macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install clipperlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install clipperMacPorts ports tree · science/clipper/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install clipper with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts, Nix
Share macOS clipboard with tmux and other local and remote apps. Version 3.0.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-27.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add clipperAlpine Linux edge package indexes · clipper · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libclipper-devDebian stable package indexes · libclipper-dev · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#clippernixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/cl/clipper/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Share macOS clipboard with tmux and other local and remote apps
Project links
Commands and aliases
- clipper
history
Project history and usage
Clipper is a small daemon or macOS launch agent that exposes the local clipboard to tmux, Vim, SSH, and other local or remote processes.
Project history
The GitHub repository was created on 2013-02-18. The official README frames Clipper as a solution to a long-standing tmux and macOS pasteboard problem: processes started by tmux often cannot directly talk to the system clipboard, and remote tmux sessions make that harder.
Clipper listens on TCP or a Unix domain socket, receives copied text, and writes it into the local system clipboard. It can run as a macOS launch agent or Linux systemd user service.
Adoption history
Homebrew packages Clipper for macOS users and the input package facts also identify packaging in Alpine, MacPorts, Nix, Debian, and Ubuntu contexts. GitHub repository metadata showed hundreds of stars, indicating durable usage in the tmux and remote-shell niche.
How it is used
The README shows tmux bindings using `copy-pipe` or `copy-pipe-and-cancel` with netcat or socat, Vim mappings that send yanked text to Clipper, shell aliases such as `clip="nc localhost 8377"`, and SSH `RemoteForward` rules that carry remote clipboard traffic back to the local machine.
Why package nerds care
Clipper matters to package nerds because it packages a very specific workstation integration problem: making tmux, Vim, SSH, pbcopy, xclip, launch agents, systemd user services, netcat, and Unix sockets cooperate. It is small, old, and practical, exactly the kind of utility that survives in package repositories because it solves one annoying terminal workflow.
Timeline
- 2013-02-18: GitHub repository is created.
- 2010s: README documents tmux versions before and after 2.4, reflecting compatibility with older tmux copy-mode APIs.
- 2026: Homebrew formula tracks stable release 3.0.0 from the official GitHub tag archive.
Related projects
- The README names reattach-to-user-space / tmux-MacOSX-pasteboard as an earlier workaround for macOS pasteboard context problems.
- The README links to companion Vim integrations nvim-clipper and vim-clipper.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: orange
formula declares a Homebrew service.
Risk classifier
orange risk · medium confidence · infrastructure
Why
- formula declares a Homebrew service
Signals
- metadata:service
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Formula metadata declares a service or daemon block.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 4 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.
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
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/clipper/clipper.json~/.config/clipper/clipper.json~/.clipper.json
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
clipper | 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 version3.0.0
manager updated2026-04-27
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detected3.0.0
https://github.com/wincent/clipper
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:clipper |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.0.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/clipper |
| Homepage | https://github.com/wincent/clipper |
| Repository | https://github.com/wincent/clipper |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/wincent/clipper#readme |
| License | BSD-2-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/wincent/clipper/archive/refs/tags/3.0.0.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-04-27T12:27:33Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | go |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | clipper |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Requirements |
|
| 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%
libclipper-dev 2.1.20201109-2+b3
object oriented development kit for crystallographic computing
http://www.ysbl.york.ac.uk/~cowtan/clipper/clipper.html
sudo apt install libclipper-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: clipper
- 5 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
Debian apt95%
libclipper-doc 2.1.20201109-2
doxygen generated documentation for libclipper
http://www.ysbl.york.ac.uk/~cowtan/clipper/clipper.html
sudo apt install libclipper-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: clipper
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
Debian apt95%
libclipper2 2.1.20201109-2+b3
object oriented library for crystallographic computing
http://www.ysbl.york.ac.uk/~cowtan/clipper/clipper.html
sudo apt install libclipper2- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: clipper
- 6 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
Nix95%
clipper
nix profile install nixpkgs#clipper- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
Ubuntu apt95%
libclipper-dev 2.1.20201109-2build1
object oriented development kit for crystallographic computing
http://www.ysbl.york.ac.uk/~cowtan/clipper/clipper.html
sudo apt install libclipper-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: clipper
- 5 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
Ubuntu apt95%
libclipper-doc 2.1.20201109-2build1
doxygen generated documentation for libclipper
http://www.ysbl.york.ac.uk/~cowtan/clipper/clipper.html
sudo apt install libclipper-doc- Section: universe/doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: clipper
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
Ubuntu apt95%
libclipper2 2.1.20201109-2build1
object oriented library for crystallographic computing
http://www.ysbl.york.ac.uk/~cowtan/clipper/clipper.html
sudo apt install libclipper2- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: clipper
- 6 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
apk95%
clipper 6.4.2-r5
Polygon, line clipping and offsetting library
https://sourceforge.net/projects/polyclipping/
sudo apk add clipper- License: BSL-1.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: clipper
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
apk95%
clipper-dev 6.4.2-r5
Polygon, line clipping and offsetting library (development files)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/polyclipping/
sudo apk add clipper-dev- License: BSL-1.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: clipper
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
apk95%
clipper-static 6.4.2-r5
Polygon, line clipping and offsetting library (static library)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/polyclipping/
sudo apk add clipper-static- License: BSL-1.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: clipper
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
MacPorts95%
clipper
sudo port install clipper- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Clipper
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