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I replaced sed with the GNU version on my Mac. I thought I made a backup of the original (BSD version), but apparently I didn't, and now I need it back. Can someone help me?

Nick
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  • So did you replace it by writing over `/usr/bin/sed`? – slhck Dec 05 '12 at 13:53
  • Yeah, but in `/usr/local/bin/sed`. I don't think there ever was a `/usr/bin/sed` (at least in OS X) – Nick Dec 05 '12 at 13:56
  • Just out of curiosity, what is the difference what makes you want it back? – terdon Dec 05 '12 at 13:57
  • I'm installing a program using a pkg. This program has known issues with the GNU version of sed and I don't want to try and find every command in its install script(s) to alter it. – Nick Dec 05 '12 at 14:10

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The "original" BSD sed in OS X is found at /usr/bin/sed.

werner@macleod ~/Desktop% which sed
/usr/bin/sed

The GNU version of sed – at least the one installed with Homebrew – is at /usr/local/bin/sed.

If the GNU version takes precedence over your system sed, you need to change the PATH in your shell so it references /usr/bin before /usr/local/bin. Confirm the existence of both by typing which -a sed.

To restore a binary that came with OS X, you can also use Pacifist and your OS X installation disc – if you have one, that is. Refer to this answer for a step-by-step instruction for Ruby, but sed should be somewhere in there as well.

Community
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slhck
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  • Well, for some reason I do not have `/usr/bin/sed`. Don't know what on earth I did. (Would somebody maybe mind emailing me it?) – Nick Dec 05 '12 at 14:09
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    You must've played around with `sudo` then. I've [uploaded `sed` from a 10.6.8 installation](http://ge.tt/1dCzqxS/v/0), but no idea if it'll work for you. – slhck Dec 05 '12 at 14:12
  • Thanks, worked perfectly! My package installed correctly now. – Nick Dec 05 '12 at 14:20