What are you talking about? Yes, GNU bloatware is massive and hideous, but it is still far easier to install than javascript + framework + package manager + package. If you don't have the ability to run binaries in ~/bin then you can't use this sed alternative either.
I took it that I already had node.js installed because that's what we were using. Asking for a replacement for an already existing sed is probably not going to happen.
You don't need to ask unless /home is mounted noexec. It seems rather absurd to assume a seldom used and rather massive ecosystem of language, libs, framework and package manager are installed, but that it is impossible to upload a copy of gsed to ~/bin. The number of shared hosting environments where you can't run your own code, and you already have node installed is miniscule.
And although its getting a bit off-topic at this point, doing replacements directly in the file isn't even a good idea. The standard "move $file to $file.backup, run sed against $file.backup and pipe it into $file" method is not just recommended because it is portable, it also saves your ass when you messed up your search+replace and broke all your files.
"You don't need to ask unless /home is mounted noexec."
You'd be surprised what is restricted in a lot of corps beyond the "approved" software list. It is amazing what big things get approved and what little things don't.
No I wouldn't, I've dealt with them extensively. I have no idea how that is relevant though. If Enterprositous Corp X needs a way to do replacements, they install one. They would have to install node and a ton of other crap anyways, why do you pretend installing a single trivial binary is beyond hope of possibility, but installing a huge language+framework ecosystem is totally cool?