Automic VaultAutomic Vault

brew

Install cmus with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Music player with an ncurses based interface. Version 2.12.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-06.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install cmus

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install cmus

MacPorts ports tree · audio/cmus/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add cmus

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · cmus · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install cmus

Debian stable package indexes · cmus · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#cmus

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/cm/cmus/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S cmus

Arch Linux sync databases · cmus · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install cmus

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · cmus · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Music player with an ncurses based interface

Commands and aliases

  • cmus
  • cmus-remote

history

Project history and usage

cmus is a small, fast console music player for Unix-like systems, built around an ncurses interface, plugin-based audio I/O, a keyboard-driven library, playlists, filters, and the cmus-remote control tool.

Project history

The official repository credits Timo Hirvonen for 2004-2008 copyright and later work to various authors, reflecting a long-running community-maintained C project. The project now lives at github.com/cmus/cmus with an official website at cmus.github.io.

Adoption history

cmus became a standard terminal-audio package across Unix package managers. The batch input lists packages in Alpine, Homebrew, Debian, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, Ubuntu, and openSUSE, and the upstream README documents build dependency sets for Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora/RHEL, Arch, Alpine, Termux, and Homebrew.

How it is used

Users run cmus in a terminal, add music to the library, switch among numbered views for library, sorted library, playlist, queue, browser, filters, and settings, and control playback through keybindings or cmus-remote.

Why package nerds care

cmus is a classic package-manager favorite because it is small, ncurses-native, scriptable, and useful on headless machines or minimal desktops. It also exercises distro audio stacks through optional input and output plugins while remaining a compact C package.

Timeline

  • 2004: Earliest copyright year credited to Timo Hirvonen in the official README.
  • 2008: Copyright attribution expands to various authors.
  • 2015: 2.6.x and 2.7.x releases added features such as JACK, Opus, sndio, and optional mouse support.
  • 2019: 2.8.0 added CoreAudio output, D-Bus MPRIS support, and multiple-playlist support.
  • 2024: 2.11.0 and 2.12.0 releases continued UI, build, and plugin maintenance.

Related projects

  • cmusfm integrates with cmus as a Last.fm scrobbler via cmus status_display_program.
  • mpd and MOC occupy nearby terminal/daemon music-player space, while cmus-remote is the official companion control command.

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.
  • Installs with 8 runtime dependencies.
  • 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/cmus/rc

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
cmuscliglobal executable
cmus-remotecliglobal 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 version2.12.0
manager updated2026-07-06
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv2.12.0

https://github.com/cmus/cmus

  • okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:cmus
Version2.12.0
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/cmus
Homepagehttps://cmus.github.io/
Repositoryhttps://github.com/cmus/cmus
Upstream docshttps://cmus.github.io/
LicenseGPL-2.0-or-later
Source archivehttps://github.com/cmus/cmus/archive/refs/tags/v2.12.0.tar.gz
Last updated2026-07-06T22:52:18Z
Pulseupdated
Dependenciesfaad2, ffmpeg, flac, libao, libvorbis, mad, ncurses, opusfile
Build dependenciespkgconf
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Namecmus
Version Scheme0
Revision3
Head VersionHEAD
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • head
  • stable

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%

cmus 2.12.0-1

lightweight ncurses audio player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo apt install cmus
  • Section: sound
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 18 dependencies
  • 5 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: cmus from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

cmus-plugin-ffmpeg 2.12.0-1

lightweight ncurses audio player (FFmpeg plugin)

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo apt install cmus-plugin-ffmpeg
  • Section: sound
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 5 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: cmus-plugin-ffmpeg from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

cmus

nix profile install nixpkgs#cmus
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/cm/cmus/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

cmus 2.10.0-4build3

lightweight ncurses audio player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo apt install cmus
  • Section: universe/sound
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 18 dependencies
  • 5 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: cmus from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

cmus-plugin-ffmpeg 2.10.0-4build3

lightweight ncurses audio player (FFmpeg plugin)

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo apt install cmus-plugin-ffmpeg
  • Section: universe/sound
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 5 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: cmus-plugin-ffmpeg from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

cmus 2.12.0-r3

feature-rich ncurses-based music player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo apk add cmus
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: cmus from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

cmus-bash-completion 2.12.0-r3

Bash completions for cmus

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo apk add cmus-bash-completion
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: cmus-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

cmus-doc 2.12.0-r3

feature-rich ncurses-based music player (documentation)

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo apk add cmus-doc
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: cmus-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

cmus-zsh-completion 2.12.0-r3

Zsh completions for cmus

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo apk add cmus-zsh-completion
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: cmus-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
pacman95%

cmus 2.12.0-5

Feature-rich ncurses-based music player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo pacman -S cmus
  • License: GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 4 dependencies
  • 16 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: cmus from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
zypper95%

cmus 2.12.0-3.5

Text-mode music player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo zypper install cmus
  • License: GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Productivity/Multimedia/Sound/Players
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 7 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: cmus from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

cmus-plugin-cdio 2.12.0-3.5

CDIO plugin for the C* Music Player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo zypper install cmus-plugin-cdio
  • License: GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Productivity/Multimedia/Sound/Players
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 5 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: cmus-plugin-cdio from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

cmus-plugin-cue 2.12.0-3.5

CUE input plugin for the C* Music Player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo zypper install cmus-plugin-cue
  • License: GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Productivity/Multimedia/Sound/Players
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: cmus-plugin-cue from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

cmus-plugin-ffmpeg 2.12.0-3.5

FFmpeg input plugin for the C* Music Player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo zypper install cmus-plugin-ffmpeg
  • License: GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Productivity/Multimedia/Sound/Players
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 5 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: cmus-plugin-ffmpeg from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

cmus-plugin-flac 2.12.0-3.5

FLAC input plugin for the C* Music Player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo zypper install cmus-plugin-flac
  • License: GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Productivity/Multimedia/Sound/Players
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: cmus-plugin-flac from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

cmus-plugin-jack 2.12.0-3.5

JACK output plugin for the C* Music Player

https://cmus.github.io/

sudo zypper install cmus-plugin-jack
  • License: GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Productivity/Multimedia/Sound/Players
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cmus
  • 4 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cmus
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: cmus-plugin-jack from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

Related tools

  • faad2Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • ffmpegRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • flacRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • ncursesRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • pkgconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • mocShares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, console, media, music-player.
  • adplayShares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, music-player.
  • cavaShares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, terminal.
  • kewShares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, music-player, terminal.
  • mikmodShares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, music-player.
  • mp3blasterShares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, ncurses, terminal.

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.

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