xref: /netbsd-src/external/gpl2/grep/dist/README (revision a8fa202a6440953be7b92a8960a811bff58203f4)
1*a8fa202aSchristosThis is GNU grep, the "fastest grep in the west" (we hope).  All
2*a8fa202aSchristosbugs reported in previous releases have been fixed.  Many exciting new
3*a8fa202aSchristosbugs have probably been introduced in this revision.
4*a8fa202aSchristos
5*a8fa202aSchristosGNU grep is provided "as is" with no warranty.  The exact terms
6*a8fa202aSchristosunder which you may use and (re)distribute this program are detailed
7*a8fa202aSchristosin the GNU General Public License, in the file COPYING.
8*a8fa202aSchristos
9*a8fa202aSchristosGNU grep is based on a fast lazy-state deterministic matcher (about
10*a8fa202aSchristostwice as fast as stock Unix egrep) hybridized with a Boyer-Moore-Gosper
11*a8fa202aSchristossearch for a fixed string that eliminates impossible text from being
12*a8fa202aSchristosconsidered by the full regexp matcher without necessarily having to
13*a8fa202aSchristoslook at every character.  The result is typically many times faster
14*a8fa202aSchristosthan Unix grep or egrep.  (Regular expressions containing backreferencing
15*a8fa202aSchristoswill run more slowly, however.)
16*a8fa202aSchristos
17*a8fa202aSchristosSee the files AUTHORS and THANKS for a list of authors and other contributors.
18*a8fa202aSchristos
19*a8fa202aSchristosSee the file INSTALL for compilation and installation instructions.
20*a8fa202aSchristos
21*a8fa202aSchristosSee the file NEWS for a description of major changes in this release.
22*a8fa202aSchristos
23*a8fa202aSchristosSee the file TODO for ideas on how you could help us improve grep.
24*a8fa202aSchristos
25*a8fa202aSchristosSend bug reports to bug-grep@gnu.org.
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