Indeed, the -E switch (aka egrep) does activate a modern regexp syntax, and is found in a boatload more systems than where -P is. It does not come with all the Perl features, but it is way more comfortable than the basic 1980s dialect grep & co default to.

In reply to Re^2: Grep'ping on Unix without perl-compatible gnu grep - can you do it better? by Anonymous Monk
in thread Grep'ping on Unix without perl-compatible gnu grep - can you do it better? by Tommy

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