ed
« Back to VersTracker
Description:
Classic UNIX line editor
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 1.22.3@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  @gnuproject  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: text-editor cli unix gnu posix
Install: brew install ed
About:
ed is the original Unix line editor, providing a minimalistic command-line interface for text manipulation. It operates by processing text files line-by-line without a visual interface, making it ideal for script-based editing and constrained environments. Its simplicity and ubiquity across POSIX systems make it a fundamental tool for system administrators and developers.
Key Features:
  • Minimal resource footprint and zero dependencies
  • Scriptable command set for batch text processing
  • Standard POSIX utility available on all Unix-like systems
  • Stream-oriented editing suitable for pipes and redirection
Use Cases:
  • Automated text processing in shell scripts
  • Remote server administration over low-bandwidth connections
  • Emergency system recovery when visual editors are unavailable
Alternatives:
  • vim – Provides modal visual editing with extensive features, but requires more resources
  • sed – Stream editor optimized for pattern-based transformations rather than interactive editing
License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, sonoma, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 13, 2025 4:20pm 0 VERSION_BUMP e899f346
Jan 7, 2025 7:57pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 53180132