Why doesn't searching /tmp show any results, but grep -R does?

[thepragmaticmero]

Please tick this box to confirm you have reviewed the above.

• I have a different issue.

What version of ripgrep are you using?

ripgrep 14.1.0

How did you install ripgrep?

DNF / Pacman

What operating system are you using ripgrep on?

Fedora Silverblue 40 / Arch Linux

Describe your bug.

Ripgrep fails to give ANYTHING inside the /tmp/(gibberish) files. grep -R works tho, but grep -r. Why?

What are the steps to reproduce the behavior?

I want to search a certain string inside a pkg build made by paru (arch linux build). The string is "ld -z", thing is. RipGrep can't search even basic text like "Build" (there's a lot of build text inside the folder). grep -r doesn't work either. But grep -R does. What's the matter with the /tmp files? even with sudo it doesn't find anything.

What is the actual behavior?

$ rg -e "ld -z" /tmp/aurmkulYq/ and I get no output.
$ rg -e "Build" /tmp/aurmkulYq/ still no output.

$ grep -R "Build" /tmp/aurmkulYq/
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/CMakeLists.txt:Build and link against address sanitizer (only for Debug & 10:21:16 [1886/1886]
ts)."
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/CMakeLists.txt:Build `extern` dependencies with address sanitizer when WITH_COMPILER_ASAN is o
n. \
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/CMakeLists.txt:Build and link with code coverage support (only for Debug targets)."
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/CMakeLists.txt:      # Build type is not known for multi-config generator, so don't add object
-size sanitizer.
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/CMakeLists.txt:  info_cfg_text("Build Options:")
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:   * debug:         Build a debug binary.
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:   * headless:      Build without an interface (renderfarm or server automation).
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:   * cycles:        Build Cycles standalone only, without Blender.
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:   * bpy:           Build as a python module which can be loaded from python direc
tly.
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:   * deps:          Build library dependencies (intended only for platform maintai
ners).
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:   * package_archive:   Build an archive package.
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:# Source and Build DIR's
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:# Build Blender
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:     @echo Building Blender ...
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:# Build dependencies
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/GNUmakefile:     @echo Building dependencies ...
/tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src/blender/README.md:- [Build Instructions](https://developer.blender.org/docs/handbook/building_blender/
)
... This is too long, but you get the idea.

What is the expected behavior?

At least with rg -e "Build" /tmp/aurmkulYq it should output something

[BurntSushi]

1. You didn't show --debug output as requested in the issue template.
2. If grep -r also doesn't work, but grep -R does, then that should give you a clue right? -r doesn't include symlinks but -R does. ripgrep also doesn't follow symlinks by default. For ripgrep, you would pass -L/--follow for that.
3. As documented in many places, ripgrep does filtering by default. Specifically, it filters based on gitignore, hidden files/directories and binary files. Since you didn't provide --debug output and since you didn't provide an MRE, it is unclear whether filtering is at play here.
4. The -e flag is irrelevant here.

So... try rg -L Build /tmp/aurmkulYq to follow symlinks. Or rg -uuu -L Build /tmp/aurmkulYq to follow symlinks and disable filtering. Please also consider reading the guide.

[BurntSushi]

I understand you're frustrated, but I'm not here to listen to you vent. You can go do that on Twitter.

I'm happy to answer questions. Help me help you. Don't tell, show. Here's how to do it.

[BurntSushi]

Yes, and that --debug output should be revealing right? It's telling you that directories like /tmp/aurmkulYq/blender-git/src are being completely ignored because ripgrep respects .gitignore.

[thepragmaticmero]

oh.... it does? similar to Gnu Stow. I'm an Arch user BTW, I thought it should be comfortable by now with the RTFM mantra, still not I guess. Thanks 4 the help, and the frustration control. I'll never repeat this tantrum again with any project. tnks.

[thepragmaticmero]

Answer:
rg -L --no-ignore-vcs "Build" /tmp/aurmkulYq/