flips.rs vs MultiPatch

flips.rs is a free, open-source Rust bindings library for Flips, the Floating IPS patcher. It applies UPS, IPS, and BPS patches, creates IPS and BPS patches, studies IPS patches, and reads BPS metadata. Although the README discusses video game cartridge ROM patching, the API can apply patches to arbitrary sources. The project says Flips creates small BPS and IPS files among widely used patchers. The crate supports no_std when its default std feature is disabled. It uses crc32fast instead of Flips’ naive CRC32 algorithm for BPS and UPS patch creation and application. Checksum verification is supported. Version 0.2.1 is listed, with flips-sys 0.2.1 as a dependency, and Martin Larralde as author. The library is licensed under GNU GPL version 3.0. Distribution links point to crates.io and docs.rs. The listed platform is Linux, and the plan is free.

MultiPatch is a free macOS application for applying and creating file patches. It applies BPS, IPS, UPS, PPF, XDelta, BSDiff, and RUP (Ninja2) patches, and creates BPS, IPS, PPF, XDelta, and BSDiff patches. To apply one, users can select a patch file or drag it onto the application window, then choose the target file and where to save the result. The application identifies the format from the patch file extension, so that extension must be correct. BPS creation offers Linear and Delta modes: Delta patches are usually smaller, but take longer and require more memory. Creating UPS and Ninja2 patches is not supported. The maker says patching is built into the application rather than handled by external tools. Version 2.0 requires macOS 10.9 or later; older releases are available for Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.8. A separate basic command-line version can apply or create patches for scripts or terminal use. The application is GPL-licensed, while the bundled patching libraries have their own licenses.