macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install dictlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install dictMacPorts ports tree · textproc/dict/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install dict with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix, dnf, pacman, zypper
Dictionary Server Protocol (RFC2229) client. Version 1.13.3 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install dictDebian stable package indexes · dict · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#dictnixpkgs package indexes · dict · source: raw.githubusercontent.com
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install dictdFedora Rawhide package metadata · dictd · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S dictdArch Linux sync databases · dictd · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install dictdopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · dictd · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Dictionary Server Protocol (RFC2229) client
Project links
Commands and aliases
- colorit
- dict
- dict_lookup
- dictd
- dictdplugin-config
- dictfmt
- dictfmt_index2suffix
- dictfmt_index2word
- dictl
- dictunformat
- dictzip
history
Project history and usage
dict is the command-line client and companion server/tool suite for the DICT Dictionary Server Protocol. It sits in the Unix tradition of small text tools while exposing network dictionary lookup, formatting, compression, and server administration utilities.
Project history
The DICT protocol was published as RFC 2229 in October 1997 to replace older webster-style dictionary access with a TCP query/response protocol that could address multiple dictionary databases through one interface. The dictd source tree carries that protocol lineage into a client, daemon, formatter, dictzip compressor, and supporting tools.
The current public repository describes itself as client/server software, human-language dictionary databases, and tools supporting RFC 2229. Its NEWS file shows long maintenance across Unix-like systems, including 2011 utility additions, 2020 IPv6 support, and a 2023 build-system refresh.
Adoption history
dict became package-manager material because it gives terminal users a network dictionary client, while also letting administrators run local DICT servers. The upstream README points operators to dict.org mailing lists for release, database, and server-operator discussion, which reflects the project culture around shared dictionary services.
How it is used
The client reads server settings from ~/.dictrc or /etc/dict.conf and connects to DICT servers on the RFC port by default. Typical use is direct word lookup, database listing, matching strategies, or using dictd and dictfmt to serve and build dictionaries locally.
Why package nerds care
For package nerds, dict is interesting because it packages a complete protocol ecosystem rather than a single command: CLI client, daemon, database tooling, compression format, sample configs, and a standards document all live close together.
Timeline
- 1997: RFC 2229 publishes the DICT Dictionary Server Protocol.
- 2011: dict_lookup is added for translating selected words and phrases.
- 2020: dict and dictd gain IPv6 support.
- 2023: dictd 2.0.0 switches to the mk-configure build system.
Related projects
- RFC 2229, dict.org, dictd, dictfmt, and dictzip form the closely related DICT protocol toolchain.
Sources
- https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2229
- https://github.com/cheusov/dictd
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cheusov/dictd/master/README.pod
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cheusov/dictd/master/doc/NEWS
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cheusov/dictd/master/dict/dict.1.in
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cheusov/dictd/master/dictd/dictd.8.in
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:client,server
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 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.
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
~/.dictrc/etc/dict.conf/etc/dictd.conf
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
colorit | cli | global executable | |
dict | cli | global executable | |
dict_lookup | cli | global executable | |
dictd | cli | global executable | |
dictdplugin-config | cli | global executable | |
dictfmt | cli | global executable | |
dictfmt_index2suffix | cli | global executable | |
dictfmt_index2word | cli | global executable | |
dictl | cli | global executable | |
dictunformat | cli | global executable | |
dictzip | 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 version1.13.3
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://dict.org/bin/Dictnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:dict |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.13.3 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/dict |
| Homepage | https://dict.org/bin/Dict |
| Repository | https://github.com/cheusov/dictd |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/cheusov/dictd#readme |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/dict/dictd/dictd-1.13.3/dictd-1.13.3.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | libmaa |
| Build dependencies | libtool |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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 | dict |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| 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%
dict 1.13.1+dfsg-1
dictionary client
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo apt install dict- Section: text
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: dictd
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 4 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dict
Nix95%
dict
nix profile install nixpkgs#dict- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dict
Ubuntu apt95%
dict 1.13.1+dfsg-1build1
dictionary client
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo apt install dict- Section: text
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: dictd
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 4 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dict
MacPorts95%
dict
sudo port install dict- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dict
Debian apt92%
dictd 1.13.1+dfsg-1
dictionary server
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo apt install dictd- Section: text
- Architecture: amd64
- 10 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 7 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
Debian apt92%
dictfmt 1.13.1+dfsg-1
utility to format a file for use by a dictd server
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo apt install dictfmt- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: dictd
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
Debian apt92%
dictzip 1.13.1+dfsg-1
compression utility for dictionary databases
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo apt install dictzip- Section: text
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: dictd
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
Ubuntu apt92%
dictd 1.13.1+dfsg-1build1
dictionary server
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo apt install dictd- Section: text
- Architecture: amd64
- 10 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 7 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
Ubuntu apt92%
dictfmt 1.13.1+dfsg-1build1
utility to format a file for use by a dictd server
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo apt install dictfmt- Section: universe/utils
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: dictd
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
Ubuntu apt92%
dictzip 1.13.1+dfsg-1build1
compression utility for dictionary databases
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo apt install dictzip- Section: text
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: dictd
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
dnf92%
dictd 1.13.3-6.fc45
DICT protocol (RFC 2229) server and command-line client
sudo dnf install dictd- License: GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-1.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND MIT AND BSD-3-Clause AND LicenseRef-Fedora-Public-Domain
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dictd
- 3 dependencies
- 2 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
dnf92%
dictd-server 1.13.3-6.fc45
Server for the Dictionary Server Protocol (DICT)
sudo dnf install dictd-server- License: GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-1.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND MIT AND BSD-3-Clause AND LicenseRef-Fedora-Public-Domain
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dictd
- 9 dependencies
- 4 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
pacman92%
dictd 1.13.3-1
Online dictionary client and server
https://sourceforge.net/projects/dict/
sudo pacman -S dictd- License: GPL-1.0-or-later AND GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 4 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
zypper92%
dictd 1.13.3+git.1731775346.2b21553-2.3
DICT protocol (RFC 2229) server and command-line client
https://github.com/cheusov/dictd
sudo zypper install dictd- License: BSD-3-Clause AND GPL-1.0-or-later AND GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND MIT AND SUSE-Public-Domain
- Category: Productivity/Office/Dictionary
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dictd
- 5 dependencies
- 2 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
zypper92%
dictd-devel 1.13.3+git.1731775346.2b21553-2.3
Development files for dictd
https://github.com/cheusov/dictd
sudo zypper install dictd-devel- License: BSD-3-Clause AND GPL-1.0-or-later AND GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND MIT AND SUSE-Public-Domain
- Category: Development/Languages/C and C++
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: dictd
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dictd
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment