# How to compare two commits, both old, in Git 1. View the history of your versions `$ git log` 2. Make sure you have told Git that Beyond Compare is your pal. See "Git for Linux" in the Scooter [docs](http://www.scootersoftware.com/support.php). 3. Copy and paste the version numbers (the first 6 or 7 digits is enough I think). `$ git difftool 9f41f8f57199eaffd7 03853a83de4d56a2` 4. Blue shows *different-but-unimportant*. In this case, BC has detected the language (Javascript). In the settings, we have "comment lines and blank lines are unimportant". So BC turns the blank lines and comments blue if they are in one file but not another. 5. Red shows *important differences*. All differences are important unless we or the grammar rules label them otherwise (see 4). ![](/files/-LXyjImQeraDcF-w8OI_) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://beyondcompare.gitbook.io/project/git/how-to-look-at-two-old-versions-of-a-file-in-git.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.