macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install atflocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install atfMacPorts ports tree · devel/atf/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install atf with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix
Automated testing framework. Version 0.23 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add atfAlpine Linux edge package indexes · atf · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install atf-shDebian stable package indexes · atf-sh · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install atf-testsFedora Rawhide package metadata · atf-tests · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#atfnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/at/atf/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Automated testing framework
Project links
Commands and aliases
- atf-sh
history
Project history and usage
ATF, the Automated Testing Framework, is a small but historically important Unix testing framework for writing test programs in C, C++, and POSIX shell. Its value is less about being a fashionable standalone test runner and more about providing a consistent test-program API and command-line interface for base-system and ports/package test suites.
Project history
The official README describes ATF as libraries for C, C++, and POSIX shell, with ATF-based tests relying on an external execution engine rather than shipping one itself. The same README identifies Kyua as the preferred execution engine, which reflects ATF's later role as the test-definition layer inside a larger BSD testing stack.
The NEWS file records a major 2014 transition: version 0.19 moved project hosting from Google Code, where ATF had been a Kyua subproject, to GitHub as a first-class project. That release also separated deprecated tools such as atf-run and atf-report from the maintained libraries, foreshadowing the modern split where Kyua handles execution.
Adoption history
ATF is strongly associated with BSD operating-system testing. The README explicitly recommends binary packages for FreeBSD, NetBSD/pkgsrc, OpenBSD, and Ubuntu, and the NEWS file calls out FreeBSD test-suite support in the 0.19 release. That made ATF familiar to package maintainers who care about base-system regression tests, portable shell tests, and tests shipped alongside system components.
Its package-manager footprint is broad for such a specialized tool: the input lists packages in Homebrew, MacPorts, pkgsrc-adjacent systems, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Nix, and Alpine. That packaging spread matters because ATF tests are often consumed by downstream distributions rather than only by application developers.
How it is used
ATF is used to write test cases in C, C++, or shell that expose a consistent interface to humans and automation. In practice, users commonly install ATF alongside Kyua, write tests with atf-c, atf-c++, or atf-sh, and let Kyua discover and run them.
The Homebrew formula exposes at least the atf-sh executable, which is the part many command-line package users encounter first when running or authoring shell-based tests.
Why package nerds care
ATF is package-nerd infrastructure: it is not glamorous, but it sits in the plumbing between source trees, operating-system test suites, and downstream package validation. Its removal of the old runner tools in favor of Kyua is the sort of split that explains why different packages may depend on atf libraries, atf-sh, or Kyua separately.
The long quiet period between the 2014 0.21 release and later 2024/2025 releases is also notable for maintainers: old system-test tooling can remain relevant for a decade when it is embedded in OS and packaging workflows.
Timeline
- 2014: ATF 0.19 moved from Google Code to GitHub and separated deprecated runner/reporting tools.
- 2014: ATF 0.20 removed the deprecated tools from the maintained release line.
- 2014: ATF 0.21 restored and refreshed manual-page documentation and improved FreeBSD-current compatibility.
- 2024: ATF 0.22 refreshed the codebase for modern C++ and build-system compatibility.
- 2025: ATF 0.23 fixed release tarball generation and other build/test issues.
Related projects
- Kyua is the preferred execution engine for ATF-based tests.
- FreeBSD's test suite is a major downstream context for ATF.
- pkgsrc, OpenBSD ports, Debian/Ubuntu, and other package systems distribute ATF or ATF shell tooling.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 8 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 3 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.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
atf-sh | cli | global 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 version0.23
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/freebsd/atfnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:atf |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.23 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/atf |
| Homepage | https://github.com/freebsd/atf |
| Repository | https://github.com/freebsd/atf |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/freebsd/atf#readme |
| License | BSD-2-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/freebsd/atf/releases/download/atf-0.23/atf-0.23.tar.gz |
| Build dependencies | autoconf, automake, libtool |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | atf |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
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%
atf-sh 0.22-3
Automated Test Framework (shell library)
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo apt install atf-sh- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: atf
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
Debian apt95%
libatf-c++-2 0.22-3
Automated Test Framework (shared C++ library)
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo apt install libatf-c++-2- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: atf
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
Debian apt95%
libatf-c-1 0.22-3
Automated Test Framework (shared C library)
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo apt install libatf-c-1- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: atf
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
Debian apt95%
libatf-dev 0.22-3
Automated Test Framework (development files)
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo apt install libatf-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: atf
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
Nix95%
atf
nix profile install nixpkgs#atf- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
Ubuntu apt95%
atf-sh 0.21-6build4
Automated Test Framework (shell library)
sudo apt install atf-sh- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: atf
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
Ubuntu apt95%
libatf-c++-2 0.21-6build4
Automated Test Framework (shared C library)
sudo apt install libatf-c++-2- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: atf
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
Ubuntu apt95%
libatf-c-1 0.21-6build4
Automated Test Framework (shared C++ library)
sudo apt install libatf-c-1- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: atf
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
Ubuntu apt95%
libatf-dev 0.21-6build4
Automated Test Framework (development files)
sudo apt install libatf-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: atf
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
apk95%
atf 0.23-r0
libraries to write tests in C, C++ and shell
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo apk add atf- License: BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: atf
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
apk95%
atf-dev 0.23-r0
libraries to write tests in C, C++ and shell (development files)
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo apk add atf-dev- License: BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: atf
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
apk95%
atf-doc 0.23-r0
libraries to write tests in C, C++ and shell (documentation)
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo apk add atf-doc- License: BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: atf
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
apk95%
atf-static 0.23-r0
libraries to write tests in C, C++ and shell (static library)
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo apk add atf-static- License: BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: atf
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
dnf95%
atf-tests 0.23-4.fc44
Automated Testing Framework - Test suite
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo dnf install atf-tests- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: atf
- 13 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
dnf95%
libatf-c 0.23-4.fc44
Automated Testing Framework - C bindings
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo dnf install libatf-c- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: atf
- 2 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
dnf95%
libatf-c++ 0.23-4.fc44
Automated Testing Framework - C++ bindings
https://github.com/freebsd/atf
sudo dnf install libatf-c++- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: atf
- 6 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Atf
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.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment