sd

Replace text in a file

$ sd '[find]' '[replace]' [path/to/file]

$ sd -F '[find]' '[replace]' [path/to/file]

$ sd -p '[find]' '[replace]' [path/to/file]

$ echo '[text]' | sd '[find]' '[replace]'

$ sd '(\w+)@(\w+)' '$1 at $2' [file]

$ fd --type file --exec sd '[find]' '[replace]'

$ sd -F '$.value' 'newValue' [config.json]

sd [options] find replace-with [files...]

sd is a fast, intuitive find-and-replace command-line tool written in Rust. It serves as a modern alternative to sed, focusing specifically on text substitution with a simpler, more readable syntax.
Unlike sed, sd uses JavaScript/Python-style regular expressions that most developers already know. The find and replace patterns are provided as separate arguments rather than combined in a complex expression, making commands easier to write and understand.
Capture groups work intuitively: use $1, $2 for indexed groups, or $name for named groups defined with (?P\<name\>pattern). To include a literal dollar sign in the replacement, escape it as $$.
When no files are specified, sd reads from standard input. Combined with tools like fd, it enables powerful batch replacements across entire codebases.

-F, --fixed-strings

Treat find and replace patterns as literal strings, not regular expressions

Preview changes without modifying files

Modify files in place (default behavior when files are specified)

End of flags; allows patterns starting with a dash

sd modifies files in place by default when file arguments are provided. Always use -p to preview changes on important files. The regex flavor differs from sed's, so patterns may need adjustment when migrating from sed workflows.

sd was created by chmln and first released around 2019. Written in Rust, it was designed to address the complexity and unintuitive syntax of sed for everyday find-and-replace tasks. The project gained popularity as part of the wave of modern Rust-based CLI tools reimagining traditional Unix utilities.

sed(1), awk(1), rg(1), fd(1), perl(1)