2.2. What versions of sed are there, and where can I get them?
2.2.1. Free versions
Note: "Free" does not mean "public domain" nor does it necessarily
mean you will never be charged for it. All versions of sed in this
section except the CP/M versions are based on the GNU general
public license and are "free software" by that standard (for
details, see https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html). This
means you can get the source code and develop it further.
At the URLs listed in this category, sed binaries or source code
can be downloaded and used without fees or license payments.
2.2.1.1. Unix platforms
ssed v3.60
ssed is the version recommended by the FAQ maintainers, since it
shares the same codebase with GNU sed, has the most options, and is
free software (you can get the source). Though there were earlier
version of ssed distributed, sites for these are not being listed.
https://sed.sourceforge.net/grabbag/ssed
https://freshmeat.net/project/sed/
GNU sed v4.0.5
This is the latest official version of GNU sed. It offers in-place
text replacement as an option switch.
ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/sed/sed-4.0.5.tar.gz
https://freshmeat.net/project/sed
BSD multi-byte sed (Japanese)
Based on the latest version of GNU sed, which supports multi-byte
characters.
ftp://ftp1.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/FreeBSD-stable/packages/Latest/ja-sed.tgz
GNU sed v3.02.80
An alpha test release which was the base for the development of
ssed and GNU sed v4.0.
ftp://alpha.gnu.org/pub/gnu/sed/sed-3.02.80.tar.gz
GNU sed v3.02a
Interim version with most features of GNU sed v3.02.80.
GNU sed v3.02
ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/sed/sed-3.02.tar.gz
GNU sed v3.02-8
source code and binaries for Debian GNU/Linux
https://www.debian.org/Packages/stable/base/sed.html
For some time, the GNU project <https://www.gnu.org> used Eric S.
Raymond's version of sed (ESR sed v1.1), but eventually dropped it
because it had too many built-in limits. In 1991 Howard Helman
modified the GNU/ESR sed and produced a flexible version of sed
v1.5 available at several sites (Helman's version permitted things
like \<...\> to delimit word boundaries, \xHH to enter hex code and
\n to indicate newlines in the replace string). This version did
not catch on with the GNU project and their version of sed has
moved in a similar but different direction.
sed v1.3, by Eric Steven Raymond (released 4 June 1998)
https://catb.org/~esr/sed-1.3.tar.gz
Eric Raymond <[email protected]> wrote one of the earliest
versions of sed. On his website <https://www.catb.org/~esr/> which
also distributes many freeware utilities he has written or worked
on, he describes sed v1.1 this way:
"This is the fast, small sed originally distributed in the GNU
toolkit and still distributed with Minix. The GNU people ditched it
when they built their own sed around an enhanced regex package --
but it's still better for some uses (in particular, faster and less
memory-intensive)." (Version 1.3 fixes an unidentified bug and adds
the L command to hexdump the current pattern space.)
2.2.1.2. OS/2
GNU sed v3.02.80
https://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~vtgf3mpr/gnu/sed.htm
GNU sed v3.02
https://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/file/sed-3_02-r2-bin.zip # binaries
https://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/file/sed-3_02-r2.zip # source
2.2.1.3. Microsoft Windows (Win3x, Win9x, WinNT, Win2K)
GNU sed v4.0.5
32-bit binaries and docs. Precompiled versions not available (yet).
GNU sed v3.02.80
32-bit binaries and docs, using DJGPP compiler. For details on new
features, see Unix section, above.
https://www.student.northpark.edu/pemente/sed/sed3028a.zip # DOS binaries
ftp://alpha.gnu.org/pub/gnu/sed/sed-3.02.80.tar.gz # source
ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/gnu/djgpp/v2gnu/sed3028b.zip # binaries
ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/gnu/djgpp/v2gnu/sed3028d.zip # docs
ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/gnu/djgpp/v2gnu/sed3028s.zip # source
GNU sed v2.05
32-bit binaries, no docs. Requires 80386 DX (SX will not run) and
must be run in a DOS window or in a full screen DOS session under
Microsoft Windows. Will not run in MS-DOS mode (outside Win/Win95).
We recommend using the latest version of GNU sed.
https://www.simtel.net/pub/win95/prog/gsed205b.zip
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/simtelnet/win95/prog/gsed205b.zip
GNU sed v1.03
modified by Frank Whaley.
This version was part of the "Virtually UN*X" toolset, hosted by
itribe.net; that website is now closed. Gsed v1.03 supported Win9x
long filenames, as well as hex, decimal, binary, and octal
character representations.
The Cygwin toolkit:
https://www.cygwin.com
Formerly know as "GNU-Win32 tools." According to their home page,
"The Cygwin tools are Win32 ports of the popular GNU development
tools for Windows NT, 95 and 98. They function through the use of
the Cygwin library which provides a UNIX-like API on top of the
Win32 API." The version of sed used is GNU sed v3.02.
Minimalist GNU for Windows (MinGW):
https://www.mingw.org
https://mingw.sourceforge.net
According to their home page, "MinGW ('Minimalist GNU for Windows')
refers to a set of runtime headers, used in building a compiler
system based on the GNU GCC and binutils projects. It compiles and
links code to be run on Win32 platforms ... MinGW uses Microsoft
runtime libraries, distributed with the Windows operating system."
The version of sed used is GNU sed v3.02.
sed v1.5 (a/k/a HHsed), by Howard Helman
Compiled with Mingw32 for 32-bit environments described above. This
version should support Win95 long filenames.
https://www.dbnet.ece.ntua.gr/~george/sed/OLD/sed15.exe
https://www.student.northpark.edu/pemente/sed/sed15exe.zip
2.2.1.4. MS-DOS
sed v1.6 (from HHsed), by Walter Briscoe
This is a forthcoming version, now in beta testing, but with many
new features. It corrects all the bugs in sed v1.5, and adds the
best features of sedmod v1.0 (below). It is available in 16-bit and
32-bit compiled versions for MS-DOS. Sorry, no URLs available yet.
sed v1.5 (a/k/a HHsed), by Howard Helman
uncompiled source code (Turbo C)
ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/txtutl/sed15.zip
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/simtelnet/msdos/txtutl/sed15.zip
DOS executable and documentation
ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/txtutl/sed15x.zip
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/simtelnet/msdos/txtutl/sed15x.zip
sedmod v1.0, by Hern Chen
https://www.ptug.org/sed/SEDMOD10.ZIP
https://www.student.northpark.edu/pemente/sed/sedmod10.zip
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/unix/sedmod10.zip
GNU sed v3.02.80
See section 2.2.1.3 ("Microsoft Windows"), above.
GNU sed v2.05
Does not run under MS-DOS.
GNU sed v1.18
32-bit binaries and source, using DJGPP compiler. Requires 80386 SX
or better. Also requires 3 CWS*.EXE extenders on the path. See
section 5.5 ("What is CSDPMI*B.ZIP and why do I need it?"), below.
We recommend using a newer version of GNU sed.
https://www.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/gnu/djgpp/v2gnu/sed118b.zip
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/simtelnet/gnu/djgpp/v2gnu/sed118b.zip
https://www.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/gnu/djgpp/v2gnu/sed118s.zip
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/simtelnet/gnu/djgpp/v2gnu/sed118s.zip
GNU sed v1.06
16-bit binaries and source. Should run under any MS-DOS system.
https://www.simtel.net/pub/gnu/gnuish/sed106.zip
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/simtelnet/gnu/gnuish/sed106.zip
2.2.1.5. CP/M
ssed v2.2, by Chuck A. Forsberg
Written for CP/M, ssed (for "small/stupid stream editor) supports
only the a(ppend), c(hange), d(elete) and i(nsert) options, and
apparently doesn't support regular expressions. A -u switch will
"unsqueeze" compressed files and was used mainly in conjunction
with DIF.COM for source code maintenance. (file: ssed22.lbr)
change, by Michael M. Rubenstein
Rubenstein released a version of sed called CHANGE.COM (the
TTOOLS.LBR archive member CHANGE.CZM is a "crunched" file).
CHANGE.COM supports full RE's except grouping and backreferences,
and its only function is global substitution. (file: ttools.lbr)
2.2.1.6. Macintosh v8 or v9
Since sed is a command-line utility, it is not customary to think
of sed being used on a Mac. Nonetheless, the following instructions
from Aurelio Jargas describe the process for running sed on MacOS
version version 8 or 9.
(1) Download and install the Apple DiskCopy application
ftp://ftp.apple.com/developer/Development_Kits
(2) Download and install Apple MPW
ftp://ftp.apple.com/developer/Tool_Chest/Core_Mac_OS_Tools/MPW_etc./
(3) Download and expand Matthias Neeracher's GNU sed for MPW. (They
seem to have misnumbered the sed filename.)
ftp://sunsite.cnlab-switch.ch/software/platform/macos/src/mpw_c/sed-2.03.sit.bin
(4) Enter the sed-3.02 directory and doubleclick the 'sed' file
(5) MPW Shell will open up. It will be a command window instead of
a command line, but sed should work as expected. For example:
echo aa | sed 's/a/Z/g'<ENTER>
Note that ENTER is different from RETURN on an iMac. Apple also
has its own version of sed on MPW, called "StreamEdit", with a
syntax fairly similar to that of normal sed.
2.2.2. Shareware and Commercial versions
2.2.2.1. Unix platforms
[ Additional information needed. ]
2.2.2.2. OS/2
Hamilton Labs:
https://www.hamiltonlabs.com/cshell.htm
A sizable set of Unix/C shell utilities designed for OS/2. Price is
$350 in the US, $395 elsewhere, with FedEx shipping, unconditional
guarantee, unlimited support and free updates. A demo version of
the suite can be downloaded from this site, but a stand-alone copy
of sed is not available.
2.2.2.3. Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Windows 2000
Hamilton Labs:
https://www.hamiltonlabs.com/cshell.htm
A sizable set of Unix/C shell utilities designed for Win9x, WinNT,
and Win2K. Price is $350 in the US, $395 elsewhere, with FedEx
shipping, unconditional guarantee, unlimited support and free
updates. A demo version of the suite can be downloaded from this
site, but a stand-alone copy of sed is not available.
Interix:
https://www.interix.com
Interix (formerly known as OpenNT) is advertised as "a complete
UNIX system environment running natively on Microsoft Windows NT",
and is licensed and supported by Softway Systems. It offers over
200 Unix utilities, and supports Unix shells, sockets, networking,
and more. A single-user edition runs about $200. A free demo or
evaluation copy will run for 31 days and then quit; to continue
using it, you must purchase the commercial version.
MKS NuTCRACKER Professional
https://www.datafocus.com/products/nutc/
A different, yet related product line offered by MKS (Mortice Kern
Systems, below); the awkward spelling "NuTCRACKER" is intentional.
Various packages offer hundreds of Unix utilities for Win32
environments. Sed is not available as a separate product.
UnixDos:
https://www.unixdos.com
UnixDos is a suite of 82 Unix utilities ported over to the Windows
environments. There are 16-bit versions for Win3.x and 32-bit
versions for WinNT/Win95. It is distributed as uncrippled shareware
for the first 30 days. After the test period, the utilities will
not run and you must pay the registration fee of $50.
Their version of sed supports "\n" in the RHS of expressions, and
increases the length of input lines to 10,000 characters. By
special arrangement with the owners, persons who want a licensed
version of sed only (without the other utilities) may pay a
license fee of $10.
U/WIN:
https://www.research.att.com/sw/tools/uwin/
U/WIN is a suite of Unix utilities created for WinNT and Win95
systems. It is owned by AT&T, created by David Korn (author of the
Unix korn shell), and is freely distributed only to educational
institutions, AT&T employees, or certain researchers; all others
must pay a fee after a 90-day evaluation period expires. U/WIN
operates best with the NTFS (WinNT file system) but will run in
degraded mode with the FAT file system and in further degraded mode
under Win95. A minimal installation takes about 25 to 30 megs of
disk space. Sed is not available as a separate file for download,
but comes with the suite.
2.2.2.4. MS-DOS
Mix C/Utilities Toolchest
https://www.mixsoftware.com/product/utility.htm
According to their web page, "The C/Utilities Toolchest adds over
40 powerful UNIX utilities to your MS-DOS operating system. The
result is an environment very similar to UNIX operating systems,
yet 100% compatible with MS-DOS programs and commands." The
toolchest costs $19.95, with source code available for an
additional fee. Mix C's version of sed is not available separately.
MKS (Mortice Kern Systems) Toolkit
https://www.mks.com
Sed comes bundled with the MKS Toolkit, which is distributed only
as commercial software; it is not available separately.
Thompson Automation Software
https://www.tasoft.com
The Thompson Toolkit contains over 100 familiar Unix utilities,
including a version of the Unix Korn shell. It runs under MS-DOS,
OS/2, Win3.x, Win9x, and WinNT. Sed is one of the utilities, though
Thompson is better known for its version of awk for DOS, TAWK. The
toolkit runs about $150; sed is not available separately.
