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Tool Catalog

Recommended modern CLI tools organized by category. Each entry includes usage, installation, and rationale.

Search Tools

fd

Category: search Replaces: find Description: Fast, user-friendly file finder with smart defaults

Why upgrade?

8× faster than find on large directories
Ignores .gitignore and hidden files by default
Colored output with syntax highlighting
Simpler, more intuitive syntax
Parallel directory traversal

Typical usage

fd pattern                    # Find files matching pattern
fd -e ts                      # Find all .ts files
fd -e ts -x wc -l            # Count lines in each .ts file
fd -H config                  # Include hidden files
fd -I node_modules           # Include ignored files
fd pattern src/              # Search in specific directory
fd '^test.*\.ts$'            # Regex pattern

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install fd`
Cargo	`cargo install fd-find`
apt	`apt install fd-find`
dnf	`dnf install fd-find`

GitHub

ripgrep (rg)

Category: search Replaces: grep, ack, ag (the silver searcher) Description: Line-oriented search tool that recursively searches the current directory

Why upgrade?

10–100× faster than grep/ack/ag
Respects .gitignore by default
Automatic binary file detection
Better defaults (recursive, colored, line numbers)
Supports .ignore files for custom exclusions
Fast PCRE2 regex engine

Typical usage

rg pattern                    # Search current directory
rg -i pattern                # Case-insensitive search
rg -t ts pattern             # Search only TypeScript files
rg -T tests pattern          # Exclude tests directory
rg 'fn \w+' -r 'function $0' # Search and replace preview
rg pattern --files-with-matches  # Show only filenames
rg -C 3 pattern              # Show 3 lines of context
rg --hidden pattern          # Include hidden files
rg --no-ignore pattern       # Include ignored files

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install ripgrep`
Cargo	`cargo install ripgrep`
apt	`apt install ripgrep`
dnf	`dnf install ripgrep`

GitHub

ast-grep (sg)

Category: search Replaces: (no direct legacy equivalent) Description: Code structural search and rewrite tool using AST patterns

Why use it?

Language-aware pattern matching (not just text)
Understands code structure and semantics
Prevents false positives from string matches
Supports 20+ languages
Fast native performance (Rust)
Pattern-based refactoring capabilities

Typical usage

sg -p 'console.log($$$)'     # Find all console.log calls
sg -p 'if ($A) { $B }' --lang ts  # Find if statements
sg scan                       # Run configured rules
sg --pattern '$A == null' --rewrite '$A === null'  # Refactor

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install ast-grep`
Cargo	`cargo install ast-grep`
npm	`npm install -g @ast-grep/cli`

GitHub | Docs

JSON Tools

jq

Category: json Replaces: (no direct legacy equivalent) Description: Command-line JSON processor with query language

Why use it?

Parse, filter, and transform JSON from CLI
Powerful query syntax
Handles streaming JSON
Colored output
Widely adopted standard

Typical usage

cat data.json | jq '.'       # Pretty-print JSON
jq '.items[] | .name'        # Extract all names from items array
jq 'select(.status == "active")'  # Filter objects
jq '.[] | {name, email}'     # Transform shape
jq -r '.token'               # Raw output (no quotes)
curl api.com/data | jq '.results[0]'  # Parse API response

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install jq`
apt	`apt install jq`
dnf	`dnf install jq`

GitHub | Docs

File Viewers

bat

Category: viewers Replaces: cat Description: Cat clone with syntax highlighting and git integration

Why upgrade?

Syntax highlighting for 200+ languages
Git gutter showing changes
Automatic paging for long files
Line numbers by default
Non-printable character visualization
Integrates with other tools (fzf, rg)

Typical usage

bat README.md                 # View file with syntax highlighting
bat -n file.ts               # Show line numbers
bat --style=plain file.txt   # Disable decorations
bat -A file.sh               # Show non-printable characters
bat -d file.js               # Show git diff
bat file1.ts file2.ts        # View multiple files

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install bat`
Cargo	`cargo install bat`
apt	`apt install bat`
dnf	`dnf install bat`

GitHub

eza

Category: viewers Replaces: ls, exa Description: Modern ls replacement with better defaults and git awareness

Why upgrade?

Colored output by default
Git status integration
Tree view built-in
Icons support (with nerdfont)
Better permission display
Maintained fork of unmaintained exa

Typical usage

eza                          # List files (colored)
eza -l                       # Long format
eza -la                      # Include hidden files
eza -T                       # Tree view
eza -lh --git                # Show git status
eza --sort=modified          # Sort by modification time
eza --icons                  # Show file icons

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install eza`
Cargo	`cargo install eza`
apt	`apt install eza`
dnf	`dnf install eza`

GitHub

git-delta

Category: viewers Replaces: git diff Description: Syntax-highlighting pager for git, diff, and grep output

Why upgrade?

Side-by-side diff view
Syntax highlighting in diffs
Line numbers
Better moved code detection
Integrates with bat themes
Works with git, diff output, and grep

Typical usage

# Configure git to use delta
git config --global core.pager delta
git config --global interactive.diffFilter "delta --color-only"

# Then use git normally
git diff                     # Now uses delta
git show                     # Syntax-highlighted commits
git log -p                   # Beautiful patch logs
git blame                    # Enhanced blame view

# Direct usage
diff -u file1 file2 | delta

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install git-delta`
Cargo	`cargo install git-delta`
apt	`apt install git-delta`
dnf	`dnf install git-delta`

GitHub

zoxide

Category: navigation Replaces: cd with manual path typing Description: Smarter cd command that learns your habits

Why upgrade?

Jump to frequently used directories with partial names
Frecency algorithm (frequency + recency)
Works across all shells
Interactive selection with fzf integration
No manual bookmarking needed

Typical usage

# After installation, use 'z' instead of 'cd'
z proj                       # Jump to ~/Developer/projects
z doc agents                 # Jump to ~/Documents/agents
zi                           # Interactive directory selection
z -                          # Go to previous directory
zoxide query proj            # Query without jumping

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install zoxide`
Cargo	`cargo install zoxide`
apt	`apt install zoxide`

Post-install: Add to shell config:

# ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc
eval "$(zoxide init zsh)"    # for zsh
eval "$(zoxide init bash)"   # for bash

GitHub

fzf

Category: navigation Replaces: manual history search, manual file selection Description: General-purpose fuzzy finder for command-line

Why use it?

Interactive fuzzy search for any list
Fast C implementation
Integrates with shell history, files, git
Pipe any command output to fzf
Preview window support
Used by many other tools

Typical usage

# Basic fuzzy finding
fzf                          # Search files in current dir
history | fzf                # Search command history

# With preview
fzf --preview 'bat {}'       # Preview files with bat

# Shell integration (after install)
Ctrl-R                       # Search command history
Ctrl-T                       # Search files
Alt-C                        # Change directory

# Pipe integration
git branch | fzf | xargs git checkout  # Interactive branch checkout
ps aux | fzf | awk '{print $2}' | xargs kill  # Interactive process kill

# With other tools
rg pattern | fzf             # Fuzzy search through grep results

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install fzf`
apt	`apt install fzf`
dnf	`dnf install fzf`

Post-install: Enable key bindings:

# macOS with Homebrew
$(brew --prefix)/opt/fzf/install

GitHub

HTTP Tools

httpie

Category: http Replaces: curl (for API testing) Description: Human-friendly HTTP client for testing APIs

Why upgrade?

Simpler syntax than curl
JSON support by default
Syntax highlighting
Formatted output
Session support
File upload support
Better error messages

Typical usage

# GET request
http GET api.example.com/users

# POST JSON (automatic content-type)
http POST api.example.com/users name=John email=john@example.com

# Headers
http GET api.example.com/users Authorization:"Bearer token"

# Download file
http --download example.com/file.zip

# Upload file
http POST api.example.com/upload < file.json

# Form data
http --form POST api.example.com/form name=John file@photo.jpg

# Sessions (save auth)
http --session=user1 POST api.example.com/login username=user1
http --session=user1 GET api.example.com/profile  # Reuses auth

Installation

Method	Command
Homebrew	`brew install httpie`
pip	`pip install httpie`
apt	`apt install httpie`
dnf	`dnf install httpie`

GitHub | Docs

Tool Comparison Matrix

Quick reference for choosing between tools:

Task	Legacy	Modern	Speed Gain
Find files	find	fd	8×
Search text	grep	ripgrep	10–100×
Search code structure	-	ast-grep	N/A
Parse JSON	-	jq	N/A
View files	cat	bat	Similar
List files	ls	eza	Similar
Git diffs	git diff	git-delta	Similar
Navigate dirs	cd	zoxide	10× fewer keystrokes
Fuzzy search	-	fzf	N/A
HTTP requests	curl	httpie	Similar

Speed Gain: Approximate performance improvement or ergonomic benefit

Installation Bundles

Install all recommended tools at once:

Homebrew (macOS/Linux)

brew install \
  fd \
  ripgrep \
  ast-grep \
  jq \
  bat \
  eza \
  git-delta \
  zoxide \
  fzf \
  httpie

# Post-install configuration
eval "$(zoxide init zsh)"
$(brew --prefix)/opt/fzf/install
git config --global core.pager delta

Cargo (Cross-platform)

cargo install \
  fd-find \
  ripgrep \
  bat \
  eza \
  git-delta \
  zoxide \
  ast-grep

# jq, fzf, httpie still need system package manager

apt (Debian/Ubuntu)

sudo apt install \
  fd-find \
  ripgrep \
  bat \
  eza \
  git-delta \
  zoxide \
  fzf \
  jq \
  httpie

# ast-grep may need cargo or npm

Shell Aliases

Recommended aliases to maintain muscle memory:

# ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc

# Optional: alias old commands to new ones
alias cat='bat'
alias ls='eza'
alias find='fd'
alias grep='rg'

# Or: keep old names, add shortcuts for new tools
alias l='eza -l'
alias la='eza -la'
alias lt='eza -T'
alias rg='rg --hidden'

Recommendation: Start with shortcuts, not full aliases. Keeps old commands working on systems without these tools.

Integration Examples

fzf + ripgrep + bat

Interactive search with preview:

rg --files | fzf --preview 'bat --color=always {}'

fd + fzf

Find and preview files:

fd -t f | fzf --preview 'bat --color=always {}'

httpie + jq

API testing with formatted output:

http GET api.example.com/users | jq '.[] | {name, email}'

zoxide + eza

Quick navigation with listing:

z() {
  cd "$(zoxide query "$@")" && eza -la
}

When to Fall Back

Use legacy tools when:

Working on systems where installation requires admin access
Scripting for maximum portability (POSIX compliance)
Tool-specific features not available in modern equivalent
Embedded/minimal environments without package manager

In automation/scripts:

# Check if modern tool exists, fall back gracefully
if command -v fd &> /dev/null; then
  fd pattern
else
  find . -name "*pattern*"
fi

13 KiB Raw Blame History Unescape Escape

Tool Catalog

Search Tools

fd

Why upgrade?

Typical usage

Installation

ripgrep (rg)

Why upgrade?

Typical usage

Installation

ast-grep (sg)

Why use it?

Typical usage

Installation

JSON Tools

jq

Why use it?

Typical usage

Installation

File Viewers

bat

Why upgrade?

Typical usage

Installation

eza

Why upgrade?

Typical usage

Installation

git-delta

Why upgrade?

Typical usage

Installation

Navigation Tools

zoxide

Why upgrade?

Typical usage

Installation

fzf

Why use it?

Typical usage

Installation

HTTP Tools

httpie

Why upgrade?

Typical usage

Installation

Tool Comparison Matrix

Installation Bundles

Homebrew (macOS/Linux)

Cargo (Cross-platform)

apt (Debian/Ubuntu)

Shell Aliases

Integration Examples

fzf + ripgrep + bat

fd + fzf

httpie + jq

zoxide + eza

When to Fall Back

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