macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install renlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install ren with Homebrew
Rename multiple files in a directory. Version 1.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Rename multiple files in a directory
Project links
Commands and aliases
- ren
history
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 posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
ren | 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 generated2026-07-08
manager version1.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/package.php/ren
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/package.php/rennone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:ren |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/ren |
| Homepage | https://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/package.php/ren |
| Upstream docs | https://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/utils/file/%21INDEX.html |
| License | LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain |
| Source archive | https://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/utils/file/ren-1.0.tar.gz |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | ren |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
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.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment