# Install center-im with Homebrew Text-mode multi-protocol instant messaging client. Version 5.0.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:center-im ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install center-im ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:center-im - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 5.0.1 - **Source summary:** Text-mode multi-protocol instant messaging client - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - centerim5 (cli) - centerim5 (alias) ## Dependencies - gettext - glib - libsigc++@2 - ncurses - pidgin ## Build dependencies - cmake - gettext - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 5.0.1 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/petrpavlu/centerim5 - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage CenterIM 5 is a text-mode instant messaging client for Unix-like systems that uses libpurple as its communication backend. ### Project history The official repository describes CenterIM 5 as a terminal IM client for Linux, BSD, Solaris, and other Unices. Its repository preserves a traditional Unix command-line client shape, with a README, manpage, NEWS file, and source tree rather than a hosted documentation site. ### Adoption history CenterIM 5 is a niche package-manager item: Homebrew packages the centerim5 executable for users who still want a terminal multi-protocol IM client, while the GitHub repository shows a small public footprint. ### How it is used The documented command is centerim5. The official manpage documents options including ASCII UI drawing, alternate base directory selection, and starting accounts offline. ### Why package nerds care CenterIM 5 is useful to package nerds as a preservation-style Unix terminal client: it keeps a libpurple-backed multi-protocol messaging workflow available outside graphical Pidgin-style front ends. ### Timeline - 2016: centerim5 manpage dated July 11, 2016. - 2018: Public petrpavlu/centerim5 GitHub repository and release history visible on GitHub. ### Related projects - libpurple is the communication backend named by the official README. - Pidgin and Finch are related libpurple front ends named in the official manpage. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** center-im - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [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. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [ncurses](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ncurses/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pidgin](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pidgin/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gtmess](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gtmess/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, instant-messaging, messaging, networking. - [activemq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/activemq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, messaging, networking. - [bitlbee](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bitlbee/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, instant-messaging, networking. - [catgirl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/catgirl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, networking, terminal. - [czmq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/czmq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, messaging, networking. - [ejabberd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ejabberd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, messaging, networking. - [emqx](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/emqx/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, messaging, networking. - [libpaho-mqtt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libpaho-mqtt/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, messaging, networking. - [dissent](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dissent/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: chat, cli, client, gettext, glib. - [packetry](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/packetry/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, gettext, glib, networking, protocol. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/center-im.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/center-im.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 - cross-ecosystem install command graph