# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:bvi ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install bvi ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install bvi ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: editors/bvi/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add bvi ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bvi from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install bvi ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: bvi from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install bvi ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bvi from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#bvi ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bv/bvi/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install bvi ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: bvi from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:bvi - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.5.0 - **Source summary:** Vi-like binary file (hex) editor - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - bmore (cli) - bvedit (cli) - bvi (cli) - bview (cli) - bmore (alias) - bvedit (alias) - bvi (alias) - bview (alias) ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.5.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://bvi.sourceforge.net/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## 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 - Unix: ~/.bvirc, ./.bvirc ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** bvi - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - bvi - 1.4.2-3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bvi from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | binary file editor | https://bvi.sourceforge.net/ - Nix - bvi: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bv/bvi/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - bvi - 1.4.2-2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bvi from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | binary file editor | https://bvi.sourceforge.net/ - apk - bvi - 1.5.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bvi from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Display-oriented editor for binary files based on vi | https://bvi.sourceforge.net/ - apk - bvi-doc - 1.5.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bvi-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Display-oriented editor for binary files based on vi (documentation) | https://bvi.sourceforge.net/ - dnf - bvi - 1.5.0-3.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bvi from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Display-oriented editor for binary files | http://bvi.sourceforge.net/ - zypper - bvi - 1.5.0-1.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: bvi from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Editor for binary files | https://bvi.sourceforge.net - MacPorts - bvi: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: editors/bvi/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [ghex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ghex/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: binary-editor, cli, developer-tools, hex-editor. - [hexedit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hexedit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, terminal. - [hyx](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hyx/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, terminal. - [ired](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ired/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, terminal. - [tweak](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tweak/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, terminal. - [dhex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dhex/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor. - [hexapoda](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hexapoda/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor. - [hexcurse](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hexcurse/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/bvi.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/bvi.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - 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