Add xargs Ignores Alias Substitution By Default as a Unix TIL

Author: jbranchaud

README.md

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pairing with smart people at Hashrocket.
 
 For a steady stream of TILs, [sign up for my newsletter](https://crafty-builder-6996.ck.page/e169c61186).
 
-_1326 TILs and counting..._
+_1327 TILs and counting..._
 
 ---
 
@@ -1347,6 +1347,7 @@ _1326 TILs and counting..._
 - [Watch This Run Repeatedly](unix/watch-this-run-repeatedly.md)
 - [Where Are The Binaries?](unix/where-are-the-binaries.md)
 - [xargs Default Command Is echo](unix/xargs-default-command-is-echo.md)
+- [xargs Ignores Alias Substitution By Default](unix/xargs-ignores-alias-substitution-by-default.md)
 
 ### Vercel
 

unix/xargs-ignores-alias-substitution-by-default.md

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# xargs Ignores Alias Substitution By Default
+
+I have a number of aliases set up in my shell's RC file. For instance, I use
+`nvim` as my main editor, but because of muscle memory, I've aliased `vim` to
+`nvim`.
+
+```bash
+❯ alias vim
+vim=nvim
+```
+
+So, I was surprised when I ran the following `xargs` command.
+
+```bash
+❯ rg 'some pattern' -l | xargs vim
+```
+
+It opened the matching files in `vim` rather than `nvim`.
+
+The reason for this is that `xargs` is a separate function that does not have
+an internal concept of aliases that need to be substituted.
+
+There is, however, a trick built in to `alias` that we can use. By leaving a
+trailing space in an alias, we tell the shell to check for an alias
+substitution to expand in the following word.
+
+So, I can alias `xargs` to `'xargs '` and it will respect my `vim` alias.
+
+```
+❯ alias xargs='xargs '
+```
+
+[source](https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/244516/5916)