repren CLI

A single-file tool for bulk search, replace and file renaming that an agent installs for itself as a skill with one command.

  • 376 ★ on the repository
  • Last commit
  • MIT
CLI

Extended access

Why this level

  • Pattern-based bulk replacement changes many files at once and a broad pattern can hit too much
All reasons and checks

jlevy/repren

Install

In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI

npx skillfoxx add cli/repren

Detects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.

Other ways to install

Access and checks

How we review

Extended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.

  • Pattern-based bulk replacement changes many files at once and a broad pattern can hit too much

This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.

What it does

repren, a dependency-free Python command-line tool, rewrites file contents using literal or regular-expression patterns and applies the same patterns to rename files and directories, creating folders when needed. Replacements run simultaneously, so swapping "foo" and "bar" needs no temporary name. A dry-run mode writes nothing and prints statistics, changes are atomic and backups remain. Case-preserving options exist. For agents the README says to run `uvx repren@latest --help`: the help ends with the commands that install the skill.

Who it is for. Developers who ask an agent for bulk renames and refactors and want a predictable tool instead of `sed` chains.

Good fit when

  • An entity must be renamed in code and file names in one pass.
  • Two names must be swapped at the same time.
  • You want a dry run with statistics before editing.
  • The agent handles bulk replacement worse than targeted edits and needs a general tool.

Not a fit when

  • You need a refactor aware of language syntax and types, repren works on text.
  • The edit touches a single spot and is easier by hand.
  • You need Python older than 3.10.

Example request

Rename `UserProfile` to `AccountProfile` everywhere, file names included. Do a dry run first and show the statistics.

Limitations

The tool is textual and knows nothing about code meaning, so broad patterns can hit too much. Do a dry run before a real one. The repository's last commit is dated August 2026. Python 3.10 to 3.14 is required. The tool works on text with no syntax parsing, so a replacement inside strings and comments hits them the same as code. Keep the project under git so changes can be reverted. Before use, check the repository's current state and the version you rely on.

How to disable. Remove the installed skill from the agent's skills directory. Run via `uvx`, the program leaves nothing on the system except a cache.

FAQ

How does an agent get the skill?

The agent runs `uvx repren@latest --help`. The end of the help prints the exact commands that install repren as a skill.

Are there dependencies?

No. It is a single file that uses only the Python standard library.

Can the result be rolled back?

The program leaves backups and writes changes atomically, so an interruption does not corrupt a file.

Why choose it over sed?

Simultaneous replacements, renaming files and directories with the same patterns, a dry run and case-preserving variants.

Which Python versions are supported?

The README states Python 3.10 to 3.14.

Discussion

No questions or reviews yet.

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README in short

The tool replaces and renames by pattern at once, needs no dependencies, and its help teaches an agent to install the skill.

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