macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install vgreplocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install vgrepMacPorts ports tree · textproc/vgrep/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install vgrep with Homebrew, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper
User-friendly pager for grep. Version 2.8.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install vgrepFedora Rawhide package metadata · vgrep · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#vgrepnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/vg/vgrep/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install vgrepopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · vgrep · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
User-friendly pager for grep
Project links
Commands and aliases
- vgrep
history
Project history and usage
vgrep is a user-friendly pager and interactive front end for grep-like search tools. It indexes matches from grep, git-grep, ripgrep, and similar commands so users can browse results and jump directly into a chosen location in an editor.
Project history
The vrothberg/vgrep repository was created in March 2015. The README describes vgrep as inspired by the older cgvg scripts, but extended with operations such as file and directory statistics and context-line display around matches.
vgrep matured as a Go CLI for a familiar terminal workflow: search first, then navigate results. GitHub releases show continued maintenance through v2.x releases, including v2.8.0 in May 2024 with fixes for gracefully handling errors from grep-like tools.
Adoption history
vgrep's adoption is modest but real across Unix-like package ecosystems. It appears in Homebrew, Fedora/DNF, MacPorts, Nix, and openSUSE/Zypper metadata, and secondary package indexes describe it consistently as a grep pager or front end.
The tool's appeal is strongest among developers who already use grep, git-grep, or ripgrep but want persistent indexed results and editor integration without switching to a full-screen IDE search interface.
How it is used
In normal use, vgrep runs a grep-style search, displays numbered results, and lets the user open selected matches in an editor such as Vim or Emacs. It also supports interactive browsing, context display, and cached result selection so users can revisit indexed matches without rerunning a search.
Because it works with existing search tools rather than replacing pattern matching itself, vgrep fits into shell pipelines and source-code search habits. It is a pager and navigator around grep-family output, not a new regular-expression engine.
Why package nerds care
vgrep is a classic small-package utility: one executable that improves a decades-old command-line primitive by adding navigation state. Its package significance comes from making grep output act more like a lightweight code-search UI while staying editor- and shell-friendly.
Timeline
- 2015-03: vrothberg/vgrep was created on GitHub.
- 2022-08: GitHub releases show v2.6.1.
- 2023-10: GitHub releases show v2.7.0.
- 2024-05: v2.8.0 was released with improved handling of grep errors.
Related projects
- vgrep is related to grep, git-grep, ripgrep, fzf-style terminal selection workflows, Vim, Emacs, and the older cgvg scripts that inspired its indexed grep-result navigation.
Sources
- https://api.github.com/repos/vrothberg/vgrep
- https://api.github.com/repos/vrothberg/vgrep/releases?per_page=3
- https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/vgrep
- https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep
- https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep/releases
- https://linuxcommandlibrary.com/man/vgrep
- https://www.freshports.org/textproc/vgrep/
- https://www.mankier.com/package/vgrep
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 10 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 2 build dependencies.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
vgrep | 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 version2.8.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv2.8.0
https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:vgrep |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.8.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/vgrep |
| Homepage | https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep |
| Repository | https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep#readme |
| License | GPL-3.0-only |
| Source archive | https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep/archive/refs/tags/v2.8.0.tar.gz |
| Build dependencies | go, go-md2man |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, 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 | vgrep |
| Version Scheme | 1 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Nix95%
vgrep
nix profile install nixpkgs#vgrep- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vgrep
dnf95%
vgrep 2.8.0-9.fc45
User-friendly pager for grep
https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep
sudo dnf install vgrep- License: Apache-2.0 AND BSD-3-Clause AND GPL-3.0-only AND MIT
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vgrep
- 2 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vgrep
zypper95%
vgrep 2.8.0-1.6
Frontend for git-grep and grep
https://github.com/vrothberg/vgrep
sudo zypper install vgrep- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Category: Productivity/Text/Utilities
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vgrep
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vgrep
MacPorts95%
vgrep
sudo port install vgrep- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vgrep
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
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment