# Install convertlit with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, pacman Convert Microsoft Reader format eBooks into open format. Version 1.8 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-23. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:convertlit ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install convertlit ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install convertlit ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: textproc/convertlit/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#convertlit ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/co/convertlit/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S convertlit ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: convertlit from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:convertlit - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.8 - **Source summary:** Convert Microsoft Reader format eBooks into open format - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-05-23T15:04:36-04:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - clit (cli) - clit (alias) ## Dependencies - libtommath ## 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: 1.8 - Package-manager updated: 2026-05-23 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: http://www.convertlit.com/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Convert LIT is an older ebook conversion utility for Microsoft Reader `.lit` files, intended to convert that format into an open format for readers and devices that cannot directly use Microsoft Reader. ### Project history The official site distributed Convert LIT as a Windows binary and as GPL source code for the `clit` command and its associated library. Version 1.8 was announced on 2004-07-04, with the site also retaining older 1.5 downloads and a 1.4 link for historical Windows 98 compatibility. ### Adoption history Although upstream is a static HTTP-era project site, package managers kept Convert LIT useful for Unix users who needed the source build. The input package facts list Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, and Arch packaging; Homebrew now marks the formula deprecated because the upstream is not available via HTTPS. ### How it is used The FAQ documents command-prompt use of `clit` and explains that the output path is Open eBook/OEBPS rather than a dedicated modern ebook format. The official download page also warns that legal treatment depends on local copy-control laws and frames use as fair-use conversion of already purchased ebooks. ### Why package nerds care Convert LIT is package-manager archaeology: a small GPL command-line converter for an obsolete Microsoft ebook format, still carried by Unix package collections because source builds made the tool portable beyond its original Windows audience. ### Timeline - 2004-07-04: Convert LIT 1.8 released. - 2004-09-25: Official site noted a third-party GUI and a Mac OS X 10.3.5 binary. - 2026-01-05: Homebrew marked the formula deprecated for HTTP-only upstream, with disable date 2027-01-05. ### Related projects - Convert LIT is tied to Microsoft Reader `.lit` files and Open eBook/OEBPS output rather than to a maintained source-control repository. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** convertlit - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** yes - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - convertlit: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/co/convertlit/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman - convertlit - 1.8-13: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: convertlit from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | An extractor/converter for .LIT eBooks | http://www.convertlit.com/ - MacPorts - convertlit: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: textproc/convertlit/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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [kepubify](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kepubify/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, ebooks, media. - [ebook-tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ebook-tools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ebooks, media. - [fig2dev](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fig2dev/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [libemf2svg](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libemf2svg/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [libwmf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libwmf/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [ncmdump](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ncmdump/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [nrg2iso](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nrg2iso/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [pdf2json](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pdf2json/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/convertlit.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/convertlit.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 - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph