How do you run `less` and have it run a search pattern automatically?

Question

I'm trying to run less in Linux, and I want it to search for something immediately after launch.

It's basically like doing this:

$ less

Then press '/', type a search pattern like "^commit \w+$", then press enter, and press 'n' to find each subsequent result.

I'd like less to be launched, and then search for a pattern. There doesn't seem to be anything in the man page about starting with a pattern, but perhaps you can send it commands like Vim.

Answer 1

From the man page:

   -ppattern or --pattern=pattern
          The  -p  option  on the command line is equivalent to specifying
          +/pattern; that is, it tells less to start at the  first  occur-
          rence of pattern in the file.

This works as expected using the latest version of less (436).

Answer 2

You can use + to send arbitrary commands. E.g.:

less +/pattern

-p PATTERN (as posted by nik) is equivalent to +/PATTERN.

Answer 3

You mean like?

less -p PATTERN filename

That is in the manual.

Answer 4

There is indeed somthing in the less manpage.

You could try :

less -p<pattern>

or

less --pattern=<patern>