Automic VaultAutomic Vault

brew

Install apt-dater with Homebrew, apk, apt, Nix

Manage package updates on remote hosts using SSH. Version 1.0.4 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install apt-dater

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add apt-dater

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · apt-dater · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install apt-dater

Debian stable package indexes · apt-dater · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#apt-dater

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ap/apt-dater/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Manage package updates on remote hosts using SSH

Commands and aliases

  • adsh
  • apt-dater

history

Project history and usage

apt-dater is a terminal tool for keeping one or more Debian GNU/Linux hosts up to date over SSH. It sits in the old sysadmin niche between package-manager front ends and fleet-management systems.

Project history

The upstream README presents apt-dater as a management-server tool: copy example configuration into ~/.config/apt-dater, list managed hosts, and use SSH plus sudo on those hosts to run package updates.

Its 1.0-era releases show the tool maturing around terminal multiplexers, host refresh behavior, localization, reproducible builds, and configuration backend changes. Version 1.0.2 switched configuration handling to libxml2 and included conversion support for older hosts.conf data.

Adoption history

apt-dater's adoption is mostly in Debian-style administration circles. The supplied package metadata records Debian, Ubuntu, Alpine, Nix, and Homebrew packages, which matches a tool aimed at Debian-family update workflows but useful from non-Debian admin workstations too.

The project is small compared with APT itself, but its presence in multiple package managers reflects a specific operator need: update many apt-managed machines without installing a heavier orchestration stack.

How it is used

A typical setup creates ~/.config/apt-dater/apt-dater.conf, hosts.conf, and screenrc on the management machine, generates an SSH key such as ~/.ssh/apt-dater, installs the public key on managed hosts, and configures sudo for apt-get and related commands.

The executable apt-dater coordinates the host view, while adsh acts as an SSH wrapper that can record sessions. The tool expects managed hosts to have SSH and sudo available.

Why package nerds care

apt-dater is package-nerd software in the literal sense: it is a package-update console for people who administer many apt machines. It exposes the social layer around apt operations: host inventory, SSH identity, sudo policy, terminal multiplexing, and update status.

It is also a reminder that not every package-management tool is a solver or repository system. Some are thin operational wrappers around existing package managers, and those wrappers matter when a fleet is still maintained by direct SSH.

Timeline

  • 2010s: apt-dater 0.9.x and 1.0.x releases refine cluster support, SSH/session handling, and terminal multiplexer behavior.
  • 2014: 1.0.0 pre-release series includes libconfig-backed configuration and ADP 7.0 support.
  • 2015: 1.0.2 switches the configuration engine to libxml2 and adds legacy hosts.conf conversion.
  • 2021: 1.0.4 release includes tmux and Debian build-environment maintenance fixes.

Related projects

  • APT and apt-get are the package tools apt-dater drives on managed hosts.
  • needrestart appears in upstream sudo examples for detecting services or kernels that need restart after upgrades.
  • screen and tmux are related terminal multiplexer backends used by apt-dater workflows.

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

  • broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

  • text:ssh

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
  • Installs with 3 runtime dependencies.
  • Build metadata lists 5 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix
~/.config/apt-dater/apt-dater.conf~/.config/apt-dater/hosts.conf~/.config/apt-dater/screenrc

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix
~/.ssh/apt-dater~/.ssh/apt-dater.pub

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
adshcliglobal executable
apt-datercliglobal executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08
manager version1.0.4
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv1.0.4

https://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater

  • infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:apt-dater
Version1.0.4
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/apt-dater
Homepagehttps://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater
Repositoryhttps://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater
Upstream docshttps://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater#readme
LicenseGPL-2.0-or-later
Source archivehttps://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater/archive/refs/tags/v1.0.4.tar.gz
Dependenciesgettext, glib, popt
Build dependenciesautoconf, automake, coreutils, gettext, pkgconf
Uses from macOSlibxml2, ncurses
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Nameapt-dater
Version Scheme1
Revision2
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

apt-dater 1.0.4-8+b2

terminal-based remote package update manager

https://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater

sudo apt install apt-dater
  • Section: admin
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: apt-dater
  • 14 dependencies
  • 2 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Apt Dater
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: apt-dater from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

apt-dater

nix profile install nixpkgs#apt-dater
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Apt Dater
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ap/apt-dater/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

apt-dater 1.0.4-8build2

terminal-based remote package update manager

https://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater

sudo apt install apt-dater
  • Section: universe/admin
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 13 dependencies
  • 2 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Apt Dater
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: apt-dater from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

apt-dater 1.0.4-r4

terminal-based remote package update manager

https://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater

sudo apk add apt-dater
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: apt-dater
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Apt Dater
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: apt-dater from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

apt-dater-doc 1.0.4-r4

terminal-based remote package update manager (documentation)

https://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater

sudo apk add apt-dater-doc
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: apt-dater
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Apt Dater
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: apt-dater-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

apt-dater-lang 1.0.4-r4

Languages for package apt-dater

https://github.com/DE-IBH/apt-dater

sudo apk add apt-dater-lang
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: apt-dater
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Apt Dater
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: apt-dater-lang from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

Related tools

  • gettextRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • glibRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • autoconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • automakeBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • coreutilsBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • aptlyShares av.db curated category or tags: apt, cli, system.
  • dshShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ssh, system.
  • kanifShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ssh, system.
  • mpsshShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ssh, system.
  • orgalorgShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ssh, system.
  • rexShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ssh, system.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Used sources

  • Geiger risk classifier
  • Nucleus package database
  • av.db category and tag curation
  • cross-ecosystem install command graph
  • curated configuration and credential file locations
  • curated package history
  • external package-manager database matches
  • package relationship graph
  • package version freshness
  • package-page enrichment