# 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 - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.0 - **Source summary:** Rename multiple files in a directory - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - ren (cli) - ren (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/package.php/ren - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** ren - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Package ecosystem packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/package-ecosystem-tools/) - Matched package manager, installer, dependency, registry, or publishing metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [renameutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/renameutils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-management, file-renaming, filesystem, system. - [detox](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/detox/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-management, file-renaming, system. - [dust](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dust/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-management, filesystem, system. - [dutree](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dutree/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-management, filesystem, system. - [fcp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fcp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-management, filesystem, system. - [fdupes](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fdupes/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-management, filesystem, system. - [findutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/findutils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-management, filesystem, system. - [jdupes](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jdupes/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-management, filesystem, system. - [rnr](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rnr/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, file, file-management, files, filesystem. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ren.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/ren.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - cross-ecosystem install command graph