# Install airspy with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Driver and tools for a software-defined radio. Version 1.0.10 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-30. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:airspy ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install airspy ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install airspy ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: science/airspy/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install airspy ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: airspy from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#airspy ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ai/airspy/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S airspy ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: airspy from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install airspy ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: airspy from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:airspy - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.0.10 - **Source summary:** Driver and tools for a software-defined radio - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-05-30T13:43:59-04:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - airspy_gpio (cli) - airspy_gpiodir (cli) - airspy_info (cli) - airspy_lib_version (cli) - airspy_r820t (cli) - airspy_rx (cli) - airspy_si5351c (cli) - airspy_spiflash (cli) - airspy_gpio (alias) - airspy_gpiodir (alias) - airspy_info (alias) - airspy_lib_version (alias) - airspy_r820t (alias) - airspy_rx (alias) - airspy_si5351c (alias) - airspy_spiflash (alias) ## Dependencies - libusb ## Build dependencies - cmake - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.0.10 - Package-manager updated: 2026-05-30 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/airspy/airspyone_host - Upstream latest detected: v1.0.10 (current) ## Project history and usage Airspy is the host software package for Airspy SDR receivers, exposing libairspy and command-line utilities for inspecting devices, receiving samples, reading/writing device settings, and integrating Airspy hardware into SDR software stacks. ### Project history The official Airspy site describes the hardware line as high-quality software-defined radio receivers for governments, professionals, academics, and hobbyists, and its page metadata dates the site to 2014. The airspyone_host repository is the host-side software for Airspy and describes the project as a low-cost, open-source software radio platform. The host software's README names Benjamin Vernoux and Youssef Touil as principal authors and notes that Airspy is based on the HackRF project. That lineage matters: Airspy sits in the same open SDR tradition as HackRF while packaging a narrower set of host tools for Airspy hardware. ### Adoption history Airspy's adoption is tied to SDR hardware ownership and to distribution packaging. The Homebrew source facts list packages for Homebrew, Debian, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, Ubuntu, and openSUSE, reflecting the need for easy host-tool installs across desktop SDR workstations. The upstream repository documents Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD builds. On Linux it installs udev rules and runs `ldconfig`, which is a classic sign that the package is both a CLI utility set and a system library used by other SDR programs. ### How it is used Users install the host package to get commands such as `airspy_info`, `airspy_rx`, `airspy_gpio`, `airspy_r820t`, and `airspy_spiflash`. These tools inspect attached receivers, receive IQ samples, and manage lower-level device controls. The package is usually not the whole SDR application. It is the plumbing layer that lets SDR frontends and scripts talk to Airspy USB hardware through libusb and libairspy. ### Why package nerds care Airspy is interesting to package maintainers because hardware support lives at the awkward edge between libraries, CLI tools, USB permissions, and downstream GUI applications. A working package needs the right libusb dependency, library installation, and device access rules, not just a compiled binary. It is also part of the SDR packaging constellation: HackRF, rtl-sdr, Airspy HF+, SDR#, and SoapySDR-style integrations all shape how users expect radio hardware packages to install and coexist. ### Timeline - 2014: The official Airspy site metadata records publication of the Airspy SDR site. - 2010s: airspyone_host provides host software for Airspy as a low-cost open-source software radio platform. - 2020s: Airspy host tools are packaged across Homebrew, Debian, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, Ubuntu, and openSUSE according to source_facts. ### Related projects - HackRF is named by the Airspy host README as a basis for the project. - Airspy HF+ is the related HF/VHF receiver line with its own host package. - libusb is the USB access dependency documented by the build instructions. ### Sources - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** airspy - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** yes - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - airspy - 1.0.10-3+b3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: airspy from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Tiny and efficient software defined radio receiver - utilities | http://airspy.com - Nix - airspy: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ai/airspy/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - airspy - 1.0.10-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: airspy from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Tiny and efficient software defined radio receiver - utilities | http://airspy.com - pacman - airspy - 1.0.10-5: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: airspy from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | AirSpy Software Defined Radio (SDR) usermode driver and associated tools | https://www.airspy.com - zypper - airspy - 1.0.10-3.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: airspy from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Support programs for Airspy | http://www.airspy.com - zypper - airspy-devel - 1.0.10-3.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: airspy-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Development files for airspy | http://www.airspy.com - zypper - airspy-udev - 1.0.10-3.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: airspy-udev from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Udev rules for Airspy SDR | http://www.airspy.com - zypper - libairspy0 - 1.0.10-3.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libairspy0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Driver for Airspy | http://www.airspy.com - MacPorts - airspy: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: science/airspy/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [airspyhf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/airspyhf/) - Shares the same upstream homepage. - [soapysdr](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/soapysdr/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, radio, sdr. - [a52dec](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/a52dec/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media. - [aalib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aalib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media. - [ab-av1](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ab-av1/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media. - [abcde](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abcde/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media. - [abcm2ps](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abcm2ps/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media. - [abcmidi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abcmidi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media. - [ola](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ola/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, info, libusb, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/airspy.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/airspy.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph