macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install dexlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install dex with Homebrew, apk, apt, Nix, pacman, zypper
Dextrous text editor. Version 1.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install dex.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add dexAlpine Linux edge package indexes · dex · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install dexDebian stable package indexes · dex · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#dexnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/de/dex/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S dexArch Linux sync databases · dex · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install dexopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · dex · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Dextrous text editor
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dex
history
Project history and usage
dex is a small ncurses-based text editor aimed at flexible terminal editing rather than becoming a full IDE.
Project history
The README identifies dex as the Dextrous text editor and includes a 2010 copyright notice for Timo Hirvonen.
Adoption history
The input package facts show broad packaging across Homebrew, Nix, Debian, Ubuntu, Arch, Alpine, and openSUSE-style package managers.
How it is used
dex opens files in a terminal editor, supports customizable colors and bindings, ctags navigation, compiler-error parsing, command execution, filtering, filetype options, syntax files, and per-user rc files.
Why package nerds care
It is a compact C-and-ncurses editor with minimal dependencies, making it attractive for terminal-first systems and distribution packaging.
Timeline
- 2010: README copyright notice for the Dextrous text editor.
- 2015: GitHub shows v1.0 as the latest release dated Apr 28, 2015.
Related projects
- ncurses editors, Exuberant Ctags, terminal programmer editors.
Sources
- https://github.com/tihirvon/dex#readme
- https://github.com/tihirvon/dex/tree/master/Documentation
- source_facts.package-manager
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for dex. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
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
~/.dex/rc~/.dex/syntax/*
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
dex | 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 generated2026-07-25
manager version1.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv1.0
https://github.com/tihirvon/dex
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:dex |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/dex |
| Homepage | https://github.com/tihirvon/dex |
| Repository | https://github.com/tihirvon/dex |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/tihirvon/dex#readme |
| License | GPL-2.0-only |
| Source archive | https://github.com/tihirvon/dex/archive/refs/tags/v1.0.tar.gz |
| Uses from macOS | ncurses |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, 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 | dex |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Conflicts With |
|
| 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%
dex 0.10.1-1
generate and execute Application type .desktop files
sudo apt install dex- Section: x11
- Architecture: all
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dex
Nix95%
dex
nix profile install nixpkgs#dex- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dex
Ubuntu apt95%
dex 0.9.0-2
generate and execute Application type .desktop files
sudo apt install dex- Section: universe/x11
- Architecture: all
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dex
apk95%
dex 0.10.1-r0
program to generate and execute DesktopEntry files of the Application type
sudo apk add dex- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dex
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dex
apk95%
dex-doc 0.10.1-r0
program to generate and execute DesktopEntry files of the Application type (documentation)
sudo apk add dex-doc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dex
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dex
pacman95%
dex 0.10.1-1
Program to generate and execute DesktopEntry files of type Application
sudo pacman -S dex- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: any
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dex
zypper95%
dex 0.9.0-1.15
DesktopEntry Execution
sudo zypper install dex- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: System/X11/Utilities
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: dex
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dex
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
- 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