install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install repren

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#repren

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/re/repren/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Rename anything using powerful regex search and replace

Project links

Commands and aliases

repren

history

Project history and usage

repren is a command-line tool for applying literal or regular-expression replacements to file contents and paths. It emphasizes safe bulk changes through previews, backups, atomic operations, and undo support.

Project history

repren was created by Jonathan Levy as a general-purpose power-renaming and text-refactoring utility. It is implemented as a self-contained Python program with no runtime dependencies.

The project later added explicit coding-agent support while retaining its original command-line workflow for human users.

Adoption history

Distributed through Homebrew and Nix according to source_facts.package-manager; the official project also supports installation through uv and direct execution with uvx.

How it is used

Users can rewrite standard input, edit selected files in place, or recursively process directory trees. Patterns may be provided on the command line or in tab-separated pattern files.

A typical workflow previews a refactor with `--dry-run`, applies it, reviews the resulting diff, and then either restores `.orig` backups with `--undo` or removes them with `--clean-backups`.

Why package nerds care

repren combines content replacement and filesystem renaming in one dependency-free Python utility. Dry runs, atomic writes, backups, undo support, simultaneous substitutions, and case-preserving renames make it useful for broad mechanical refactors.

Timeline

Early project: Developed as a general-purpose Python search-and-replace and renaming utility.
Later development: Added structured JSON output and coding-agent skill support.

Related projects

The official comparison discusses classic sed/awk/perl workflows and newer tools including sd, fastmod, ast-grep, comby, and rnr.

Sources

Input package coverage: source_facts.package-manager
Official repository and README: https://github.com/jlevy/repren

security posture

Risk level: yellow

generalized runtime or code generation signal.

Risk classifier

yellow risk · medium confidence · runtime

Why

generalized runtime or code generation signal

Signals

text:repl

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 1 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`repren`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-09-19

manager version3.1.1

manager updated2026-08-27

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/jlevy/repren

infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/jlevy/reprennone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:repren
Version	3.1.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/repren
Homepage	https://github.com/jlevy/repren
Repository	https://github.com/jlevy/repren
License	MIT
Source archive	https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/8f/2b/74f60c028f4ad0d74b700e508486cf837749c9d1d5a12d56c6086942375e/repren-3.1.1.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-08-27T10:07:38Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	python@3.14
Bottle	available (on all)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	repren
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

repren

nix profile install nixpkgs#repren

normalized package name match
Matched by: Repren

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/re/repren/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/repren.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment
pkg.so package database
pkgdb category and tag curation

Install repren with Homebrew, Nix