Handling CSV files with AWK presents significant challenges due to AWK's limited support for CSV formats, particularly when dealing with embedded commas, line-breaks, and quoted values. A common workaround is using the tool csvquote, which temporarily replaces problematic characters with non-printing ASCII control codes, allowing AWK and other UNIX tools to process CSV data effectively. This method simplifies the handling of CSVs by wrapping AWK calls with csvquote and restoring the original characters afterward. Alternative approaches include using FPAT and gawkextlib, though these have limitations, such as difficulty handling newlines and requiring additional setup. Csvquote remains a favored solution for many due to its simplicity and effectiveness in addressing AWK's CSV handling issues. The tool's development is credited to Dan Brown, with enhancements made by Adam Gordon Bell, who also promotes the use of Earthly, a build automation tool.