diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 8dd782fd88..89cc6245a7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1876,7 +1876,7 @@ ifndef NO_CURL
 	GIT_OBJS += http.o http-walker.o remote-curl.o
 endif
 XDIFF_OBJS = xdiff/xdiffi.o xdiff/xprepare.o xdiff/xutils.o xdiff/xemit.o \
-	xdiff/xmerge.o xdiff/xpatience.o
+	xdiff/xmerge.o xdiff/xpatience.o xdiff/xhistogram.o
 VCSSVN_OBJS = vcs-svn/string_pool.o vcs-svn/line_buffer.o \
 	vcs-svn/repo_tree.o vcs-svn/fast_export.o vcs-svn/svndump.o
 VCSSVN_TEST_OBJS = test-obj-pool.o test-string-pool.o \
diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 93ef9a265c..d3d8daec77 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -3393,6 +3393,8 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 		DIFF_XDL_SET(options, IGNORE_WHITESPACE_AT_EOL);
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--patience"))
 		DIFF_XDL_SET(options, PATIENCE_DIFF);
+	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--histogram"))
+		DIFF_XDL_SET(options, HISTOGRAM_DIFF);
 
 	/* flags options */
 	else if (!strcmp(arg, "--binary")) {
diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index db9ba19ddf..0cc1e6fc14 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -1759,6 +1759,8 @@ int parse_merge_opt(struct merge_options *o, const char *s)
 		o->subtree_shift = s + strlen("subtree=");
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "patience"))
 		o->xdl_opts |= XDF_PATIENCE_DIFF;
+	else if (!strcmp(s, "histogram"))
+		o->xdl_opts |= XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF;
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "ignore-space-change"))
 		o->xdl_opts |= XDF_IGNORE_WHITESPACE_CHANGE;
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "ignore-all-space"))
diff --git a/t/lib-diff-alternative.sh b/t/lib-diff-alternative.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..75ffd9174f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/lib-diff-alternative.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_diff_frobnitz() {
+	cat >file1 <<\EOF
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+// Frobs foo heartily
+int frobnitz(int foo)
+{
+    int i;
+    for(i = 0; i < 10; i++)
+    {
+        printf("Your answer is: ");
+        printf("%d\n", foo);
+    }
+}
+
+int fact(int n)
+{
+    if(n > 1)
+    {
+        return fact(n-1) * n;
+    }
+    return 1;
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+    frobnitz(fact(10));
+}
+EOF
+
+	cat >file2 <<\EOF
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int fib(int n)
+{
+    if(n > 2)
+    {
+        return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2);
+    }
+    return 1;
+}
+
+// Frobs foo heartily
+int frobnitz(int foo)
+{
+    int i;
+    for(i = 0; i < 10; i++)
+    {
+        printf("%d\n", foo);
+    }
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+    frobnitz(fib(10));
+}
+EOF
+
+	cat >expect <<\EOF
+diff --git a/file1 b/file2
+index 6faa5a3..e3af329 100644
+--- a/file1
++++ b/file2
+@@ -1,26 +1,25 @@
+ #include <stdio.h>
+ 
++int fib(int n)
++{
++    if(n > 2)
++    {
++        return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2);
++    }
++    return 1;
++}
++
+ // Frobs foo heartily
+ int frobnitz(int foo)
+ {
+     int i;
+     for(i = 0; i < 10; i++)
+     {
+-        printf("Your answer is: ");
+         printf("%d\n", foo);
+     }
+ }
+ 
+-int fact(int n)
+-{
+-    if(n > 1)
+-    {
+-        return fact(n-1) * n;
+-    }
+-    return 1;
+-}
+-
+ int main(int argc, char **argv)
+ {
+-    frobnitz(fact(10));
++    frobnitz(fib(10));
+ }
+EOF
+
+	STRATEGY=$1
+
+	test_expect_success "$STRATEGY diff" '
+		test_must_fail git diff --no-index "--$STRATEGY" file1 file2 > output &&
+		test_cmp expect output
+	'
+
+	test_expect_success "$STRATEGY diff output is valid" '
+		mv file2 expect &&
+		git apply < output &&
+		test_cmp expect file2
+	'
+}
+
+test_diff_unique() {
+	cat >uniq1 <<\EOF
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
+6
+EOF
+
+	cat >uniq2 <<\EOF
+a
+b
+c
+d
+e
+f
+EOF
+
+	cat >expect <<\EOF
+diff --git a/uniq1 b/uniq2
+index b414108..0fdf397 100644
+--- a/uniq1
++++ b/uniq2
+@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
+-1
+-2
+-3
+-4
+-5
+-6
++a
++b
++c
++d
++e
++f
+EOF
+
+	STRATEGY=$1
+
+	test_expect_success 'completely different files' '
+		test_must_fail git diff --no-index "--$STRATEGY" uniq1 uniq2 > output &&
+		test_cmp expect output
+	'
+}
+
diff --git a/t/t4033-diff-patience.sh b/t/t4033-diff-patience.sh
index 1eb14989df..3c9932edf3 100755
--- a/t/t4033-diff-patience.sh
+++ b/t/t4033-diff-patience.sh
@@ -3,166 +3,10 @@
 test_description='patience diff algorithm'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-diff-alternative.sh
 
-cat >file1 <<\EOF
-#include <stdio.h>
+test_diff_frobnitz "patience"
 
-// Frobs foo heartily
-int frobnitz(int foo)
-{
-    int i;
-    for(i = 0; i < 10; i++)
-    {
-        printf("Your answer is: ");
-        printf("%d\n", foo);
-    }
-}
-
-int fact(int n)
-{
-    if(n > 1)
-    {
-        return fact(n-1) * n;
-    }
-    return 1;
-}
-
-int main(int argc, char **argv)
-{
-    frobnitz(fact(10));
-}
-EOF
-
-cat >file2 <<\EOF
-#include <stdio.h>
-
-int fib(int n)
-{
-    if(n > 2)
-    {
-        return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2);
-    }
-    return 1;
-}
-
-// Frobs foo heartily
-int frobnitz(int foo)
-{
-    int i;
-    for(i = 0; i < 10; i++)
-    {
-        printf("%d\n", foo);
-    }
-}
-
-int main(int argc, char **argv)
-{
-    frobnitz(fib(10));
-}
-EOF
-
-cat >expect <<\EOF
-diff --git a/file1 b/file2
-index 6faa5a3..e3af329 100644
---- a/file1
-+++ b/file2
-@@ -1,26 +1,25 @@
- #include <stdio.h>
- 
-+int fib(int n)
-+{
-+    if(n > 2)
-+    {
-+        return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2);
-+    }
-+    return 1;
-+}
-+
- // Frobs foo heartily
- int frobnitz(int foo)
- {
-     int i;
-     for(i = 0; i < 10; i++)
-     {
--        printf("Your answer is: ");
-         printf("%d\n", foo);
-     }
- }
- 
--int fact(int n)
--{
--    if(n > 1)
--    {
--        return fact(n-1) * n;
--    }
--    return 1;
--}
--
- int main(int argc, char **argv)
- {
--    frobnitz(fact(10));
-+    frobnitz(fib(10));
- }
-EOF
-
-test_expect_success 'patience diff' '
-
-	test_must_fail git diff --no-index --patience file1 file2 > output &&
-	test_cmp expect output
-
-'
-
-test_expect_success 'patience diff output is valid' '
-
-	mv file2 expect &&
-	git apply < output &&
-	test_cmp expect file2
-
-'
-
-cat >uniq1 <<\EOF
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-EOF
-
-cat >uniq2 <<\EOF
-a
-b
-c
-d
-e
-f
-EOF
-
-cat >expect <<\EOF
-diff --git a/uniq1 b/uniq2
-index b414108..0fdf397 100644
---- a/uniq1
-+++ b/uniq2
-@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
--1
--2
--3
--4
--5
--6
-+a
-+b
-+c
-+d
-+e
-+f
-EOF
-
-test_expect_success 'completely different files' '
-
-	test_must_fail git diff --no-index --patience uniq1 uniq2 > output &&
-	test_cmp expect output
-
-'
+test_diff_unique "patience"
 
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t4050-diff-histogram.sh b/t/t4050-diff-histogram.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..fd3e86a74f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t4050-diff-histogram.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description='histogram diff algorithm'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-diff-alternative.sh
+
+test_diff_frobnitz "histogram"
+
+test_diff_unique "histogram"
+
+test_done
diff --git a/xdiff/xdiff.h b/xdiff/xdiff.h
index 711048ea36..4beb10c678 100644
--- a/xdiff/xdiff.h
+++ b/xdiff/xdiff.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #define XDF_IGNORE_WHITESPACE_CHANGE (1 << 3)
 #define XDF_IGNORE_WHITESPACE_AT_EOL (1 << 4)
 #define XDF_PATIENCE_DIFF (1 << 5)
+#define XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF (1 << 6)
 #define XDF_WHITESPACE_FLAGS (XDF_IGNORE_WHITESPACE | XDF_IGNORE_WHITESPACE_CHANGE | XDF_IGNORE_WHITESPACE_AT_EOL)
 
 #define XDL_PATCH_NORMAL '-'
@@ -105,7 +106,6 @@ typedef struct s_bdiffparam {
 #define xdl_realloc(ptr,x) realloc(ptr,x)
 
 void *xdl_mmfile_first(mmfile_t *mmf, long *size);
-void *xdl_mmfile_next(mmfile_t *mmf, long *size);
 long xdl_mmfile_size(mmfile_t *mmf);
 
 int xdl_diff(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2, xpparam_t const *xpp,
diff --git a/xdiff/xdiffi.c b/xdiff/xdiffi.c
index da67c04357..75a3922750 100644
--- a/xdiff/xdiffi.c
+++ b/xdiff/xdiffi.c
@@ -331,6 +331,9 @@ int xdl_do_diff(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2, xpparam_t const *xpp,
 	if (xpp->flags & XDF_PATIENCE_DIFF)
 		return xdl_do_patience_diff(mf1, mf2, xpp, xe);
 
+	if (xpp->flags & XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF)
+		return xdl_do_histogram_diff(mf1, mf2, xpp, xe);
+
 	if (xdl_prepare_env(mf1, mf2, xpp, xe) < 0) {
 
 		return -1;
diff --git a/xdiff/xdiffi.h b/xdiff/xdiffi.h
index ad033a8e6a..7a92ea9c4d 100644
--- a/xdiff/xdiffi.h
+++ b/xdiff/xdiffi.h
@@ -57,5 +57,7 @@ int xdl_emit_diff(xdfenv_t *xe, xdchange_t *xscr, xdemitcb_t *ecb,
 		  xdemitconf_t const *xecfg);
 int xdl_do_patience_diff(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2, xpparam_t const *xpp,
 		xdfenv_t *env);
+int xdl_do_histogram_diff(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2, xpparam_t const *xpp,
+		xdfenv_t *env);
 
 #endif /* #if !defined(XDIFFI_H) */
diff --git a/xdiff/xhistogram.c b/xdiff/xhistogram.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..18f6f997c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xdiff/xhistogram.c
@@ -0,0 +1,363 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2010, Google Inc.
+ * and other copyright owners as documented in JGit's IP log.
+ *
+ * This program and the accompanying materials are made available
+ * under the terms of the Eclipse Distribution License v1.0 which
+ * accompanies this distribution, is reproduced below, and is
+ * available at http://www.eclipse.org/org/documents/edl-v10.php
+ *
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or
+ * without modification, are permitted provided that the following
+ * conditions are met:
+ *
+ * - Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * - Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ *   copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
+ *   disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided
+ *   with the distribution.
+ *
+ * - Neither the name of the Eclipse Foundation, Inc. nor the
+ *   names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote
+ *   products derived from this software without specific prior
+ *   written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND
+ * CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
+ * INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
+ * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
+ * NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+ * LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+ * CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
+ * STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
+ * ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include "xinclude.h"
+#include "xtypes.h"
+#include "xdiff.h"
+
+#define MAX_PTR	UINT_MAX
+#define MAX_CNT	UINT_MAX
+
+#define LINE_END(n) (line##n + count##n - 1)
+#define LINE_END_PTR(n) (*line##n + *count##n - 1)
+
+struct histindex {
+	struct record {
+		unsigned int ptr, cnt;
+		struct record *next;
+	} **records, /* an ocurrence */
+	  **line_map; /* map of line to record chain */
+	chastore_t rcha;
+	unsigned int *next_ptrs;
+	unsigned int table_bits,
+		     records_size,
+		     line_map_size;
+
+	unsigned int max_chain_length,
+		     key_shift,
+		     ptr_shift;
+
+	unsigned int cnt,
+		     has_common;
+
+	xdfenv_t *env;
+	xpparam_t const *xpp;
+};
+
+struct region {
+	unsigned int begin1, end1;
+	unsigned int begin2, end2;
+};
+
+#define LINE_MAP(i, a) (i->line_map[(a) - i->ptr_shift])
+
+#define NEXT_PTR(index, ptr) \
+	(index->next_ptrs[(ptr) - index->ptr_shift])
+
+#define CNT(index, ptr) \
+	((LINE_MAP(index, ptr))->cnt)
+
+#define REC(env, s, l) \
+	(env->xdf##s.recs[l - 1])
+
+static int cmp_recs(xpparam_t const *xpp,
+	xrecord_t *r1, xrecord_t *r2)
+{
+	return r1->ha == r2->ha &&
+		xdl_recmatch(r1->ptr, r1->size, r2->ptr, r2->size,
+			    xpp->flags);
+}
+
+#define CMP_ENV(xpp, env, s1, l1, s2, l2) \
+	(cmp_recs(xpp, REC(env, s1, l1), REC(env, s2, l2)))
+
+#define CMP(i, s1, l1, s2, l2) \
+	(cmp_recs(i->xpp, REC(i->env, s1, l1), REC(i->env, s2, l2)))
+
+#define TABLE_HASH(index, side, line) \
+	XDL_HASHLONG((REC(index->env, side, line))->ha, index->table_bits)
+
+static int scanA(struct histindex *index, int line1, int count1)
+{
+	unsigned int ptr, tbl_idx;
+	unsigned int chain_len;
+	struct record **rec_chain, *rec;
+
+	for (ptr = LINE_END(1); line1 <= ptr; ptr--) {
+		tbl_idx = TABLE_HASH(index, 1, ptr);
+		rec_chain = index->records + tbl_idx;
+		rec = *rec_chain;
+
+		chain_len = 0;
+		while (rec) {
+			if (CMP(index, 1, rec->ptr, 1, ptr)) {
+				/*
+				 * ptr is identical to another element. Insert
+				 * it onto the front of the existing element
+				 * chain.
+				 */
+				NEXT_PTR(index, ptr) = rec->ptr;
+				rec->ptr = ptr;
+				/* cap rec->cnt at MAX_CNT */
+				rec->cnt = XDL_MIN(MAX_CNT, rec->cnt + 1);
+				LINE_MAP(index, ptr) = rec;
+				goto continue_scan;
+			}
+
+			rec = rec->next;
+			chain_len++;
+		}
+
+		if (chain_len == index->max_chain_length)
+			return -1;
+
+		/*
+		 * This is the first time we have ever seen this particular
+		 * element in the sequence. Construct a new chain for it.
+		 */
+		if (!(rec = xdl_cha_alloc(&index->rcha)))
+			return -1;
+		rec->ptr = ptr;
+		rec->cnt = 1;
+		rec->next = *rec_chain;
+		*rec_chain = rec;
+		LINE_MAP(index, ptr) = rec;
+
+continue_scan:
+		; /* no op */
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int try_lcs(struct histindex *index, struct region *lcs, int b_ptr,
+	int line1, int count1, int line2, int count2)
+{
+	unsigned int b_next = b_ptr + 1;
+	struct record *rec = index->records[TABLE_HASH(index, 2, b_ptr)];
+	unsigned int as, ae, bs, be, np, rc;
+	int should_break;
+
+	for (; rec; rec = rec->next) {
+		if (rec->cnt > index->cnt) {
+			if (!index->has_common)
+				index->has_common = CMP(index, 1, rec->ptr, 2, b_ptr);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		as = rec->ptr;
+		if (!CMP(index, 1, as, 2, b_ptr))
+			continue;
+
+		index->has_common = 1;
+		for (;;) {
+			should_break = 0;
+			np = NEXT_PTR(index, as);
+			bs = b_ptr;
+			ae = as;
+			be = bs;
+			rc = rec->cnt;
+
+			while (line1 < as && line2 < bs
+				&& CMP(index, 1, as - 1, 2, bs - 1)) {
+				as--;
+				bs--;
+				if (1 < rc)
+					rc = XDL_MIN(rc, CNT(index, as));
+			}
+			while (ae < LINE_END(1) && be < LINE_END(2)
+				&& CMP(index, 1, ae + 1, 2, be + 1)) {
+				ae++;
+				be++;
+				if (1 < rc)
+					rc = XDL_MIN(rc, CNT(index, ae));
+			}
+
+			if (b_next <= be)
+				b_next = be + 1;
+			if (lcs->end1 - lcs->begin1 < ae - as || rc < index->cnt) {
+				lcs->begin1 = as;
+				lcs->begin2 = bs;
+				lcs->end1 = ae;
+				lcs->end2 = be;
+				index->cnt = rc;
+			}
+
+			if (np == 0)
+				break;
+
+			while (np <= ae) {
+				np = NEXT_PTR(index, np);
+				if (np == 0) {
+					should_break = 1;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+
+			if (should_break)
+				break;
+
+			as = np;
+		}
+	}
+	return b_next;
+}
+
+static int find_lcs(struct histindex *index, struct region *lcs,
+	int line1, int count1, int line2, int count2) {
+	int b_ptr;
+
+	if (scanA(index, line1, count1))
+		return -1;
+
+	index->cnt = index->max_chain_length + 1;
+
+	for (b_ptr = line2; b_ptr <= LINE_END(2); )
+		b_ptr = try_lcs(index, lcs, b_ptr, line1, count1, line2, count2);
+
+	return index->has_common && index->max_chain_length < index->cnt;
+}
+
+static int fall_back_to_classic_diff(struct histindex *index,
+		int line1, int count1, int line2, int count2)
+{
+	xpparam_t xpp;
+	xpp.flags = index->xpp->flags & ~XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF;
+
+	return xdl_fall_back_diff(index->env, &xpp,
+				  line1, count1, line2, count2);
+}
+
+static int histogram_diff(xpparam_t const *xpp, xdfenv_t *env,
+	int line1, int count1, int line2, int count2)
+{
+	struct histindex index;
+	struct region lcs;
+	int sz;
+	int result = -1;
+
+	if (count1 <= 0 && count2 <= 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	if (LINE_END(1) >= MAX_PTR)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (!count1) {
+		while(count2--)
+			env->xdf2.rchg[line2++ - 1] = 1;
+		return 0;
+	} else if (!count2) {
+		while(count1--)
+			env->xdf1.rchg[line1++ - 1] = 1;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	memset(&index, 0, sizeof(index));
+
+	index.env = env;
+	index.xpp = xpp;
+
+	index.records = NULL;
+	index.line_map = NULL;
+	/* in case of early xdl_cha_free() */
+	index.rcha.head = NULL;
+
+	index.table_bits = xdl_hashbits(count1);
+	sz = index.records_size = 1 << index.table_bits;
+	sz *= sizeof(struct record *);
+	if (!(index.records = (struct record **) xdl_malloc(sz)))
+		goto cleanup;
+	memset(index.records, 0, sz);
+
+	sz = index.line_map_size = count1;
+	sz *= sizeof(struct record *);
+	if (!(index.line_map = (struct record **) xdl_malloc(sz)))
+		goto cleanup;
+	memset(index.line_map, 0, sz);
+
+	sz = index.line_map_size;
+	sz *= sizeof(unsigned int);
+	if (!(index.next_ptrs = (unsigned int *) xdl_malloc(sz)))
+		goto cleanup;
+	memset(index.next_ptrs, 0, sz);
+
+	/* lines / 4 + 1 comes from xprepare.c:xdl_prepare_ctx() */
+	if (xdl_cha_init(&index.rcha, sizeof(struct record), count1 / 4 + 1) < 0)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	index.ptr_shift = line1;
+	index.max_chain_length = 64;
+
+	memset(&lcs, 0, sizeof(lcs));
+	if (find_lcs(&index, &lcs, line1, count1, line2, count2))
+		result = fall_back_to_classic_diff(&index, line1, count1, line2, count2);
+	else {
+		if (lcs.begin1 == 0 && lcs.begin2 == 0) {
+			while (count1--)
+				env->xdf1.rchg[line1++ - 1] = 1;
+			while (count2--)
+				env->xdf2.rchg[line2++ - 1] = 1;
+			result = 0;
+		} else {
+			result = histogram_diff(xpp, env,
+						line1, lcs.begin1 - line1,
+						line2, lcs.begin2 - line2);
+			if (result)
+				goto cleanup;
+			result = histogram_diff(xpp, env,
+						lcs.end1 + 1, LINE_END(1) - lcs.end1,
+						lcs.end2 + 1, LINE_END(2) - lcs.end2);
+			if (result)
+				goto cleanup;
+		}
+	}
+
+cleanup:
+	xdl_free(index.records);
+	xdl_free(index.line_map);
+	xdl_free(index.next_ptrs);
+	xdl_cha_free(&index.rcha);
+
+	return result;
+}
+
+int xdl_do_histogram_diff(mmfile_t *file1, mmfile_t *file2,
+	xpparam_t const *xpp, xdfenv_t *env)
+{
+	if (xdl_prepare_env(file1, file2, xpp, env) < 0)
+		return -1;
+
+	return histogram_diff(xpp, env,
+		env->xdf1.dstart + 1, env->xdf1.dend - env->xdf1.dstart + 1,
+		env->xdf2.dstart + 1, env->xdf2.dend - env->xdf2.dstart + 1);
+}
diff --git a/xdiff/xpatience.c b/xdiff/xpatience.c
index e42c16a807..fdd7d0263f 100644
--- a/xdiff/xpatience.c
+++ b/xdiff/xpatience.c
@@ -287,34 +287,11 @@ static int walk_common_sequence(struct hashmap *map, struct entry *first,
 static int fall_back_to_classic_diff(struct hashmap *map,
 		int line1, int count1, int line2, int count2)
 {
-	/*
-	 * This probably does not work outside Git, since
-	 * we have a very simple mmfile structure.
-	 *
-	 * Note: ideally, we would reuse the prepared environment, but
-	 * the libxdiff interface does not (yet) allow for diffing only
-	 * ranges of lines instead of the whole files.
-	 */
-	mmfile_t subfile1, subfile2;
 	xpparam_t xpp;
-	xdfenv_t env;
-
-	subfile1.ptr = (char *)map->env->xdf1.recs[line1 - 1]->ptr;
-	subfile1.size = map->env->xdf1.recs[line1 + count1 - 2]->ptr +
-		map->env->xdf1.recs[line1 + count1 - 2]->size - subfile1.ptr;
-	subfile2.ptr = (char *)map->env->xdf2.recs[line2 - 1]->ptr;
-	subfile2.size = map->env->xdf2.recs[line2 + count2 - 2]->ptr +
-		map->env->xdf2.recs[line2 + count2 - 2]->size - subfile2.ptr;
 	xpp.flags = map->xpp->flags & ~XDF_PATIENCE_DIFF;
-	if (xdl_do_diff(&subfile1, &subfile2, &xpp, &env) < 0)
-		return -1;
 
-	memcpy(map->env->xdf1.rchg + line1 - 1, env.xdf1.rchg, count1);
-	memcpy(map->env->xdf2.rchg + line2 - 1, env.xdf2.rchg, count2);
-
-	xdl_free_env(&env);
-
-	return 0;
+	return xdl_fall_back_diff(map->env, &xpp,
+				  line1, count1, line2, count2);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/xdiff/xprepare.c b/xdiff/xprepare.c
index 05a8f01f38..eba31ffaee 100644
--- a/xdiff/xprepare.c
+++ b/xdiff/xprepare.c
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 #define XDL_KPDIS_RUN 4
 #define XDL_MAX_EQLIMIT 1024
 #define XDL_SIMSCAN_WINDOW 100
+#define XDL_GUESS_NLINES1 256
+#define XDL_GUESS_NLINES2 20
 
 
 typedef struct s_xdlclass {
@@ -67,8 +69,6 @@ static int xdl_optimize_ctxs(xdlclassifier_t *cf, xdfile_t *xdf1, xdfile_t *xdf2
 
 
 static int xdl_init_classifier(xdlclassifier_t *cf, long size, long flags) {
-	long i;
-
 	cf->flags = flags;
 
 	cf->hbits = xdl_hashbits((unsigned int) size);
@@ -83,8 +83,7 @@ static int xdl_init_classifier(xdlclassifier_t *cf, long size, long flags) {
 		xdl_cha_free(&cf->ncha);
 		return -1;
 	}
-	for (i = 0; i < cf->hsize; i++)
-		cf->rchash[i] = NULL;
+	memset(cf->rchash, 0, cf->hsize * sizeof(xdlclass_t *));
 
 	cf->alloc = size;
 	if (!(cf->rcrecs = (xdlclass_t **) xdl_malloc(cf->alloc * sizeof(xdlclass_t *)))) {
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ static int xdl_classify_record(unsigned int pass, xdlclassifier_t *cf, xrecord_t
 static int xdl_prepare_ctx(unsigned int pass, mmfile_t *mf, long narec, xpparam_t const *xpp,
 			   xdlclassifier_t *cf, xdfile_t *xdf) {
 	unsigned int hbits;
-	long i, nrec, hsize, bsize;
+	long nrec, hsize, bsize;
 	unsigned long hav;
 	char const *blk, *cur, *top, *prev;
 	xrecord_t *crec;
@@ -171,96 +170,59 @@ static int xdl_prepare_ctx(unsigned int pass, mmfile_t *mf, long narec, xpparam_
 	char *rchg;
 	long *rindex;
 
-	if (xdl_cha_init(&xdf->rcha, sizeof(xrecord_t), narec / 4 + 1) < 0) {
+	ha = NULL;
+	rindex = NULL;
+	rchg = NULL;
+	rhash = NULL;
+	recs = NULL;
 
-		return -1;
+	if (xdl_cha_init(&xdf->rcha, sizeof(xrecord_t), narec / 4 + 1) < 0)
+		goto abort;
+	if (!(recs = (xrecord_t **) xdl_malloc(narec * sizeof(xrecord_t *))))
+		goto abort;
+
+	if (xpp->flags & XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF)
+		hbits = hsize = 0;
+	else {
+		hbits = xdl_hashbits((unsigned int) narec);
+		hsize = 1 << hbits;
+		if (!(rhash = (xrecord_t **) xdl_malloc(hsize * sizeof(xrecord_t *))))
+			goto abort;
+		memset(rhash, 0, hsize * sizeof(xrecord_t *));
 	}
-	if (!(recs = (xrecord_t **) xdl_malloc(narec * sizeof(xrecord_t *)))) {
-
-		xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	hbits = xdl_hashbits((unsigned int) narec);
-	hsize = 1 << hbits;
-	if (!(rhash = (xrecord_t **) xdl_malloc(hsize * sizeof(xrecord_t *)))) {
-
-		xdl_free(recs);
-		xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
-		return -1;
-	}
-	for (i = 0; i < hsize; i++)
-		rhash[i] = NULL;
 
 	nrec = 0;
 	if ((cur = blk = xdl_mmfile_first(mf, &bsize)) != NULL) {
-		for (top = blk + bsize;;) {
-			if (cur >= top) {
-				if (!(cur = blk = xdl_mmfile_next(mf, &bsize)))
-					break;
-				top = blk + bsize;
-			}
+		for (top = blk + bsize; cur < top; ) {
 			prev = cur;
 			hav = xdl_hash_record(&cur, top, xpp->flags);
 			if (nrec >= narec) {
 				narec *= 2;
-				if (!(rrecs = (xrecord_t **) xdl_realloc(recs, narec * sizeof(xrecord_t *)))) {
-
-					xdl_free(rhash);
-					xdl_free(recs);
-					xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
-					return -1;
-				}
+				if (!(rrecs = (xrecord_t **) xdl_realloc(recs, narec * sizeof(xrecord_t *))))
+					goto abort;
 				recs = rrecs;
 			}
-			if (!(crec = xdl_cha_alloc(&xdf->rcha))) {
-
-				xdl_free(rhash);
-				xdl_free(recs);
-				xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
-				return -1;
-			}
+			if (!(crec = xdl_cha_alloc(&xdf->rcha)))
+				goto abort;
 			crec->ptr = prev;
 			crec->size = (long) (cur - prev);
 			crec->ha = hav;
 			recs[nrec++] = crec;
 
-			if (xdl_classify_record(pass, cf, rhash, hbits, crec) < 0) {
-
-				xdl_free(rhash);
-				xdl_free(recs);
-				xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
-				return -1;
-			}
+			if (!(xpp->flags & XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF) &&
+				xdl_classify_record(pass, cf, rhash, hbits, crec) < 0)
+				goto abort;
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!(rchg = (char *) xdl_malloc((nrec + 2) * sizeof(char)))) {
-
-		xdl_free(rhash);
-		xdl_free(recs);
-		xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
-		return -1;
-	}
+	if (!(rchg = (char *) xdl_malloc((nrec + 2) * sizeof(char))))
+		goto abort;
 	memset(rchg, 0, (nrec + 2) * sizeof(char));
 
-	if (!(rindex = (long *) xdl_malloc((nrec + 1) * sizeof(long)))) {
-
-		xdl_free(rchg);
-		xdl_free(rhash);
-		xdl_free(recs);
-		xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
-		return -1;
-	}
-	if (!(ha = (unsigned long *) xdl_malloc((nrec + 1) * sizeof(unsigned long)))) {
-
-		xdl_free(rindex);
-		xdl_free(rchg);
-		xdl_free(rhash);
-		xdl_free(recs);
-		xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
-		return -1;
-	}
+	if (!(rindex = (long *) xdl_malloc((nrec + 1) * sizeof(long))))
+		goto abort;
+	if (!(ha = (unsigned long *) xdl_malloc((nrec + 1) * sizeof(unsigned long))))
+		goto abort;
 
 	xdf->nrec = nrec;
 	xdf->recs = recs;
@@ -274,6 +236,15 @@ static int xdl_prepare_ctx(unsigned int pass, mmfile_t *mf, long narec, xpparam_
 	xdf->dend = nrec - 1;
 
 	return 0;
+
+abort:
+	xdl_free(ha);
+	xdl_free(rindex);
+	xdl_free(rchg);
+	xdl_free(rhash);
+	xdl_free(recs);
+	xdl_cha_free(&xdf->rcha);
+	return -1;
 }
 
 
@@ -290,13 +261,23 @@ static void xdl_free_ctx(xdfile_t *xdf) {
 
 int xdl_prepare_env(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2, xpparam_t const *xpp,
 		    xdfenv_t *xe) {
-	long enl1, enl2;
+	long enl1, enl2, sample;
 	xdlclassifier_t cf;
 
-	enl1 = xdl_guess_lines(mf1) + 1;
-	enl2 = xdl_guess_lines(mf2) + 1;
+	/*
+	 * For histogram diff, we can afford a smaller sample size and
+	 * thus a poorer estimate of the number of lines, as the hash
+	 * table (rhash) won't be filled up/grown. The number of lines
+	 * (nrecs) will be updated correctly anyway by
+	 * xdl_prepare_ctx().
+	 */
+	sample = xpp->flags & XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF ? XDL_GUESS_NLINES2 : XDL_GUESS_NLINES1;
 
-	if (xdl_init_classifier(&cf, enl1 + enl2 + 1, xpp->flags) < 0) {
+	enl1 = xdl_guess_lines(mf1, sample) + 1;
+	enl2 = xdl_guess_lines(mf2, sample) + 1;
+
+	if (!(xpp->flags & XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF) &&
+		xdl_init_classifier(&cf, enl1 + enl2 + 1, xpp->flags) < 0) {
 
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -314,6 +295,7 @@ int xdl_prepare_env(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2, xpparam_t const *xpp,
 	}
 
 	if (!(xpp->flags & XDF_PATIENCE_DIFF) &&
+			!(xpp->flags & XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF) &&
 			xdl_optimize_ctxs(&cf, &xe->xdf1, &xe->xdf2) < 0) {
 
 		xdl_free_ctx(&xe->xdf2);
@@ -321,7 +303,8 @@ int xdl_prepare_env(mmfile_t *mf1, mmfile_t *mf2, xpparam_t const *xpp,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	xdl_free_classifier(&cf);
+	if (!(xpp->flags & XDF_HISTOGRAM_DIFF))
+		xdl_free_classifier(&cf);
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/xdiff/xutils.c b/xdiff/xutils.c
index ab6503460f..0de084e53f 100644
--- a/xdiff/xutils.c
+++ b/xdiff/xutils.c
@@ -24,10 +24,6 @@
 
 
 
-#define XDL_GUESS_NLINES 256
-
-
-
 
 long xdl_bogosqrt(long n) {
 	long i;
@@ -71,12 +67,6 @@ void *xdl_mmfile_first(mmfile_t *mmf, long *size)
 }
 
 
-void *xdl_mmfile_next(mmfile_t *mmf, long *size)
-{
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-
 long xdl_mmfile_size(mmfile_t *mmf)
 {
 	return mmf->size;
@@ -159,18 +149,12 @@ void *xdl_cha_next(chastore_t *cha) {
 }
 
 
-long xdl_guess_lines(mmfile_t *mf) {
+long xdl_guess_lines(mmfile_t *mf, long sample) {
 	long nl = 0, size, tsize = 0;
 	char const *data, *cur, *top;
 
 	if ((cur = data = xdl_mmfile_first(mf, &size)) != NULL) {
-		for (top = data + size; nl < XDL_GUESS_NLINES;) {
-			if (cur >= top) {
-				tsize += (long) (cur - data);
-				if (!(cur = data = xdl_mmfile_next(mf, &size)))
-					break;
-				top = data + size;
-			}
+		for (top = data + size; nl < sample && cur < top; ) {
 			nl++;
 			if (!(cur = memchr(cur, '\n', top - cur)))
 				cur = top;
@@ -402,3 +386,34 @@ int xdl_emit_hunk_hdr(long s1, long c1, long s2, long c2,
 
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int xdl_fall_back_diff(xdfenv_t *diff_env, xpparam_t const *xpp,
+		int line1, int count1, int line2, int count2)
+{
+	/*
+	 * This probably does not work outside Git, since
+	 * we have a very simple mmfile structure.
+	 *
+	 * Note: ideally, we would reuse the prepared environment, but
+	 * the libxdiff interface does not (yet) allow for diffing only
+	 * ranges of lines instead of the whole files.
+	 */
+	mmfile_t subfile1, subfile2;
+	xdfenv_t env;
+
+	subfile1.ptr = (char *)diff_env->xdf1.recs[line1 - 1]->ptr;
+	subfile1.size = diff_env->xdf1.recs[line1 + count1 - 2]->ptr +
+		diff_env->xdf1.recs[line1 + count1 - 2]->size - subfile1.ptr;
+	subfile2.ptr = (char *)diff_env->xdf2.recs[line2 - 1]->ptr;
+	subfile2.size = diff_env->xdf2.recs[line2 + count2 - 2]->ptr +
+		diff_env->xdf2.recs[line2 + count2 - 2]->size - subfile2.ptr;
+	if (xdl_do_diff(&subfile1, &subfile2, xpp, &env) < 0)
+		return -1;
+
+	memcpy(diff_env->xdf1.rchg + line1 - 1, env.xdf1.rchg, count1);
+	memcpy(diff_env->xdf2.rchg + line2 - 1, env.xdf2.rchg, count2);
+
+	xdl_free_env(&env);
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/xdiff/xutils.h b/xdiff/xutils.h
index d5de8292e0..714719a89c 100644
--- a/xdiff/xutils.h
+++ b/xdiff/xutils.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ void xdl_cha_free(chastore_t *cha);
 void *xdl_cha_alloc(chastore_t *cha);
 void *xdl_cha_first(chastore_t *cha);
 void *xdl_cha_next(chastore_t *cha);
-long xdl_guess_lines(mmfile_t *mf);
+long xdl_guess_lines(mmfile_t *mf, long sample);
 int xdl_recmatch(const char *l1, long s1, const char *l2, long s2, long flags);
 unsigned long xdl_hash_record(char const **data, char const *top, long flags);
 unsigned int xdl_hashbits(unsigned int size);
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ int xdl_num_out(char *out, long val);
 long xdl_atol(char const *str, char const **next);
 int xdl_emit_hunk_hdr(long s1, long c1, long s2, long c2,
 		      const char *func, long funclen, xdemitcb_t *ecb);
+int xdl_fall_back_diff(xdfenv_t *diff_env, xpparam_t const *xpp,
+		       int line1, int count1, int line2, int count2);