# Install ren with Homebrew

Rename multiple files in a directory. Version 1.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:ren
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install ren
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:ren
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 1.0
- **Source summary:** Rename multiple files in a directory
- **Homepage:** <https://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/package.php/ren>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- ren (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 1.0
## Project history and usage

ren is a small Unix command-line utility for renaming multiple files in a directory using wildcard search and replacement patterns.

### Project history

The ren 1.0 README says Vladimir Lanin originally wrote the program and submitted it to comp.sources.unix in 1988. Rob Schipper later adjusted the code so it would compile under Linux and released the packaged 1.0 archive in March 1997.

### Adoption history

ren persisted mostly as a source tarball rather than an active source-control project. The ibiblio Linux utilities index lists ren-1.0.tar.gz under file-manipulation utilities, and Homebrew packages that same archive.

### How it is used

ren operates in the current directory or a specified path, matching files with * and ? wildcards and constructing replacement names with #1 through #9 wildcard indexes. The manpage emphasizes preflight checks for collisions and safe handling of rename chains.

### Why package nerds care

ren is package-nerd interesting because it is a compact historical Unix utility: a comp.sources.unix-era program, later patched for Linux, preserved through source archives and modern package managers despite having no obvious upstream VCS.

### Timeline

- 1988: Original ren program submitted to comp.sources.unix.
- 1997-03-31: Linux-adjusted ren 1.0 README and ibiblio archive entry.
- 1.0: Homebrew packages the ibiblio source archive as the stable release.

### Related projects

- The manpage positions ren as a multi-file rename companion to mv(1).

### Sources

- Homebrew formula metadata for ren.
- ibiblio Linux utils/file index entry for ren-1.0.tar.gz.
- ren 1.0 README and ren.1 from the ibiblio source archive.


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ren.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/ren.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph