macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install dfu-utillocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install dfu-utilMacPorts ports tree · cross/dfu-util/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install dfu-util with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, zypper
USB programmer. Version 0.11 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add dfu-utilAlpine Linux edge package indexes · dfu-util · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install dfu-utilDebian stable package indexes · dfu-util · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install dfu-utilFedora Rawhide package metadata · dfu-util · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#dfu-utilnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/df/dfu-util/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S dfu-utilArch Linux sync databases · dfu-util · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install dfu-utilopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · dfu-util · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/dfu-utilScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/dfu-util.json · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
USB programmer
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dfu-prefix
- dfu-suffix
- dfu-util
history
Project history and usage
dfu-util is the general-purpose host-side command-line utility for USB Device Firmware Upgrade. It downloads firmware to DFU-capable devices, uploads firmware from them, and ships companion tools for DFU suffix and prefix handling.
Project history
The official manual records dfu-util as originally written for the OpenMoko project by Weston Schmidt and Harald Welte, with support added over time for DFU 1.0, DFU 1.1, and ST's DfuSe variant. The project homepage also notes that Harald Welte's original work was partly based on dfu-programmer 0.4 and that the project is maintained by Tormod Volden.
Adoption history
The official homepage names Openmoko Neo1973 and Freerunner among tested devices, then broadens the list to microcontroller boards, phones, DfuSe devices, STM32 bootloaders, Black Magic Probe, Particle-era hardware, and other embedded targets. It also states that most Linux distributions ship dfu-util and that macOS users can install it through Homebrew or MacPorts.
How it is used
The man page documents the core package-manager-visible workflow: list attached DFU devices, select by USB identifiers, interface, path, or serial number, then upload with -U or download with -D. DfuSe usage adds address selection and modifiers such as leave, unprotect, and mass-erase for devices whose DFU behavior extends the base USB specification.
Why package nerds care
dfu-util is a classic tiny-but-critical system package: it is not a framework, but it lets firmware projects document one portable command instead of vendor GUI steps. Its packaging matters because hardware instructions, board recovery guides, and CI-adjacent flashing scripts assume the binary can be installed from the user's normal OS package manager.
Timeline
- 2012: 0.5 and 0.7 release archives were published on the official release index.
- 2014: 0.8 release archive was published.
- 2016: 0.9 release archive was published.
- 2020: 0.10 release archive and binaries were published.
- 2021: 0.11 release archive and binaries were published.
Related projects
- dfu-programmer is related historically and functionally, while libusb provides the USB access layer used by dfu-util. ST DfuSe support gives dfu-util a bridge into many STM32-style firmware workflows.
Sources
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 13 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 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.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
dfu-prefix | cli | global executable | |
dfu-suffix | cli | global executable | |
dfu-util | 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 version0.11
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:dfu-util |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.11 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/dfu-util |
| Homepage | https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/ |
| Repository | https://sourceforge.net/p/dfu-util/dfu-util/ci/master/tree |
| Upstream docs | https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/ |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/dfu-util/dfu-util-0.11.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | libusb |
| Build dependencies | pkgconf |
| 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 | dfu-util |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| 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%
dfu-util 0.11-3
Device firmware update (DFU) USB programmer
https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net
sudo apt install dfu-util- Section: electronics
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
Nix95%
dfu-util
nix profile install nixpkgs#dfu-util- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
Ubuntu apt95%
dfu-util 0.11-1
Device firmware update (DFU) USB programmer
http://dfu-util.sourceforge.net
sudo apt install dfu-util- Section: universe/electronics
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
apk95%
dfu-util 0.11-r1
Host side implementation of the DFU 1.0 and DFU 1.1 specifications
https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/
sudo apk add dfu-util- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dfu-util
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
apk95%
dfu-util-doc 0.11-r1
Host side implementation of the DFU 1.0 and DFU 1.1 specifications (documentation)
https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/
sudo apk add dfu-util-doc- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dfu-util
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
dnf95%
dfu-util 0.11-13.fc44
USB Device Firmware Upgrade tool
http://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/
sudo dnf install dfu-util- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dfu-util
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
pacman95%
dfu-util 0.11-3
Tool intended to download and upload firmware using DFU protocol to devices connected over USB
http://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/
sudo pacman -S dfu-util- License: GPL2
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
zypper95%
dfu-util 0.11-2.10
DFU firmware upgrade utility
http://dfu-util.sourceforge.net
sudo zypper install dfu-util- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Hardware/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dfu-util
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
MacPorts95%
dfu-util
sudo port install dfu-util- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
Scoop95%
main/dfu-util
scoop install main/dfu-util- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dfu Util
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 package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment