Generating difference files using module information of embedded software components

A computer readable medium including executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, performs differencing between electronic files, comprising:

• receiving byte streams including an original byte stream and a new byte stream, wherein each of the original and new byte streams include at least one module;
• generating a new map file, new hex file, new binary file, and new device memory map (DMM) associated with the new byte stream;
• reading module information of the modules of the new byte stream using information of the new map file and the new hex file;
• comparing the new DMM with an original DMM using the module information, wherein the original DMM corresponds to the original byte stream;
• identifying inserted and deleted modules of the new byte stream in response to the DMM comparison, the inserted modules being present in the new byte stream and absent from the original byte stream and the deleted modules being absent from the new byte stream and present in the original byte stream;
• identifying remaining modules in which the contents remain the same as corresponding modules of the original byte stream, wherein the remaining modules are any modules of the new byte stream not identified as inserted modules;
• and
• generating difference information representative of the inserted modules, deleted modules, and remaining modules in which the contents remain the same.