🔍 SAS CompareX: A Developer-Friendly Tool to Visualize and Debug SAS Code with Clarity

💡 Why We Built SAS CompareX

As developers and analysts working in SAS environments, we’ve all hit the same wall:

“What changed in this SAS Code?”

Traditional diff tools — built for general-purpose languages — just don’t cut it when you’re dealing with SAS macros, nested DATA steps, temporary datasets, and multi-layered pipelines. I built SAS CompareX to solve exactly this.

It started as a side project to make sense of code diffs in my environment. Today, it’s evolved into a visual debugging companion that helps users compare, trace, and document changes in SAS scripts with intelligence and structure.

I built SAS CompareX to solve exactly this. But it’s not just a comparison tool — it’s also a companion for debugging, data lineage analysis, and deep inspection of SAS workflows.

🔗 Try the tool here:

https://sagar931.github.io/myBuilds/products/comparex.html

🚀 What Makes SAS CompareX Special?

✅ 1. Smart SAS Code Comparison

Not your typical diff. SAS CompareX tags lines as:

• [ADDED], [REMOVED], or [MODIFIED]
• Uses clear color-coded highlights
• Preserves indentation and macro formatting

👉 Great for reviewing changes during handoffs or code audits.

🧬 2. Dataset Lineage Table

Trace how data moves across your SAS workflow.

SAS CompareX parses:

• DATA and PROC SQL blocks
• Input/output datasets
• Macros, temporary vs permanent tables
• Read vs Write operations
• Displays line numbers and context

📤 You can even export the lineage table to Excel or CSV.

🌐 3. Visual Dataset Lineage Graph

The most intuitive feature — a mind map of your data flow:

• Nodes = datasets
• Edges = SET, JOIN, FROM, etc.
• Tooltips show line numbers and source context
• SQL and DATA steps are color-coded
• Includes Trace Mode — click a node to highlight all downstream datasets

This is incredibly useful when debugging complex scripts or onboarding to unfamiliar projects.

💾 4. Save & Restore Sessions (.cxs Format)

Working with large scripts? You don’t need to repeat your setup.

I created a custom format:

🗂️ .cxs = CompareX Sync File

It stores:

• File paths (Original & Updated)
• Scroll positions
• Highlight states
• Theme and layout config

🎞️ 5. Auto-Scroll + Dark Mode + File Watcher

Some thoughtful touches:

• 🌓 Dark Mode toggle for late-night debugging
• 🌀 Auto-scroll for long comparisons (Slow, Medium, Fast)
• 🔴 Change detection if a loaded file is modified externally
• 🧠 Inline syntax formatting for better readability

📈 Use Cases

• Debug Codes
• Audit changes during releases
• Understand inherited/legacy code
• Train juniors on code structures
• Build documentation from lineage outputs

Whether you’re a data engineer, analyst, or part of a QA team — CompareX adds structure to your SAS workflows.

🔧 Still Evolving

This is just the beginning.

I am actively improving SAS CompareX — adding features like:

• Enhanced macro resolution
• Cleaner export formats
• Better UI polish for articles & documentation

Every update is shaped by real-world feedback from SAS users like you.

💬 Try It. Break It. Help Shape It.

🔗 Access it here:

👉 https://sagar931.github.io/myBuilds/products/comparex.html

If you’re a SAS user, developer, or data analyst — I’d love your feedback.

Feel free to share bugs, ideas, or simply explore the tool. Every click helps us make it better.

Made with ❤️ by Sagar Mandal

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