sedlike

**sedlike** is a lightweight, portable implementation of the Unix utility *sed* (stream editor) designed for environments where traditional *sed* may not be available or is impractical to install. It is written in portable C and aims to provide a subset of *sed*'s functionality while maintaining compatibility with common use cases.

The project originated as a minimalist alternative to full-featured *sed* implementations, particularly for embedded systems or environments with limited resources. Unlike *sed*, which is often bundled with Unix-like operating systems, *sedlike* is distributed as a standalone binary, making it easy to integrate into custom builds or cross-platform projects. It supports basic text manipulation operations, including pattern matching, substitution, and line deletion, using the same syntax as *sed*.

One of its key advantages is its small footprint and lack of dependencies, allowing it to run on constrained systems without requiring additional libraries. However, it does not include all features of *sed*, such as advanced regular expression support, multi-line editing, or certain scripting capabilities. This intentional limitation ensures simplicity and reliability in environments where robustness is prioritized over feature richness.

*sedlike* is often used in automated build systems, scripting workflows, or as a fallback when native *sed* is unavailable. Its design encourages portability, making it suitable for environments ranging from Linux to Windows or even bare-metal systems with minimal toolchains. The project is typically distributed under permissive open-source licenses, facilitating its use in both proprietary and free software contexts.

While not a direct replacement for *sed* in complex workflows, *sedlike* serves as a practical alternative for basic text processing tasks where simplicity and portability are critical. Its development remains community-driven, with occasional updates to improve compatibility and address edge cases.