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brew install bbftp-clientlocal Homebrew formula metadata
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Install bbftp-client with Homebrew
Secure file transfer software, optimized for large files. Version 3.2.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Secure file transfer software, optimized for large files
Project links
Commands and aliases
- bbftp
- bbftpstatus
history
Project history and usage
bbFTP is IN2P3's secure file-transfer software for large files. It implements its own protocol, supports multi-stream transfers, large TCP windows, compression, retries, and authentication modes aimed at scientific-computing environments.
Project history
The official overview says bbFTP was written by Gilles Farrache at the IN2P3 Computing Center in Lyon, France. The download archive shows public 1.9.x releases by 2000, with the 2.x and 3.x lines adding certificate authentication, RFIO/HPSS-oriented large-file work, passive mode, remote operations, and platform ports.
The 3.2.1 documentation was generated in February 2013 and lists 3.2.1 as the latest release. The newer IN2P3 GitLab repository preserves the project under the CC-IN2P3 HPSS service namespace.
Adoption history
bbFTP's adoption history is more institutional than mass-market: its feature set and official docs target large scientific data transfers, HPSS/RFIO storage, grid-style certificate authentication, and Unix platforms such as Scientific Linux, Ubuntu, macOS, and Solaris.
How it is used
Users run the `bbftp` client to transfer files larger than 2 GB, often with multiple data streams, retry behavior, customized timeouts, and secure authentication. `bbftpstatus`, added in the 3.2.0 line, provides status queries for the transfer system.
Why package nerds care
bbFTP is significant as a pre-cloud, research-computing file-transfer package: it solved a real package-manager problem for sites moving very large files before modern object stores and ubiquitous HTTPS tooling. Its formula also demonstrates how Homebrew carries niche scientific infrastructure clients, not just desktop developer tools.
Timeline
- 2000-08-29: Download archive lists bbftp.v.1.9.0.
- 2001-04-05: Version 2.0.0 archive published.
- 2003-04-01: Version 3.0.0 released.
- 2004-07-22: Version 3.1.0 released with remote operations and site configuration files.
- 2005-05-30: Version 3.2.0 released with `bbftpstatus` and Darwin port work.
- 2013-02-07: Version 3.2.1 released as the latest listed release.
Related projects
- Related projects include GridFTP, scp, rsync, lftp, HPSS/RFIO tooling, and other high-throughput scientific data-transfer clients.
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:ftp,client
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.
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
~/.bbftprc/etc/bbftp.conf
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
bbftp | cli | global executable | |
bbftpstatus | 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 version3.2.1
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://gitlab.in2p3.fr/cc-in2p3-hpss-service/bbftp
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://gitlab.in2p3.fr/cc-in2p3-hpss-service/bbftpnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:bbftp-client |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.2.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/bbftp-client |
| Homepage | https://gitlab.in2p3.fr/cc-in2p3-hpss-service/bbftp |
| Repository | https://gitlab.in2p3.fr/cc-in2p3-hpss-service/bbftp |
| Upstream docs | https://bbftp.cc.in2p3.fr/3.2.1.bbftp.html |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://pkg.freebsd.org/ports-distfiles/bbftp-client-3.2.1.tar.gz |
| 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 | bbftp-client |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 3 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment