Automic VaultAutomic Vault

brew

Install cvs-fast-export with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts, Nix

Export an RCS or CVS history as a fast-import stream. Version 2.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-06.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install cvs-fast-export

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install cvs-fast-export

MacPorts ports tree · devel/cvs-fast-export/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add cvs-fast-export

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · cvs-fast-export · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install cvs-fast-export

Debian stable package indexes · cvs-fast-export · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#cvs-fast-export

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/cv/cvs-fast-export/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Export an RCS or CVS history as a fast-import stream

Commands and aliases

  • cvs-fast-export
  • cvsconvert
  • cvssync

history

Project history and usage

cvs-fast-export converts RCS or CVS repository history into a Git fast-import stream. Its official README says it analyzes RCS master files, emits a fast-import history when possible, warns on histories it cannot represent, and can also visualize the resulting commit DAG.

Project history

The official hacker's guide says the program began as Keith Packard's one-off `parsecvs` hack in early 2006 during the X repository migration from CVS to Git. Bart Massey briefly maintained it before Eric S. Raymond took over in late 2012, added the fast-export output stage, renamed the project, and later made the parser re-entrant and parallelized master-file ingestion.

Adoption history

The tool belongs to the post-CVS migration era, where package maintainers and project archivists needed trustworthy conversion of old CVS and RCS histories into Git. The official resource page explicitly notes that it is commonly packaged as cvs-fast-export and that related package names include cvs-fast-export-tools and cvs-fast-export-doc.

How it is used

Users point cvs-fast-export at CVS or RCS master files and pipe or save the generated stream for Git import. The distribution also ships `cvssync` for fetching remote CVS masters, `cvsconvert` for trial conversion and content-mismatch checks against the original CVS, and `cvsstrip` for reducing bug reports to metadata-only trees.

Why package nerds care

For package-history work, cvs-fast-export is unusually meta: it exists to rescue the history behind older packages. Its NEWS file documents years of edge-case fixes around CVS timestamps, vendor branches, ignore files, branch topology, fast-export compatibility, and in 2026 a port from C to Go intended to eliminate chronic memory-corruption failure modes.

Timeline

  • 2006: Originated as Keith Packard's `parsecvs` during the X CVS-to-Git migration.
  • 2012: Eric S. Raymond took over maintenance and added fast-export output.
  • 2015: GitLab project created and release 1.32 noted a source type declaration for reposurgeon.
  • 2020: buildprep script added to simplify source builds.
  • 2026: Version 2.0 ported the code to Go.
  • 2026: Version 2.2 released on June 21.

Related projects

  • The README and hacker's guide connect cvs-fast-export to Git fast-import, CVS, RCS, Graphviz DOT output, reposurgeon, cvssync, cvsconvert, and cvsstrip.

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

  • broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

  • text:sync,stream

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
  • Build metadata lists 2 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

CommandKindExposureNote
cvs-fast-exportcliglobal executable
cvsconvertcliglobal executable
cvssynccliglobal 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 generated2026-07-07
manager version2.3
manager updated2026-07-06
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

http://www.catb.org/~esr/cvs-fast-export/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:cvs-fast-export
Version2.3
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/cvs-fast-export
Homepagehttp://www.catb.org/~esr/cvs-fast-export/
Repositoryhttps://gitlab.com/esr/cvs-fast-export
Upstream docshttp://www.catb.org/~esr/cvs-fast-export
LicenseGPL-2.0-or-later
Source archivehttps://gitlab.com/esr/cvs-fast-export/-/archive/2.3/cvs-fast-export-2.3.tar.bz2
Last updated2026-07-06T21:40:12Z
Pulseupdated
Build dependenciesasciidoctor, go
Uses from macOSpython
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 Namecvs-fast-export
Version Scheme0
Revision0
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%

cvs-fast-export 1.59-1+b1

Export an RCS or CVS history as a fast-import stream

http://www.catb.org/esr/cvs-fast-export/

sudo apt install cvs-fast-export
  • Section: vcs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: cvs-fast-export
  • 2 dependencies
  • 6 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cvs Fast Export
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: cvs-fast-export from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

cvs-fast-export

nix profile install nixpkgs#cvs-fast-export
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cvs Fast Export
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/cv/cvs-fast-export/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

cvs-fast-export 1.59-1

Export an RCS or CVS history as a fast-import stream

http://www.catb.org/esr/cvs-fast-export/

sudo apt install cvs-fast-export
  • Section: universe/vcs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 2 dependencies
  • 6 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cvs Fast Export
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: cvs-fast-export from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

cvs-fast-export 1.68-r0

Export RCS or CVS history as a fast-import stream

http://www.catb.org/esr/cvs-fast-export/

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

cvs-fast-export-doc 1.68-r0

Export RCS or CVS history as a fast-import stream (documentation)

http://www.catb.org/esr/cvs-fast-export/

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

cvs-fast-export-tools 1.68-r0

Export RCS or CVS history as a fast-import stream (extra tools)

http://www.catb.org/esr/cvs-fast-export/

sudo apk add cvs-fast-export-tools
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: cvs-fast-export
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cvs Fast Export
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: cvs-fast-export-tools from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
MacPorts95%

cvs-fast-export

sudo port install cvs-fast-export
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Cvs Fast Export
MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: devel/cvs-fast-export/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

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

Related tools

  • asciidoctorBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • goBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • cvsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cvs, developer-tools, version-control.
  • cvsutilsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cvs, developer-tools, version-control.
  • cvsyncShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cvs, developer-tools, version-control.
  • git-svn-abandonShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, migration, version-control.
  • srcShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, rcs, version-control.
  • braidShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, version-control.

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 package history
  • external package-manager database matches
  • package relationship graph
  • package version freshness
  • package-page enrichment