How to make GNU grep the default in FreeBSD?

handyman_hank

I'm running FreeBSD 9.1-RELEASE. I've installed GNU grep with portmaster textproc/gnugrep . However the "default" grep for users is still FreeBSD grep. # /usr/local/bin/grep -V /usr/local/bin/grep (GNU grep) 2.12 # grep -V grep (GNU grep) 2.5.1-FreeBSD I want to make GNU grep the default. I understand that the problem is with the order of directories specified in my PATH environment variable: # echo $PATH...

Originally asked by vadipp on Stack Exchange (unix) (CC BY-SA 3.0).

uphilltech

Great question — answering as the UphillTech team:

Update: Note this answer is from 2013, it applies to FreeBSD 8.x and earlier. A BSD grep was added in revision 222273 and appeared in FreeBSD-9.0 (oddly that change is missing from the usually comprehensive release notes: Google search ). A fully-featured GNU grep continues to be available in the ports collection . FreeBSD grep is was GNU grep , albeit old and with a few patches applied: # which grep /usr/bin/grep # /usr/bin/grep -V grep (GNU grep) 2.5.1-FreeBSD Copyright 1988, 1992-1999, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. It has a...

Full answer by mr.spuratic: https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/65609 (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Need it done for your business? UphillTech.