install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install basis_universal

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S basis-universal

Arch Linux sync databases · basis-universal · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add basisu

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

overview

Package summary

Basis Universal GPU texture codec command-line compression tool

Project links

Commands and aliases

basisu

history

Project history and usage

Basis Universal is Binomial's portable GPU texture supercompression and transcoding system. The README describes it as an open source LDR/HDR GPU compressed texture interchange system supporting Khronos KTX2 and Binomial's `.basis` format, with rapid transcoding to many GPU texture formats.

Project history

The repository marks the reference encoder, transcoder, and specifications as copyright 2016-2026 Binomial LLC. Its early public identity centered on ETC1S and UASTC as portable intermediate formats: asset pipelines could ship one compressed texture and transcode on the target device to formats such as BC, ETC, PVRTC, ASTC, ATC, and FXT1.

The project matured from a command-line compressor/transcoder into a broader texture infrastructure stack: native C/C++ libraries, a `basisu` CLI, WebAssembly builds, JavaScript wrappers, WebGL examples, Python support, KTX2 support, HDR modes, and detailed codec specifications in the wiki.

Adoption history

Khronos KTX-Software officially documents that KTX files can contain Basis Universal formats and includes a Basis Universal WebAssembly transcoder for JavaScript KTX parsers. That places Basis Universal inside the standard KTX2 toolchain used by OpenGL, Vulkan, Web, and asset-pipeline tooling.

Package-manager adoption follows the CLI and library utility: the supplied facts list Homebrew, Alpine, and Arch packages, while the upstream README documents native builds on Windows, Ubuntu, macOS, ARM, RISC-V, WebAssembly, and WASI.

How it is used

The `basisu` command-line tool creates, validates, transcodes, and unpacks `.ktx2` and `.basis` files. The README documents CMake builds, Visual Studio builds, WebAssembly/WASI executables, SSE/OpenCL options, and a `-test` mode for exercising encoder and transcoder paths.

Developers use Basis Universal to reduce download and distribution size while deferring final GPU format choice until runtime. KTX2 plus Basis formats are especially important for web and cross-platform engines that must support different GPU texture capabilities.

Why package nerds care

Basis Universal is package-nerd significant because it is both a CLI formula and a piece of graphics infrastructure. Packaging it gives asset pipelines access to the `basisu` encoder without requiring a full game engine or SDK install.

Its significance also comes from codec standardization pressure: the project has to track KTX2 headers, supercompression IDs, GPU texture formats, WebAssembly constraints, fuzzing, and compatibility with Khronos tooling.

Timeline

2016: Binomial copyright range begins for the reference encoder, transcoder, and specifications.
2022-01-28: Version 1.16 release notes describe smaller code size, fewer dependencies, OpenCL support, faster ETC1S encoding, and parallel processing.
2024-09-10: Version 1.50.0 adds UASTC HDR, EXR/HDR image support, DDS read/write, and defaults the command-line tool to KTX2 output.
2025-01-21: Version 1.60.0 requires C++17 and adds UASTC HDR 6x6 and GPU Photo HDR-related modes.
2026-01-19: Version 2.0 adds full ASTC LDR support, XUASTC LDR, WASM/WASI support, Python support, and new real-time BC7/ETC1 encoders.
2026-02-24: Version 2.1 focuses on KTX-Software compatibility for UASTC HDR 4x4, UASTC HDR 6x6 intermediate, and XUASTC LDR formats.

Related projects

Related official projects and standards include Khronos KTX/KTX2, Khronos KTX-Software, Binomial's KTX-Software fork, WebAssembly/WASI builds, and GPU texture formats such as ETC1S, UASTC, ASTC, BC6H/BC7, PVRTC, ETC2, and DDS.

Sources

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:compress

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 1 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
`basisu`	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 version2.1.0

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universalnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:basis_universal
Version	2.1.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/basis_universal
Homepage	https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal
Repository	https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal
Upstream docs	https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal#readme
License	Apache-2.0
Source archive	https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal/archive/refs/tags/v2_1_0.tar.gz
Build dependencies	cmake
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	basis_universal
Aliases	basisu
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	head 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.

pacman95%

basis-universal 2.1.0-2

Basis Universal GPU Texture Codec

https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal

sudo pacman -S basis-universal

License: Apache-2.0
Architecture: x86_64
4 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Basis Universal

Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: basis-universal from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

apk92%

basisu 1.16.4-r1

Basis Universal GPU Texture Codec

https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal

sudo apk add basisu

License: Apache-2.0
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: basisu
1 dependencies
1 provides
installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Basisu

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: basisu from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk92%

basisu-dev 1.16.4-r1

Basis Universal GPU Texture Codec (development files)

https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal

sudo apk add basisu-dev

License: Apache-2.0
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: basisu
1 dependencies
installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Basisu

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: basisu-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk92%

basisu-libs 1.16.4-r1

Basis Universal GPU Texture Codec (libraries)

https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal

sudo apk add basisu-libs

License: Apache-2.0
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: basisu
1 dependencies
1 provides
installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Basisu

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: basisu-libs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/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.

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.

combined/basis_universal.yml

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

Install basis_universal with Homebrew, pacman, apk

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: blue

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources