macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install bfslocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install bfsMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/bfs/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install bfs with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman
Breadth-first version of find. Version 4.1.4 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-29.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add bfsAlpine Linux edge package indexes · bfs · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install bfsDebian stable package indexes · bfs · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install bfsFedora Rawhide package metadata · bfs · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#bfsnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/bf/bfs/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S bfsArch Linux sync databases · bfs · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
overview
Package summary
Breadth-first version of find
Project links
Commands and aliases
- bfs
history
Project history and usage
bfs is a C implementation of a breadth-first variant of the Unix find command. It aims to remain compatible with POSIX, GNU, BSD, and macOS find behavior while adding a friendlier command-line parser, diagnostics, and practical extensions.
Project history
The official repository was created in June 2015. Early tags show a pre-1.0 series before the project reached 1.0 in 2017, followed by 2.0 in October 2020, 3.0 in July 2023, 4.0 in August 2024, and active 4.1.x maintenance through June 2026.
The README documents the core design choice: unlike traditional depth-first find traversal, bfs lists shallower paths first. Around that foundation it adds compatibility with several find dialects, argument-order leniency, typo suggestions, expression warnings, and convenience extensions such as -exclude and -nohidden.
Adoption history
bfs has unusually broad packaging for a small Unix utility. Its README lists packages for Alpine, Arch, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Gentoo, Guix, macOS, and other systems, and the input separately records Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, Debian, Ubuntu, and Alpine packaging.
That packaging footprint reflects the niche: bfs is not a replacement for every find use, but it is attractive to users who want familiar find syntax with better traversal behavior, diagnostics, and cross-platform consistency.
How it is used
Users run bfs much like find: searching directory trees by name, type, size, metadata, predicates, and actions. Its breadth-first order can surface shallow matches earlier, and its parser accepts common argument placements that traditional find variants reject.
The tool is also useful in scripts when its extensions matter, but its package value is strongest for interactive shell use where friendlier errors and faster discovery of shallow matches save time.
Why package nerds care
bfs is notable to package-focused users because it reimagines one of Unix's oldest daily-driver commands without throwing away compatibility. That makes it a rare modern system utility that can be installed next to the base tool and immediately compared on real workflows.
Its significance is not just breadth-first search. The interesting packaging story is a small, carefully maintained C utility earning broad distro adoption by being faster to understand than find, stricter about warning users when expressions are probably wrong, and portable enough to ship across Linux and macOS ecosystems.
Timeline
- 2015: Repository created in June.
- 2017: 1.0 released.
- 2020: 2.0 released in October.
- 2023: 3.0 released in July.
- 2024: 4.0 released in August.
- 2026: 4.1.4 released in June.
Related projects
- Related projects include POSIX find, GNU findutils, BSD find implementations, fd for simple name-based search, and locate/plocate for indexed filename search.
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.
- Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
bfs | 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 version4.1.4
manager updated2026-06-29
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detected4.1.4
https://github.com/tavianator/bfs
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:bfs |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.1.4 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/bfs |
| Homepage | https://tavianator.com/projects/bfs.html |
| Repository | https://github.com/tavianator/bfs |
| Upstream docs | https://tavianator.com/projects/bfs.html |
| License | 0BSD |
| Source archive | https://github.com/tavianator/bfs/archive/refs/tags/4.1.4.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-29T20:47:31Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | oniguruma |
| Build dependencies | pkgconf |
| 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 | bfs |
| 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%
bfs 4.0.6-1
Breadth-first version of find(1)
https://github.com/tavianator/bfs
sudo apt install bfs- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
Nix95%
bfs
nix profile install nixpkgs#bfs- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
Ubuntu apt95%
bfs 3.1.2-1build1
Breadth-first version of find(1)
https://github.com/tavianator/bfs
sudo apt install bfs- Section: universe/utils
- Architecture: amd64
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
apk95%
bfs 4.1-r1
Breadth-first variant of the UNIX find command
https://github.com/tavianator/bfs
sudo apk add bfs- License: 0BSD
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bfs
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
apk95%
bfs-bash-completion 4.1-r1
Bash completions for bfs
https://github.com/tavianator/bfs
sudo apk add bfs-bash-completion- License: 0BSD
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bfs
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
apk95%
bfs-doc 4.1-r1
Breadth-first variant of the UNIX find command (documentation)
https://github.com/tavianator/bfs
sudo apk add bfs-doc- License: 0BSD
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bfs
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
apk95%
bfs-fish-completion 4.1-r1
Fish completions for bfs
https://github.com/tavianator/bfs
sudo apk add bfs-fish-completion- License: 0BSD
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bfs
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
apk95%
bfs-zsh-completion 4.1-r1
Zsh completions for bfs
https://github.com/tavianator/bfs
sudo apk add bfs-zsh-completion- License: 0BSD
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bfs
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
dnf95%
bfs 4.1.2-1.fc45
A breadth-first version of the UNIX find command
https://tavianator.com/projects/bfs.html
sudo dnf install bfs- License: 0BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bfs
- 7 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
pacman95%
bfs 4.1.2-1
A breadth-first version of find
https://tavianator.com/projects/bfs.html
sudo pacman -S bfs- License: 0BSD
- Architecture: x86_64
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
MacPorts95%
bfs
sudo port install bfs- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bfs
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