macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install cfitsiolocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install cfitsioMacPorts ports tree · science/cfitsio/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install cfitsio with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, winget
C access to FITS data files with optional Fortran wrappers. Version 4.6.4 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-28.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add cfitsioAlpine Linux edge package indexes · cfitsio · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install fitsverifyDebian stable package indexes · fitsverify · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install cfitsioFedora Rawhide package metadata · cfitsio · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#cfitsionixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/cf/cfitsio/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S cfitsioArch Linux sync databases · cfitsio · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
Ubuntu aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libcfitsio-binUbuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · libcfitsio-bin · source: archive.ubuntu.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install cfitsioopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · cfitsio · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id kooyoseb.VideoSpeedConversionTool -eWindows Package Manager source index · kooyoseb.VideoSpeedConversionTool · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com
overview
Package summary
C access to FITS data files with optional Fortran wrappers
Project links
Commands and aliases
- fitscopy
- fitsverify
- fpack
- funpack
- imcopy
- smem
- speed
history
Project history and usage
CFITSIO is NASA HEASARC's machine-independent C library for reading and writing FITS astronomy data files, with Fortran-callable wrappers and command-line utilities such as `fitscopy`, `fitsverify`, `fpack`, and `funpack`.
Project history
The CFITSIO User's Reference Guide says the package was initially developed by HEASARC to convert various high-energy astrophysics data sets into FITS format and to analyze data already in FITS format. The guide also documents that the Fortran wrappers replaced an older Fortran FITSIO interface.
Adoption history
The input package facts show CFITSIO packaged across Homebrew, Alpine, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, and openSUSE ecosystems. That breadth matches its role as a shared astronomy data I/O dependency rather than a single application.
How it is used
The README documents the standard Unix build flow with `./configure`, `make`, `make check`, and `make install`, plus CMake support. The User's Guide documents every user-callable routine, while bundled utilities cover copying, verifying, compressing, and unpacking FITS files.
Why package nerds care
CFITSIO is the kind of package that quietly props up a scientific stack: a C ABI, headers, shared libraries, Fortran wrappers, and utility binaries that downstream astronomy tools expect to find in system package managers.
Timeline
- Initial development: HEASARC developed CFITSIO for high-energy astrophysics FITS conversion and analysis.
- CFITSIO 2.0: User's Guide notes plug-in I/O drivers introduced in v2.0.
- 2023: Official GitHub repository metadata records public repository creation.
- 2026: Official release metadata shows CFITSIO 4.6.4.
Related projects
- FTOOLS is called out by the User's Guide as a related package for manipulating and analyzing FITS files.
- CCFITS is the C++ interface associated with CFITSIO support contacts.
Sources
- https://api.github.com/repos/HEASARC/cfitsio
- https://github.com/HEASARC/cfitsio
- https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/fitsio/fitsio.html
- https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/fitsio
- https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/fitsio/c/c_user/cfitsio.html
- https://formulae.brew.sh/api/formula/cfitsio.json
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 6 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
fitscopy | cli | global executable | |
fitsverify | cli | global executable | |
fpack | cli | global executable | |
funpack | cli | global executable | |
imcopy | cli | global executable | |
smem | cli | global executable | |
speed | 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 version4.6.4
manager updated2026-04-28
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/fitsio/fitsio.html
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/fitsio/fitsio.htmlnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:cfitsio |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.6.4 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/cfitsio |
| Homepage | https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/fitsio/fitsio.html |
| Repository | https://github.com/HEASARC/cfitsio |
| Upstream docs | https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/fitsio |
| License | CFITSIO |
| Source archive | https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/FTP/software/fitsio/c/cfitsio-4.6.4.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-04-28T22:16:58Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | cmake |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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 | cfitsio |
| 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%
fitsverify 4.22+cfitsio4.6.2-2
transitional dummy package
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install fitsverify- Section: science
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Debian apt95%
libcfitsio-bin 4.6.2-2
CFITSIO based utilities
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install libcfitsio-bin- Section: devel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Debian apt95%
libcfitsio-dev 4.6.2-2
library for I/O with FITS format data files (development files)
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install libcfitsio-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Debian apt95%
libcfitsio-doc 4.6.2-2
documentation for CFITSIO
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install libcfitsio-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Debian apt95%
libcfitsio10t64 4.6.2-2
shared library for I/O with FITS format data files
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install libcfitsio10t64- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Nix95%
cfitsio
nix profile install nixpkgs#cfitsio- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Ubuntu apt95%
libcfitsio-bin 4.3.1-1.1build2
CFITSIO based utilities
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install libcfitsio-bin- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Ubuntu apt95%
libcfitsio-dev 4.3.1-1.1build2
library for I/O with FITS format data files (development files)
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install libcfitsio-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 1 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Ubuntu apt95%
libcfitsio-doc 4.3.1-1.1build2
documentation for CFITSIO
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install libcfitsio-doc- Section: universe/doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
Ubuntu apt95%
libcfitsio10t64 4.3.1-1.1build2
shared library for I/O with FITS format data files
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/fitsio.html
sudo apt install libcfitsio10t64- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
apk95%
cfitsio 4.6.4-r0
Library reading and writing data files in Flexible Image Transport System data format
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/
sudo apk add cfitsio- License: CFITSIO
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
apk95%
cfitsio-dev 4.6.4-r0
Library reading and writing data files in Flexible Image Transport System data format (development files)
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/
sudo apk add cfitsio-dev- License: CFITSIO
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
dnf95%
cfitsio 4.6.4-1.fc45
Library for manipulating FITS data files
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/
sudo dnf install cfitsio- License: CFITSIO
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 7 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
dnf95%
cfitsio-devel 4.6.4-1.fc45
Headers required when building programs against cfitsio
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/
sudo dnf install cfitsio-devel- License: CFITSIO
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
dnf95%
cfitsio-docs 4.6.4-1.fc45
Documentation for cfitsio
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/
sudo dnf install cfitsio-docs- License: CFITSIO
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
dnf95%
cfitsio-static 4.6.4-1.fc45
Static cfitsio library
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/fitsio/
sudo dnf install cfitsio-static- License: CFITSIO
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: cfitsio
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cfitsio
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 package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment