.dotfiles

Tools Comparison & Benchmarks

Performance and feature comparisons for modern CLI tools

Performance Benchmarks

Search Performance: ripgrep vs grep

# Test: Search for pattern in Linux kernel source (~70k files)
$ time grep -r "TODO" linux/
real    0m18.532s

$ time rg "TODO" linux/
real    0m0.495s
# Result: ripgrep is ~37x faster

File Finding: fd vs find

# Test: Find all Python files in large project
$ time find . -name "*.py" -type f | wc -l
real    0m4.287s

$ time fd -e py | wc -l
real    0m0.312s
# Result: fd is ~14x faster

Directory Listing: eza vs ls

# Test: List directory with git status
$ time ls -la --color=auto
real    0m0.042s

$ time eza -la --git
real    0m0.038s
# Result: Similar speed, but eza shows git status

Feature Comparison

File Viewers

Feature cat bat
Syntax highlighting ❌ ✅
Line numbers ❌ ✅
Git integration ❌ ✅
Paging ❌ ✅
Binary detection ❌ ✅
Theme support ❌ ✅

Search Tools

Feature grep ripgrep ag
Speed Slow Fastest Fast
.gitignore respect ❌ ✅ ✅
Parallel search ❌ ✅ ✅
Unicode support Limited ✅ ✅
Binary file handling Basic Smart Smart
Memory usage Low Medium High

File Finders

Feature find fd
Syntax complexity High Low
Speed Slow Fast
.gitignore respect ❌ ✅
Regex support ✅ ✅
Parallel execution ❌ ✅
Color output ❌ ✅

Process Viewers

Feature ps top htop procs
Tree view ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅
Color output ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅
Mouse support ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌
Customizable ❌ Limited ✅ ✅
Resource usage Minimal Low Low Low

HTTP Clients

Feature curl wget xh httpie
Syntax simplicity Low Medium High High
JSON support Manual ❌ ✅ ✅
Color output ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅
Form handling Complex Basic Easy Easy
Speed Fast Fast Fast Slow
Binary size Small Small Small Large

Use Case Recommendations

When to Use Traditional Tools

Use traditional tools when:

When to Use Modern Tools

Use modern tools when:

Installation Sizes

# Minimal tools
ls:      Built-in    (0 MB)
grep:    Built-in    (0 MB)
find:    Built-in    (0 MB)

# Modern replacements
eza:     ~3 MB
ripgrep: ~4 MB
fd:      ~2 MB
bat:     ~5 MB
delta:   ~7 MB
duf:     ~3 MB
dust:    ~2 MB
procs:   ~3 MB
xh:      ~4 MB

# Total modern suite: ~35 MB

Migration Tips

Gradual Adoption

# Start with aliases that fall back
alias grep='command -v rg >/dev/null && rg || grep'
alias find='command -v fd >/dev/null && fd || find'
alias ls='command -v eza >/dev/null && eza || ls'

Muscle Memory Helpers

# Keep familiar commands but use modern tools
alias ll='eza -l --git'
alias la='eza -la'
alias l='eza -l'

# Add helpers for common patterns
alias fif='rg -l' # Find in files
alias ff='fd'     # Find files

Compatibility Mode

# When you need exact traditional behavior
\ls     # Bypass alias, use system ls
\grep   # Bypass alias, use system grep
command ls   # Alternative syntax

Quick Decision Guide

Choose modern tools if you want:

Stick with traditional if you need:

Back to Modern CLI Tools Back to Commands
This site is open source. Improve this page.