macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install bitwiselocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install bitwiseMacPorts ports tree · devel/bitwise/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install bitwise with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper
Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses. Version 0.50 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install bitwise.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add bitwiseAlpine Linux edge package indexes · bitwise · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install bitwiseDebian stable package indexes · bitwise · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install bitwiseFedora Rawhide package metadata · bitwise · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#bitwisenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/bi/bitwise/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install bitwiseopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · bitwise · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses
Project links
Commands and aliases
- bitwise
history
Project history and usage
Bitwise is a terminal bit-manipulation calculator with an ncurses interface and a command-line expression mode. The README describes it as a multi-base interactive calculator for low-level hackers, kernel developers, and device-driver developers.
Project history
The GitHub repository was created in 2019. Releases moved quickly through 0.3x and 0.4x in 2019, with v0.50 published in July 2023 and reflected in the generated man page.
Adoption history
The README documents installation across Ubuntu, Snap, openSUSE, Arch AUR, Void, Fedora, Buildroot, Yocto, MacPorts, Homebrew, and Nix. The input package-manager data also lists several mainstream Unix package managers.
Its packaging footprint is broader than its small scope because bit/base conversion is useful in embedded, kernel, networking, and driver work where terminal tools are preferred.
How it is used
Without arguments, bitwise starts in interactive mode, where users can toggle individual bits, change bit widths, reverse endianness, and evaluate expressions. With an expression argument, it prints results in multiple bases, including binary.
The README also documents IPv4 address parsing and a Vim integration project, making it useful as both a standalone terminal tool and a helper for editor-driven low-level work.
Why package nerds care
Bitwise is a compact example of the sort of utility package that earns its place by replacing mental arithmetic and ad hoc shell snippets with one focused terminal UI.
Its significance is not ecosystem size but shape: ncurses, readline, packaged across Unix systems, and aimed at people reading registers, masks, addresses, and wire-level values.
Timeline
- 2019: mellowcandle/bitwise repository created.
- 2019-07-10: v0.30 release published.
- 2021-11-01: v0.43 release published.
- 2023-07-20: v0.50 release published.
Related projects
- vim-bitwise is linked by the README as editor integration.
- ncurses and readline are build-time/runtime libraries used for the terminal interface.
- Buildroot and Yocto are relevant downstream environments because the README notes Bitwise availability there.
Sources
- https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise#readme
- https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise/blob/master/bitwise.1
- source_facts.package-manager
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 12 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
bitwise | 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 generated2026-07-25
manager version0.50
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwisenone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:bitwise |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.50 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/bitwise |
| Homepage | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise |
| Repository | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise#readme |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise/releases/download/v0.50/bitwise-v0.50.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | readline |
| Build dependencies | autoconf, automake |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, sonoma, ventura, 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 | bitwise |
| 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%
bitwise 0.50-1+b1
Interactive bitwise operation in ncurses
https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise
sudo apt install bitwise- Section: science
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: bitwise
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bitwise
Nix95%
bitwise
nix profile install nixpkgs#bitwise- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bitwise
Ubuntu apt95%
bitwise 0.50-1build1
Interactive bitwise operation in ncurses
https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise
sudo apt install bitwise- Section: universe/science
- Architecture: amd64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bitwise
apk95%
bitwise 0.50-r2
Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses
https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise
sudo apk add bitwise- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bitwise
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bitwise
apk95%
bitwise-doc 0.50-r2
Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses (documentation)
https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise
sudo apk add bitwise-doc- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bitwise
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bitwise
dnf95%
bitwise 0.50-8.fc44
Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses
https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise
sudo dnf install bitwise- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND BSD-2-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bitwise
- 6 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bitwise
zypper95%
bitwise 0.50-1.8
Interactive bit-wise operation in ncurses
https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise
sudo zypper install bitwise- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Scientific/Math
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bitwise
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bitwise
MacPorts95%
bitwise
sudo port install bitwise- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bitwise
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