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The Evolution of the awk Language

This Web page describes the GNU implementation of awk, which follows the POSIX specification. Many long-time awk users learned awk programming with the original awk implementation in Version 7 Unix. (This implementation was the basis for awk in Berkeley Unix, through 4.3-Reno. Subsequent versions of Berkeley Unix, and systems derived from 4.4BSD-Lite, use various versions of gawk for their awk.) This chapter briefly describes the evolution of the awk language, with cross-references to other parts of the Web page where you can find more information.

• V7/SVR3.1: The major changes between V7 and System V Release 3.1.
• SVR4: Minor changes between System V Releases 3.1 and 4.
• POSIX: New features from the POSIX standard.
• BTL: New features from the Bell Laboratories version of awk.
• POSIX/GNU: The extensions in gawk not in POSIX awk.
• Contributors: The major contributors to gawk.