# ack

> grep-like program specifically for large source trees

**Wikidata**: [Q110474783](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110474783)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ack

## Summary
ack is a grep-like program specifically designed for efficiently searching large source trees. It is free software, created and maintained by Andy Lester, and is widely available across various operating systems.

## Key Facts
*   ack is a grep-like program optimized for searching large source trees.
*   It was created and is maintained by Andy Lester.
*   ack is distributed as free software under the Artistic License 2.0.
*   Its latest listed version is 2.18r, released on March 26, 2017.
*   It is also known by the alias "ack-grep".
*   ack runs on operating systems including macOS and BSD.
*   The official website for ack is https://beyondgrep.com/.
*   Its source code repository is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3.

## FAQs
### Q: What is ack?
A: ack is a grep-like program specifically designed for efficiently searching large source trees. It helps developers and users quickly find patterns within extensive codebases and file structures.

### Q: Who created and maintains ack?
A: ack was created by Andy Lester, who also continues to maintain the project.

### Q: What license does ack use?
A: ack is released under the Artistic License 2.0, classifying it as free software. This allows users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.

### Q: On which operating systems can ack be used?
A: ack is designed to run on various operating systems, including macOS and BSD. It is also available through package managers for many other Unix-like systems.

### Q: What is the primary purpose of ack?
A: The primary purpose of ack is to provide a more efficient and developer-friendly alternative to traditional `grep` for searching within large collections of source code files, often by intelligently ignoring irrelevant files and directories by default.

## Why It Matters
ack addresses a critical need for developers and system administrators working with extensive codebases: efficient and intelligent searching. Traditional `grep` can be powerful, but its general-purpose nature often means it searches through many irrelevant files (like build artifacts, version control directories, or binary files) when applied to a source tree. ack, by contrast, is "specifically for large source trees," meaning it's designed to understand and navigate typical project structures, automatically ignoring common non-source files and directories. This specialization significantly speeds up search operations and reduces noise, allowing users to focus on relevant results.

As free software under the Artistic License 2.0, ack benefits from community contributions and transparency, ensuring its continued development and adaptability. Its widespread availability across major operating systems like macOS and BSD, and through numerous package managers (e.g., Homebrew, MacPorts, Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, FreeBSD, OpenBSD), underscores its utility and integration into diverse development environments. By providing a faster, more focused search experience, ack streamlines development workflows, enhances productivity, and helps maintain code quality by making it easier to locate and modify code patterns.

## Notable For
*   **Specialization for Large Source Trees:** Unlike generic `grep`, ack is specifically optimized for searching codebases, automatically ignoring irrelevant files and directories to provide faster, more focused results.
*   **Free Software Licensing:** It is distributed under the Artistic License 2.0, promoting open access, modification, and distribution.
*   **Widespread Availability:** ack is readily available across a broad spectrum of operating systems and package managers, including macOS (Homebrew, MacPorts), BSD (FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD ports), and various Linux distributions (Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, openSUSE).
*   **Dedicated Creator and Maintainer:** The project has been consistently created and maintained by Andy Lester, ensuring a clear vision and ongoing support.

## Body

### Overview
ack is a grep-like computer program designed for searching within large source trees. It functions as free software, enabling users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it.

### Development and Licensing
*   **Creator:** Andy Lester
*   **Maintainer:** Andy Lester
*   **License:** Artistic License 2.0
*   **Copyright Status:** copyrighted
*   **Instance Of:** free software, computer program

### Versions
ack has undergone multiple releases, with specific versions and their publication dates recorded:
*   **Version 2.00:** Published on 2013-04-18
*   **Version 2.02:** Published on 2013-04-19
*   **Version 2.04:** Published on 2013-04-27
*   **Version 2.06:** Published on 2013-08-23
*   **Version 2.08:** Published on 2013-08-23
*   **Version 2.10:** Published on 2013-09-24
*   **Version 2.12:** Published on 2013-12-03
*   **Version 2.14:** Published on 2014-09-04
*   **Version 2.16:** Published on 2017-03-10
*   **Version 2.18r:** Published on 2017-03-26

### Aliases
ack is also known by the alias "ack-grep".

### Operating Systems and Availability
ack is compatible with and available on several operating systems and through various package management systems:
*   **Operating Systems:** macOS, BSD
*   **FreeBSD Port:** textproc/ack
*   **OpenBSD Port:** textproc/p5-ack
*   **NetBSD Package ID:** textproc/p5-ack
*   **macOS Package Managers:**
    *   **Homebrew Formula Name:** ack
    *   **MacPorts Port:** ack
*   **Linux Distribution Packages:**
    *   **Debian Stable Package:** ack
    *   **Ubuntu Package:** ack
    *   **Gentoo Package:** sys-apps/ack
    *   **openSUSE Package:** ack
    *   **Guix Variable Name:** ack
    *   **SlackBuilds Package:** system/ack
*   **Windows Package Manager:**
    *   **Chocolatey Community Package ID:** ack

### Online Resources
*   **Official Website:** https://beyondgrep.com/
*   **GitHub Repository:** https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3
*   **Issue Tracker:** https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/issues
*   **CPAN Project ID:** ack
*   **OSDN Project:** freshmeat_ack-2
*   **Described At URL:** http://freshmeat.sourceforge.net/projects/ack-2
*   **Free Software Directory Entry:** Ack

## References

1. Free Software Directory
2. [Release 2.00. 2013](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.00)
3. [Release 2.02. 2013](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.02)
4. [Release 2.04. 2013](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.04)
5. [Release 2.06. 2013](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.06)
6. [Release 2.08. 2013](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.08)
7. [Release 2.10. 2013](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.10)
8. [Release 2.12. 2013](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.12)
9. [Release 2.14. 2014](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.14)
10. [Release 2.16. 2017](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.16)
11. [Release 2.18r. 2017](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.18r)
12. [Release 2.18. 2017](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/2.18)
13. [Release 3.0.0. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.0.0)
14. [Release 3.0.1. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.0.1)
15. [Release 3.0.2. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.0.2)
16. [Release 3.0.3. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.0.3)
17. [Release 3.1.0. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.1.0)
18. [Release 3.1.1. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.1.1)
19. [Release 3.1.2. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.1.2)
20. [Release 3.1.3. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.1.3)
21. [Release 3.2.0. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.2.0)
22. [Release 3.3.0. 2019](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.3.0)
23. [Release 3.3.1. 2020](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.3.1)
24. [Release 3.4.0. 2020](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.4.0)
25. [Release 3.5.0. 2021](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.5.0)
26. [Release 3.6.0. 2022](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.6.0)
27. [Release 3.7.0. 2023](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.7.0)
28. [Release 3.8.0. 2024](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.8.0)
29. [Release 3.8.1. 2025](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.8.1)
30. [Release 3.8.2. 2025](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.8.2)
31. [Release 3.9.0. 2025](https://github.com/beyondgrep/ack3/releases/tag/v3.9.0)