code: def _compare_blocks(block_a, block_b):
      logger.debug('_compare_blocks(%s, %s)', block_a, block_b)
      if block_a[0].isdigit():
          _trim_zeros(block_a, block_b)
          if len(block_a) != len(block_b):
              logger.debug('block lengths are not equal')
              return a_newer if len(block_a) > len(block_b) else b_newer
      if block_a == block_b:
          logger.debug('blocks are equal')
          return a_eq_b
      else:
          logger.debug('blocks are not equal')
          return a_newer if block_a > block_b else b_newer