symlink cases
-                assert "changed link        input/link_changed" in output
-                assert "added link          input/link_added" in output
-                assert "removed link        input/link_removed" in output
+                self.assert_line_exists(lines, "changed link.*input/link_changed")
+                self.assert_line_exists(lines, "added link.*input/link_added")
+                self.assert_line_exists(lines, "removed link.*input/link_removed")
 
                 # Symlink replacing or being replaced
-                assert "] input/dir_replaced_with_link" in output
-                assert "] input/link_replaced_by_file" in output
+                assert "input/dir_replaced_with_link" in output
+                assert "input/link_replaced_by_file" in output
 
                 # Symlink target removed. Should not affect the symlink at all.
                 assert "input/link_target_removed" not in output
@@ -104,9 +106,9 @@ def do_asserts(output, can_compare_ids):
             # should notice the changes in both links. However, the symlink
             # pointing to the file is not changed.
             change = "0 B" if can_compare_ids else "{:<19}".format("modified")
-            assert f"{change} input/empty" in output
+            self.assert_line_exists(lines, f"{change}.*input/empty")
             if are_hardlinks_supported():
-                assert f"{change} input/hardlink_contents_changed" in output
+                self.assert_line_exists(lines, f"{change}.*input/hardlink_contents_changed")
             if are_symlinks_supported():
                 assert "input/link_target_contents_changed" not in output
 
@@ -125,18 +127,18 @@ def do_asserts(output, can_compare_ids):
             if are_hardlinks_supported():
                 assert "removed       256 B input/hardlink_removed" in output
 
-            # Another link (marked previously as the source in borg) to the
-            # same inode was removed. This should not change this link at all.
-            if are_hardlinks_supported():
+            if are_hardlinks_supported() and content_only:
+                # Another link (marked previously as the source in borg) to the
+                # same inode was removed. This should only change the ctime since removing
+                # the link would result in the decrementation of the inode's hard-link count.
                 assert "input/hardlink_target_removed" not in output
 
-            # Another link (marked previously as the source in borg) to the
-            # same inode was replaced with a new regular file. This should not
-            # change this link at all.
-            if are_hardlinks_supported():
+                # Another link (marked previously as the source in borg) to the
+                # same inode was replaced with a new regular file. This should only change
+                # its ctime. This should not be reflected in the output if content-only is set
                 assert "input/hardlink_target_replaced" not in output
 
-        def do_json_asserts(output, can_compare_ids):
+        def do_json_asserts(output, can_compare_ids, content_only=False):
             def get_changes(filename, data):
                 chgsets = [j["changes"] for j in data if j["path"] == filename]
                 assert len(chgsets) < 2
@@ -154,7 +156,7 @@ def get_changes(filename, data):
             assert not any(get_changes("input/file_unchanged", joutput))
 
             # Directory replaced with a regular file
-            if "BORG_TESTS_IGNORE_MODES" not in os.environ and not is_win32:
+            if "BORG_TESTS_IGNORE_MODES" not in os.environ and not is_win32 and not content_only:
                 assert {"type": "mode", "old_mode": "drwxr-xr-x", "new_mode": "-rwxr-xr-x"} in get_changes(
                     "input/dir_replaced_with_file", joutput
                 )
@@ -170,14 +172,16 @@ def get_changes(filename, data):
                 assert {"type": "removed link"} in get_changes("input/link_removed", joutput)
 
                 # Symlink replacing or being replaced
-                assert any(
-                    chg["type"] == "mode" and chg["new_mode"].startswith("l")
-                    for chg in get_changes("input/dir_replaced_with_link", joutput)
-                )
-                assert any(
-                    chg["type"] == "mode" and chg["old_mode"].startswith("l")
-                    for chg in get_changes("input/link_replaced_by_file", joutput)
-                )
+
+                if not content_only:
+                    assert any(
+                        chg["type"] == "mode" and chg["new_mode"].startswith("l")
+                        for chg in get_changes("input/dir_replaced_with_link", joutput)
+                    ), get_changes("input/dir_replaced_with_link", joutput)
+                    assert any(
+                        chg["type"] == "mode" and chg["old_mode"].startswith("l")
+                        for chg in get_changes("input/link_replaced_by_file", joutput)
+                    ), get_changes("input/link_replaced_by_file", joutput)
 
                 # Symlink target removed. Should not affect the symlink at all.
                 assert not any(get_changes("input/link_target_removed", joutput))
@@ -207,21 +211,56 @@ def get_changes(filename, data):
             if are_hardlinks_supported():
                 assert {"type": "removed", "size": 256} in get_changes("input/hardlink_removed", joutput)
 
-            # Another link (marked previously as the source in borg) to the
-            # same inode was removed. This should not change this link at all.
-            if are_hardlinks_supported():
+            if are_hardlinks_supported() and content_only:
+                # Another link (marked previously as the source in borg) to the
+                # same inode was removed. This should only change the ctime since removing
+                # the link would result in the decrementation of the inode's hard-link count.
                 assert not any(get_changes("input/hardlink_target_removed", joutput))
 
-            # Another link (marked previously as the source in borg) to the
-            # same inode was replaced with a new regular file. This should not
-            # change this link at all.
-            if are_hardlinks_supported():
+                # Another link (marked previously as the source in borg) to the
+                # same inode was replaced with a new regular file. This should only change
+                # its ctime. This should not be reflected in the output if content-only is set
                 assert not any(get_changes("input/hardlink_target_replaced", joutput))
 
-        do_asserts(self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1a"), True)
+        output = self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1a")
+        do_asserts(output, True)
         # We expect exit_code=1 due to the chunker params warning
-        do_asserts(self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1b", exit_code=1), False)
-        do_json_asserts(self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1a", "--json-lines"), True)
+        output = self.cmd(
+            f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1b", "--content-only", exit_code=1
+        )
+        do_asserts(output, False, content_only=True)
+
+        output = self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1a", "--json-lines")
+        do_json_asserts(output, True)
+
+        output = self.cmd(
+            f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1a", "--json-lines", "--content-only"
+        )
+        do_json_asserts(output, True, content_only=True)
+
+    def test_time_diffs(self):
+        self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "rcreate", RK_ENCRYPTION)
+        self.create_regular_file("test_file", size=10)
+        self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "create", "archive1", "input")
+        time.sleep(0.1)
+        os.unlink("input/test_file")
+        if is_win32:
+            # Sleeping for 15s because Windows doesn't refresh ctime if file is deleted and recreated within 15 seconds.
+            time.sleep(15)
+        self.create_regular_file("test_file", size=15)
+        self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "create", "archive2", "input")
+        output = self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "archive1", "archive2")
+        self.assert_in("mtime", output)
+        self.assert_in("ctime", output)  # Should show up on windows as well since it is a new file.
+        os.chmod("input/test_file", 777)
+        self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "create", "archive3", "input")
+        output = self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "archive2", "archive3")
+        self.assert_not_in("mtime", output)
+        # Checking platform because ctime should not be shown on windows since it wasn't recreated.
+        if not is_win32:
+            self.assert_in("ctime", output)
+        else:
+            self.assert_not_in("ctime", output)
 
     def test_sort_option(self):
         self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "rcreate", RK_ENCRYPTION)
@@ -242,7 +281,7 @@ def test_sort_option(self):
         self.create_regular_file("d_file_added", size=256)
         self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "create", "test1", "input")
 
-        output = self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1", "--sort")
+        output = self.cmd(f"--repo={self.repository_location}", "diff", "test0", "test1", "--sort", "--content-only")
         expected = [
             "a_file_removed",
             "b_file_added",
@@ -251,7 +290,6 @@ def test_sort_option(self):
             "e_file_changed",
             "f_file_removed",
         ]
-
         assert all(x in line for x, line in zip(expected, output.splitlines()))