# Install bossa with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix Flash utility for Atmel SAM microcontrollers. Version 1.9.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:bossa ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install bossa ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install bossa ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: cross/bossa/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install bossa ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: bossa from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#bossa ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bo/bossa/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:bossa - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.9.1 - **Source summary:** Flash utility for Atmel SAM microcontrollers - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-3-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - bossac (cli) - bossash (cli) - bossac (alias) - bossash (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - 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 ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.9.1 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/shumatech/BOSSA - Upstream latest detected: 1.9.1 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage BOSSA is ShumaTech's flash programming utility for Atmel SAM ARM microcontrollers, with bossac providing the command-line interface commonly packaged for developer and embedded workflows. ### Project history BOSSA was created by Scott Shumate as an open source replacement for Atmel's SAM-BA software. The name expands to Basic Open Source SAM-BA Application, reflecting the goal of a simpler programmer for SAM-family microcontrollers. The GitHub repository dates to August 2011, and the README describes both the GUI-oriented BOSSA project and the command-line bossac tool. The project is BSD-licensed and written primarily in C++. ### Adoption history The batch input records packaging in Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, and Nix, which matches BOSSA's long tail as an embedded host tool used from developer laptops and build systems. BOSSA also became familiar outside the original ShumaTech audience through development-board support; the README lists SAMD21 and SAMD51 among supported families and credits board contributions from Atmel, David Crocker, and Adafruit Industries. ### How it is used Developers use bossac to write binary images to the flash or ROM of supported Atmel SAM devices over USB or serial connections, and to inspect or dump target memory. GUI BOSSA covers interactive programming workflows, while bossac is better suited to scripts and IDE toolchains. The tool is usually invoked after a device is placed into its SAM-BA bootloader mode, so it is packaged as a host-side flashing utility rather than as firmware. ### Why package nerds care BOSSA is package-nerd significant because a tiny-looking formula provides a critical bridge between general-purpose developer machines and microcontroller boot ROMs. Its command names matter: users often search for bossac because IDEs and embedded build systems invoke that executable even though the upstream project name is BOSSA. ### Timeline - 2011-08: Official GitHub repository metadata shows the BOSSA repository created. - 2016: GitHub release metadata shows 1.7.0 in the public release feed. - 2023: Repository metadata shows upstream activity continuing into the 1.9.x era. - 2026: Package-manager input records Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, and Nix availability. ### Related projects - Atmel SAM-BA is the proprietary tool and boot-assistant ecosystem BOSSA was created to replace. - bossac is the command-line BOSSA frontend shipped by this package. - Atmel SAM device families such as SAMD21, SAMD51, SAM3, SAM4, and SAM7 are the target microcontroller families listed by the upstream README. ### Sources - - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** bossa - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - bossa - 1.9.1-3+b6: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bossa from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Atmel SAM ARM microcontroller flash programming GUI | https://www.shumatech.com/web/products/bossa - Debian apt - bossa-cli - 1.9.1-3+b6: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bossa-cli from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Atmel SAM ARM microcontroller flash programming utility | https://www.shumatech.com/web/products/bossa - Nix - bossa: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bo/bossa/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - bossa - 1.9.1-3ubuntu5: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bossa from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Atmel SAM ARM microcontroller flash programming GUI | https://www.shumatech.com/web/products/bossa - Ubuntu apt - bossa-cli - 1.9.1-3ubuntu5: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bossa-cli from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Atmel SAM ARM microcontroller flash programming utility | https://www.shumatech.com/web/products/bossa - MacPorts - bossa: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: cross/bossa/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [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. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [gpsim](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gpsim/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, embedded, microcontroller. - [gputils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gputils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, embedded, microcontroller. - [lpc21isp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lpc21isp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, embedded, microcontroller. - [teensy_loader_cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/teensy-loader-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, embedded, microcontroller. - [elf2uf2-rs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/elf2uf2-rs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, embedded. - [espflash](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/espflash/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, embedded. - [jaguar](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jaguar/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, embedded. - [lm4tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lm4tools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, embedded. - [stlink](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/stlink/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, embedded, flash. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/bossa.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/bossa.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