# Install brightness with Homebrew, MacPorts Change macOS display brightness from the command-line. Version 1.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:brightness ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install brightness ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install brightness ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/brightness/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:brightness - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.2 - **Source summary:** Change macOS display brightness from the command-line - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-2-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - brightness (cli) - brightness (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.2 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/nriley/brightness - Upstream latest detected: 1.2 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage brightness is a macOS command-line utility for reading and setting display brightness from scripts or the terminal. ### Project history The nriley/brightness repository was created in February 2014, with release 1.2 published in August 2015. The README describes a focused utility for controlling all internal and some external displays from the command line. Its maintenance history mirrors macOS display API changes. The README notes that documented APIs worked through macOS 10.12.3, then Night Shift in 10.12.4 required an undocumented method, and Apple Silicon Macs later required another undocumented method. ### Adoption history brightness became a durable small utility for macOS automation users. It is packaged in Homebrew and MacPorts according to the input package facts, has hundreds of GitHub stars, and Homebrew analytics reported several thousand installs over the prior year at lookup time. ### How it is used Users run simple commands such as `brightness 1`, `brightness 0.5`, or `brightness -l` to set or list display brightness. The README cautions that displays not controllable through macOS Displays settings generally cannot be controlled by the tool either. ### Why package nerds care brightness is the archetypal tiny macOS system utility package: a single-purpose binary that exists because shell scripts and automation tools need access to a GUI-era hardware setting. Its significance is not breadth, but longevity across changing macOS display internals. ### Timeline - 2014: Repository created. - 2015: Release 1.2 published. - 2017: README documents the macOS 10.12.4 Night Shift-era API break and workaround. - 2021: Repository history includes Universal 2 build work for Apple Silicon. - 2026: Homebrew stable version reported as 1.2. ### Related projects - Homebrew and MacPorts distribute brightness for macOS users. - macOS display APIs and IOKit-style display enumeration are the system interfaces around which the utility operates. - Shell scripts, launch agents, and automation workflows are common consumers of this kind of command-line brightness control. ### 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:** brightness - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Requirements:** macos - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - brightness: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/brightness/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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [screenresolution](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/screenresolution/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, display, macos, system. - [lcdproc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lcdproc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, display, system. - [redshift](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/redshift/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, display, system. - [ddcctl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ddcctl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: brightness, cli, macos, system. - [displayplacer](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/displayplacer/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, display, macos, system. - [launch](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/launch/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system, system-utility. - [libxcvt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libxcvt/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, display, system. - [m-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/m-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, system, system-utility. - [switchaudio-osx](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/switchaudio-osx/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: change, cli, command-line, line, macos. - [mist-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mist-cli/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, command-line, line, macos, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/brightness.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/brightness.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