Embodiments detect differences between software systems by comparing statements collected therefrom in an order of execution. Highlighting point(s) of divergence between the executed statements allows rapid localization of differences between the software systems, which may be minor and otherwise difficult to discern within large volumes of underlying code. In some embodiments a highlighted departure in statement order may be attributable to slight code differences between the two software systems. In other embodiments the software systems may have identical code but reference different configuration data (e.g. as configuration files), a subtle distinction also revealed by comparing an order of executed statements. Certain embodiments may perform tracing/comparison between an order of execution of only selected statement types (e.g., SQL operations, database access, kernel events) based upon their specificity and ability to reveal significant functional differences. This can reduce processing and/or memory burden(s) when comparing lengthy volumes of executed statements between complex systems.