macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install bvilocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install bviMacPorts ports tree · editors/bvi/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install bvi with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper
Vi-like binary file (hex) editor. Version 1.5.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add bviAlpine Linux edge package indexes · bvi · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install bviDebian stable package indexes · bvi · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install bviFedora Rawhide package metadata · bvi · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#bvinixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/bv/bvi/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install bviopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · bvi · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Vi-like binary file (hex) editor
Project links
Commands and aliases
- bmore
- bvedit
- bvi
- bview
history
Project history and usage
bvi is a vi-style binary and hex editor by Gerhard Buergmann. It keeps the modal, command-oriented feel of vi while treating files as byte streams rather than text lines.
Project history
The official home page describes bvi as a display-oriented editor for binary files, based on the vi text editor, and notes that the package also includes the bmore viewer. The README in the official GitHub repository identifies Gerhard Buergmann as the author and states that bvi is distributed under the GPL.
The project has a long SourceForge release history: the download page lists 1.3.0 in 2001, 1.3.1 in 2002, 1.3.2 in 2004, 1.4.x releases in 2014, 2019, and 2023, and 1.5.0 as the stable release in 2025.
Adoption history
bvi spread through traditional Unix packaging channels because it solves a small but durable problem: editing binary files from a terminal with vi muscle memory. The official download page links to Debian, FreeBSD, Fedora, MacPorts, HP-UX, Solaris, Cygwin, and older static Linux executables; the supplied package facts also show Homebrew, Alpine, Nix, Ubuntu, and zypper packaging.
How it is used
bvi is used for direct inspection and patching of binary files. Its manpage explains the three-pane display with byte offsets, hex bytes, and printable characters, byte-offset ranges instead of line ranges, hex search commands, read-only mode, partial file loading, and startup commands via BVIINIT, ~/.bvirc, or ./.bvirc.
Why package nerds care
bvi is a classic small Unix utility: curses-based, vi-shaped, and useful when heavyweight GUI hex editors are unavailable. Its packaging significance comes from portability and from the fact that it preserves vi semantics in a domain where line-oriented editor assumptions break.
Timeline
- 2001: bvi 1.3.0 source release is listed on the official download page.
- 2004: bvi 1.3.2 source and RPM-era packages are listed.
- 2014: bvi 1.4.0 source release is listed.
- 2023: bvi 1.4.2 source release is listed.
- 2025: bvi 1.5.0 is listed as the current stable release.
Related projects
- vi is the command model bvi adapts for binary editing.
- bmore is the binary viewer included with bvi.
- Other hex editors occupy the same niche, but bvi is distinct for keeping vi-style modal editing.
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 8 platform targets.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
~/.bvirc./.bvirc
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
bmore | cli | global executable | |
bvedit | cli | global executable | |
bvi | cli | global executable | |
bview | 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 version1.5.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://bvi.sourceforge.net/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:bvi |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.5.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/bvi |
| Homepage | https://bvi.sourceforge.net/ |
| Upstream docs | https://bvi.sourceforge.net/man_bvi.html |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/bvi/bvi/1.5.0/bvi-1.5.0.src.tar.gz |
| Uses from macOS | ncurses |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, 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 | bvi |
| 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%
bvi 1.4.2-3
binary file editor
sudo apt install bvi- Section: editors
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bvi
Nix95%
bvi
nix profile install nixpkgs#bvi- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bvi
Ubuntu apt95%
bvi 1.4.2-2
binary file editor
sudo apt install bvi- Section: universe/editors
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bvi
apk95%
bvi 1.5.0-r0
Display-oriented editor for binary files based on vi
sudo apk add bvi- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bvi
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bvi
apk95%
bvi-doc 1.5.0-r0
Display-oriented editor for binary files based on vi (documentation)
sudo apk add bvi-doc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bvi
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bvi
dnf95%
bvi 1.5.0-3.fc44
Display-oriented editor for binary files
sudo dnf install bvi- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bvi
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bvi
zypper95%
bvi 1.5.0-1.3
Editor for binary files
sudo zypper install bvi- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Text/Editors
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bvi
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bvi
MacPorts95%
bvi
sudo port install bvi- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bvi
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment