This brilliant Linux utility just got a whole lot more powerful

Linux developers and sysadmins relying on the popular fd command-line tool have reason to celebrate with the release of version 9.0. This alternative to the traditional find command has long been favored for its speed and sensible defaults, but the latest update substantially expands its capabilities while maintaining its signature developer-friendly approach.

What Changed

The fd GitHub repository details several impactful changes in v9.0:

1. Revamped Filter System: New --include and --exclude flags allow combined pattern filtering (*.ts --exclude test_*) for surgical file targeting
2. Performance Optimizations: Reduced memory usage by 50% in common workflows and faster startup times
3. Extended Pattern Support: Added {a,b,c} brace expansion syntax for complex search patterns
4. Improved Error Handling: Clearer diagnostic messages when permission issues occur
5. Behavior Changes: The --exec command now defaults to shell execution (use --exec-batch for direct execution)

Why Developers Should Care

For mobile developers working across ecosystems, fd's enhancements address pain points in asset management:

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Works identically on WSL2, macOS, and Linux environments
• Build Script Optimization: Faster recursive searches accelerate CI/CD pipelines
• Project Scaffolding: Quickly locate React Native components (fd -e jsx ComponentName) or Kotlin files
• Resource Management: Efficiently find unused assets with fd -e png --exclude assets/used/

Migration Considerations

While most changes are additive, developers should note:

• Scripts using --exec may require modification due to new shell execution behavior
• The minimum Rust version requirement increased to 1.70.0 for compilation
• New .fdignore files override previous .ignore configurations