rename ☆

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Description:
Perl-powered file rename script with many helpful built-ins

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Productivity

Tags: cli file-management perl renaming utilities

Install: brew install rename

About:
Rename is a Perl-based command-line utility that performs file renaming operations using powerful regular expressions. It provides a safer and more flexible alternative to basic shell loops, allowing users to batch rename files with complex pattern matching and substitution. The tool includes built-in safety checks and preview capabilities to prevent accidental data loss during rename operations.

Key Features:

Perl-powered regular expression support for complex pattern matching
Built-in safety checks and dry-run preview mode
Handles batch operations on multiple files efficiently
Supports advanced substitution and transformation operations

Use Cases:

Batch renaming photo files from camera-generated names to meaningful dates
Standardizing project file names across large codebases
Cleaning up downloaded files with inconsistent naming patterns

Alternatives:

mmv – mmv uses wildcard patterns instead of regex, less flexible but faster for simple cases
qmv – qmv provides a text editor interface for renaming, better for complex multi-file edits

Version History

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