macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install b43-fwcutterlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install b43-fwcutter with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper
Extract firmware from Braodcom 43xx driver files. Version 020 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-23.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add b43-fwcutterAlpine Linux edge package indexes · b43-fwcutter · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install b43-fwcutterDebian stable package indexes · b43-fwcutter · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install b43-fwcutterFedora Rawhide package metadata · b43-fwcutter · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#b43-fwcutternixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/b4/b43-fwcutter/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S b43-fwcutterArch Linux sync databases · b43-fwcutter · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install b43-fwcutteropenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · b43-fwcutter · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Extract firmware from Braodcom 43xx driver files
Project links
Commands and aliases
- b43-fwcutter
history
Project history and usage
b43-fwcutter is a small system utility for extracting firmware files for Linux's b43 and b43legacy Broadcom wireless drivers from Broadcom-supplied binary driver packages. It exists because many Broadcom devices need firmware uploaded after reset, but distributions historically could not simply redistribute the extracted firmware.
Project history
The Linux Wireless b43 documentation explains the historical problem directly: Broadcom hardware requires firmware after reset, b43 expects that firmware under the system firmware directory, and Broadcom did not publish firmware for most cards. The b43 community therefore developed b43-fwcutter to extract the needed firmware files from Broadcom Linux binary drivers.
The official b43-fwcutter distribution directory shows early b43-fwcutter tarballs from 2008, continuing through multiple releases and a 2026 b43-fwcutter-020 tarball. The source lives in Michael Buesch's b43-tools repository, alongside the wider b43 maintenance tooling.
Adoption history
b43-fwcutter became a distribution plumbing tool rather than an end-user glamour tool. Linux Wireless documents distro-specific helpers in openSUSE, Ubuntu, and Debian that wrapped or integrated the extraction process to reduce the manual burden on users.
The package metadata in this batch shows b43-fwcutter packaged by Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, Nix, and openSUSE. That spread reflects the same practical need across Linux distributions: installing free driver code was not enough when firmware still had to be extracted separately.
How it is used
Users and distribution scripts run b43-fwcutter against supported Broadcom driver archives, then install the extracted firmware where the Linux firmware loader can find it, commonly under /lib/firmware/b43/ for b43.
It is usually encountered while reviving older Broadcom 43xx wireless hardware, especially on systems where the kernel driver is present but firmware redistribution rules or packaging policy require a local extraction step.
Why package nerds care
b43-fwcutter is a classic packaging edge-case artifact: tiny, unglamorous, and historically necessary because driver, firmware, licensing, and distro policy did not line up cleanly.
It matters to package nerds because it shows how package managers sometimes ship tools that do legal and operational boundary work rather than merely install upstream software. The package is the bridge between free kernel drivers and proprietary firmware blobs users had to obtain separately.
Timeline
- 2008: b43-fwcutter tarballs 009 and 010 appear in the official fwcutter distribution directory.
- 2014: b43-fwcutter-019 is published in the official distribution directory.
- 2026: b43-fwcutter-020 is published, showing the utility still maintained for legacy Broadcom support.
Related projects
- b43 and b43legacy are the Linux Broadcom wireless drivers that consume the extracted firmware.
- bcm43xx was the earlier Broadcom Linux wireless driver family referenced by Linux Wireless documentation.
- Distribution helper packages such as Ubuntu's firmware-b43-installer and openSUSE's install_bcm43xx_firmware wrapped the extraction workflow.
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 6 platform targets.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
b43-fwcutter | 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 version020
manager updated2026-05-23
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://wireless.docs.kernel.org/en/latest/en/users/drivers/b43.html
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://wireless.docs.kernel.org/en/latest/en/users/drivers/b43.htmlnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:b43-fwcutter |
|---|---|
| Version | 020 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/b43-fwcutter |
| Homepage | https://wireless.docs.kernel.org/en/latest/en/users/drivers/b43.html |
| Repository | https://git.bues.ch/git/b43-tools.git |
| Upstream docs | https://bues.ch/b43/fwcutter |
| License | BSD-2-Clause |
| Source archive | https://bues.ch/b43/fwcutter/b43-fwcutter-020.tar.xz |
| Last updated | 2026-05-23T14:00:53Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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 | b43-fwcutter |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| 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%
b43-fwcutter 1:019-14
utility for extracting Broadcom 43xx firmware
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/b43
sudo apt install b43-fwcutter- Section: contrib/utils
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
Debian apt95%
firmware-b43-installer 1:019-14
firmware installer for the b43 driver
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/b43
sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer- Section: contrib/kernel
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: b43-fwcutter
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
Debian apt95%
firmware-b43legacy-installer 1:019-14
firmware installer for the b43legacy driver
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/b43
sudo apt install firmware-b43legacy-installer- Section: contrib/kernel
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: b43-fwcutter
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
Nix95%
b43-fwcutter
nix profile install nixpkgs#b43-fwcutter- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
Ubuntu apt95%
b43-fwcutter 1:019-11build1
utility for extracting Broadcom 43xx firmware
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/b43
sudo apt install b43-fwcutter- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
Ubuntu apt95%
firmware-b43-installer 1:019-11build1
firmware installer for the b43 driver
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/b43
sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer- Section: multiverse/kernel
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: b43-fwcutter
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
Ubuntu apt95%
firmware-b43legacy-installer 1:019-11build1
firmware installer for the b43legacy driver
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/b43
sudo apt install firmware-b43legacy-installer- Section: multiverse/kernel
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: b43-fwcutter
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
apk95%
b43-fwcutter 019-r3
Tool to extract firmware from Broadcom drivers
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43
sudo apk add b43-fwcutter- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: b43-fwcutter
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
apk95%
b43-fwcutter-doc 019-r3
Tool to extract firmware from Broadcom drivers (documentation)
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43
sudo apk add b43-fwcutter-doc- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: b43-fwcutter
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
dnf95%
b43-fwcutter 020-1.fc45
Firmware extraction tool for Broadcom wireless driver
sudo dnf install b43-fwcutter- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: b43-fwcutter
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
pacman95%
b43-fwcutter 019-6
firmware extractor for the b43 kernel module
https://wireless.docs.kernel.org/en/latest/en/users/drivers/b43.html
sudo pacman -S b43-fwcutter- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
zypper95%
b43-fwcutter 019-7.3
Tool for extracting firmware from newer Broadcom WLAN drivers
https://bues.ch/cms/hacking/misc.html#linux_b43_driver_firmware_tools
sudo zypper install b43-fwcutter- License: BSD-2-Clause
- Category: Hardware/Wifi
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: b43-fwcutter
- 3 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: B43 Fwcutter
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