macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install docbook2xlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install docbook2XMacPorts ports tree · textproc/docbook2X/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install docbook2x with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Convert DocBook to UNIX manpages and GNU TeXinfo. Version 0.8.8 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add docbook2xAlpine Linux edge package indexes · docbook2x · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install docbook2xDebian stable package indexes · docbook2x · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install docbook2XFedora Rawhide package metadata · docbook2X · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#docbook2xnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/do/docbook2x/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S docbook2xArch Linux sync databases · docbook2x · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install docbook2xopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · docbook2x · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Convert DocBook to UNIX manpages and GNU TeXinfo
Project links
Commands and aliases
- db2x_manxml
- db2x_texixml
- db2x_xsltproc
- docbook2man
- docbook2texi
- sgml2xml-isoent
- utf8trans
history
Project history and usage
docbook2X is a focused DocBook converter for traditional Unix man pages and GNU Texinfo.
It is effectively mature legacy infrastructure: upstream's last release was 0.8.8 in March 2007, but distributions still carry it because man-page and info-page generation remain useful in source builds.
Project history
The project predates much of today's Markdown-centric documentation tooling and targeted the practical problem of turning DocBook refentry content into native Unix documentation formats.
The preserved SourceForge homepage identifies 0.8.8, released on March 3, 2007, and the manual identifies Steve Cheng as author.
SourceForge file history shows the 0.8.x line progressing from 2003 through 2007.
Adoption history
docbook2X was adopted by Linux and BSD distributions because it generated man and Texinfo output in packaging workflows where those formats were first-class artifacts.
Although dormant upstream, it remains packaged in Homebrew, Debian, Fedora, Arch, MacPorts, Nix, Ubuntu, openSUSE, FreeBSD ports, OpenBSD ports, and Guix.
How it is used
The common commands convert DocBook/XML refentry documents into manual pages or Texinfo, with lower-level helpers for Man-XML and Texi-XML intermediate formats.
The package is most often encountered in build dependencies rather than as a user-facing authoring tool.
Why package nerds care
docbook2X is a good example of a small, stable converter kept alive by distribution packaging long after upstream activity quieted.
Its continued presence says a lot about Unix documentation culture: man pages and info documents are still build outputs worth preserving.
Timeline
- 2003: SourceForge file history shows early 0.8.x releases.
- 2004-2006: the 0.8.x series iterated through converter and packaging improvements.
- 2007: docbook2X 0.8.8 was released as the documented upstream release.
- 2010s-2020s: distributions continued carrying patched packages for modern build environments.
Related projects
- Related projects include DocBook XML, DocBook XSL stylesheets, xmlto, xsltproc/libxslt, GNU Texinfo, groff, and distribution XML catalog tooling.
- The Distrotech GitHub mirror is useful as a readable source mirror, but SourceForge remains the upstream identity in package metadata.
Sources
- https://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/
- https://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/latest/doc/docbook2X.html
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/docbook2x/
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/docbook2x/files/docbook2x/
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/docbook2x/files/docbook2x/0.8.8/
- https://packages.debian.org/bookworm/docbook2x
- https://openports.pl/path/textproc/docbook2x
- https://github.com/Distrotech/docbook2X
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
db2x_manxml | cli | global executable | |
db2x_texixml | cli | global executable | |
db2x_xsltproc | cli | global executable | |
docbook2man | cli | global executable | |
docbook2texi | cli | global executable | |
sgml2xml-isoent | cli | global executable | |
utf8trans | 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 version0.8.8
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:docbook2x |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.8.8 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/docbook2x |
| Homepage | https://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/ |
| Repository | https://sourceforge.net/p/docbook2x/code |
| Upstream docs | https://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/ |
| License | MIT AND DocBook-XML |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/docbook2x/docbook2x/0.8.8/docbook2X-0.8.8.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | docbook |
| Uses from macOS | expat, libxslt, perl |
| 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 | docbook2x |
| 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%
docbook2x 0.8.8-18
Converts DocBook/XML documents into man pages and TeXinfo
http://docbook2x.sourceforge.net
sudo apt install docbook2x- Section: text
- Architecture: amd64
- 8 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
Nix95%
docbook2x
nix profile install nixpkgs#docbook2x- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
Ubuntu apt95%
docbook2x 0.8.8-18
Converts DocBook/XML documents into man pages and TeXinfo
http://docbook2x.sourceforge.net
sudo apt install docbook2x- Section: universe/text
- Architecture: amd64
- 8 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
apk95%
docbook2x 0.8.8-r10
DocBook converter to UNIX manpage and GNU Texinfo format
https://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/
sudo apk add docbook2x- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docbook2x
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
apk95%
docbook2x-doc 0.8.8-r10
DocBook converter to UNIX manpage and GNU Texinfo format (documentation)
https://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/
sudo apk add docbook2x-doc- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docbook2x
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
dnf95%
docbook2X 0.8.8-52.fc44
Convert docbook into man and Texinfo
http://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/
sudo dnf install docbook2X- License: MIT
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docbook2X
- 8 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
pacman95%
docbook2x 0.8.8-19
A software package that converts DocBook documents into the traditional Unix man page format and the GNU Texinfo format.
http://docbook2x.sourceforge.net
sudo pacman -S docbook2x- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- 7 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
zypper95%
docbook2x 0.8.8-130.4
DocBook-to-Texinfo Converter
http://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/
sudo zypper install docbook2x- License: MIT
- Category: Productivity/Publishing/DocBook
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docbook2x
- 20 dependencies
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
zypper95%
docbook2x-doc 0.8.8-130.4
DocBook-to-Texinfo Converter
http://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/
sudo zypper install docbook2x-doc- License: MIT
- Category: Productivity/Publishing/DocBook
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: docbook2x
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
MacPorts95%
docbook2X
sudo port install docbook2X- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Docbook2x
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