# Install bento4 with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix, scoop, winget Full-featured MP4 format and MPEG DASH library and tools. Version 1.6.0-641 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:bento4 ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install bento4 ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install bento4 ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: multimedia/bento4/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add bento4 ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bento4 from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#bento4 ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/be/bento4/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/bento4 ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/bento4.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id AxiomaticSystems.Bento4 -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: AxiomaticSystems.Bento4 from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:bento4 - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.6.0-641 - **Source summary:** Full-featured MP4 format and MPEG DASH library and tools - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - aac2mp4 (cli) - avcinfo (cli) - fixaacsampledescription (cli) - hevcinfo (cli) - mp42aac (cli) - mp42avc (cli) - mp42hevc (cli) - mp42hls (cli) - mp42ts (cli) - mp4audioclip (cli) - mp4compact (cli) - mp4dash (cli) - mp4dashclone (cli) - mp4dcfpackager (cli) - mp4decrypt (cli) - mp4diff (cli) - mp4dump (cli) - mp4edit (cli) - mp4encrypt (cli) - mp4extract (cli) - mp4fragment (cli) - mp4hls (cli) - mp4iframeindex (cli) - mp4info (cli) - mp4mux (cli) - mp4pssh (cli) - mp4rtphintinfo (cli) - mp4split (cli) - mp4tag (cli) - aac2mp4 (alias) - avcinfo (alias) - fixaacsampledescription (alias) - hevcinfo (alias) - mp42aac (alias) - mp42avc (alias) - mp42hevc (alias) - mp42hls (alias) - mp42ts (alias) - mp4audioclip (alias) - mp4compact (alias) - mp4dash (alias) - mp4dashclone (alias) - mp4dcfpackager (alias) - mp4decrypt (alias) - mp4diff (alias) - mp4dump (alias) - mp4edit (alias) - mp4encrypt (alias) - mp4extract (alias) - mp4fragment (alias) - mp4hls (alias) - mp4iframeindex (alias) - mp4info (alias) - mp4mux (alias) - mp4pssh (alias) - mp4rtphintinfo (alias) - mp4split (alias) - mp4tag (alias) ## Dependencies - python@3.14 ## Build dependencies - cmake ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.6.0-641 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.bento4.com/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Bento4 is Axiomatic Systems' C++ SDK and command-line tool suite for ISO Base Media File Format and MP4-family workflows. It is one of the tools package people reach for when they need to inspect, fragment, encrypt, decrypt, mux, tag, or package MP4 assets from a shell. ### Project history The public GitHub repository dates to January 2015, but the project presents itself as an SDK rather than only a CLI collection: portable C++ code, build targets for Unix-like systems, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and tool binaries built on the same API. Bento4 tracks the practical evolution of MP4 distribution. Its README and documentation cover fragmented MP4, MPEG-DASH, HLS, CMAF, Common Encryption, PIFF, OMA DCF/PDCF, metadata, and codec-specific utilities for AVC, HEVC, AAC, AC-3, EC-3, Dolby Atmos, DTS, ALAC, and other formats. ### Adoption history Bento4 became useful to streaming-video developers because it put many packaging chores into small Unix-style commands. Instead of opening a media framework or writing MP4 box parsing code, users can run tools such as mp4dump, mp4info, mp4fragment, mp4dash, mp4hls, mp4encrypt, and mp4decrypt. Distribution adoption is broad for a media tool: the input facts list Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, apk, Scoop, and WinGet. That cross-platform packaging matches the project's own design goal of portable SDK source plus ready command-line utilities. ### How it is used Typical package use is file-oriented: inspect an MP4's boxes, extract or mux elementary streams, create fragmented MP4 for streaming, produce DASH or HLS outputs, generate PSSH boxes, or apply/decode Common Encryption workflows. Because the tools are composable CLIs, Bento4 often appears in build pipelines, video test fixtures, CDN preparation jobs, DRM packaging flows, and debugging sessions where ffmpeg alone is too codec-focused and not box-structure-specific enough. ### Why package nerds care Bento4 is package-nerd significant because it is a dense bundle of specialist media executables. The Homebrew formula exposes a whole toolbox, not just one command, so downstream package manifests become a map of MP4 operations. It also sits at a useful boundary between standards and everyday packaging. ISO BMFF, DASH, CMAF, CENC, Widevine/PlayReady-related packaging, and HLS all surface as concrete CLI names that can be scripted and version-pinned. ### Timeline - 2015: The axiomatic-systems/Bento4 GitHub repository was created. - 2020: Release notes in the README record the 1.6.0-638 line with AV1, documentation, inspector API, and bug-fix work. - 2020s: Bento4 remained packaged across Unix, macOS, Windows, and Linux package ecosystems for MP4/DASH/HLS/CMAF workflows. ### Related projects - FFmpeg often appears nearby in media pipelines, but Bento4 focuses more directly on MP4 boxes, fragmentation, packaging, and encryption utilities. - GPAC/MP4Box is a related MP4/DASH packaging toolchain in the same command-line culture. - DASH, HLS, CMAF, CENC, Widevine, and PlayReady are the standards and DRM ecosystems that make Bento4 operationally important. ### Sources - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** bento4 - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 1 - **Conflicts With:** mp4v2 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - bento4: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/be/bento4/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - apk - bento4 - 1.6.0.641-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bento4 from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Full-featured MP4 format, MPEG DASH, HLS, CMAF SDK and tools | https://bento4.com - apk - bento4-dev - 1.6.0.641-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bento4-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Full-featured MP4 format, MPEG DASH, HLS, CMAF SDK and tools (development files) | https://bento4.com - MacPorts - bento4: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: multimedia/bento4/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Scoop - main/bento4: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/bento4.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget - AxiomaticSystems.Bento4: normalized package name match | Windows Package Manager source index: AxiomaticSystems.Bento4 from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [python@3.14](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/python-3-14/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [dash-mpd-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dash-mpd-cli/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [bento](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bento/) - Package name indicates the same formula family. - [libaacs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libaacs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, media-library, video. - [vsd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vsd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, hls, media, video. - [ccextractor](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ccextractor/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, video. - [dvanalyzer](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dvanalyzer/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, video. - [dvr-scan](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dvr-scan/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, video. - [ffmpeg](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ffmpeg/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, video. - [ffmpeg-full](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ffmpeg-full/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, video. - [ffmpeg2theora](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ffmpeg2theora/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, video. - [mkvtomp4](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mkvtomp4/) - Both packages touch the same language runtime or ecosystem. Shared terms: cli, media, mp4, python, python-3-14. - [streamlink](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/streamlink/) - Both packages touch the same language runtime or ecosystem. Shared terms: cli, media, python, python-3-14, video. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/bento4.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/bento4.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph