macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install dopewarslocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install dopewarsMacPorts ports tree · games/dopewars/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install dopewars with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix, pacman
Free rewrite of a game originally based on "Drug Wars". Version 1.6.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install dopewarsDebian stable package indexes · dopewars · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#dopewarsnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/do/dopewars/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S dopewarsArch Linux sync databases · dopewars · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
overview
Package summary
Free rewrite of a game originally based on "Drug Wars"
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dopewars
history
Project history and usage
dopewars is a free software strategy game derived from the older Drug Wars/Dopewars family. The modern package includes a Unix-style text client, server support for multiplayer games, Windows builds, and optional graphical or SDL variants.
Project history
The project FAQ says dopewars was originally developed on a RedHat Linux system and is loosely based on John E. Dell's 1980s Drug Wars, with closer influence from the MS-DOS Dopewars rewrite. The README describes version 1.6.2 as a game about making money in New York while managing debt and police risk.
The current GitHub repository was created in 2015, but the SourceForge site and FAQ preserve the older project identity and documentation. SourceForge file metadata shows 1.6.2 release artifacts published in June 2022, while GitHub metadata shows maintenance activity continuing into 2026.
Adoption history
dopewars is long-lived in Unix packaging culture because it is small, text-capable, network-aware, and portable. It appears in Homebrew and several Unix-like distribution package sets, and the official site has historically distributed tarballs, RPMs, and Windows binaries.
How it is used
Users run `dopewars` for the standard multiplayer-capable game, `dopewars -a` for antique mode closer to the original, `dopewars -s` for a server, or `dopewars -c` for a computer player. Configuration is read from `/etc/dopewars` and `~/.dopewars` on Unix, with a Windows-friendly configuration filename documented in the README.
Why package nerds care
dopewars is package-nerd significant as a classic small game that survived across SourceForge, GitHub, Unix packages, RPMs, and Windows binaries. It is also a good specimen of old-school free software game packaging: curses, GLib, optional GUI pieces, config files, high-score files, client/server mode, and long compatibility windows.
Timeline
- 1980s: John E. Dell's Drug Wars provides the original game lineage, according to the dopewars FAQ.
- 1990s/2000s: dopewars develops as a portable Unix and Windows free software rewrite hosted around SourceForge.
- 2015: The current GitHub repository is created.
- 2022: SourceForge publishes dopewars 1.6.2 artifacts.
- 2026: GitHub repository metadata shows recent maintenance activity.
Related projects
- Related projects include the original Drug Wars, MS-DOS Dopewars, Dopewars 2000, curses/ncurses, GLib, curl, GTK, SDL, SourceForge distribution, and multiplayer metaserver tooling.
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 12 platform targets.
- Installs with 2 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
/etc/dopewars~/.dopewars- Windows
%LOCALAPPDATA%\dopewars\dopewars-config.txt
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
dopewars | 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 version1.6.2
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://dopewars.sourceforge.io
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://dopewars.sourceforge.ionone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:dopewars |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.6.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/dopewars |
| Homepage | https://dopewars.sourceforge.io |
| Repository | https://github.com/benmwebb/dopewars |
| Upstream docs | https://dopewars.sourceforge.io/docs |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/dopewars/dopewars/1.6.2/dopewars-1.6.2.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | gettext, glib |
| Build dependencies | pkgconf |
| Uses from macOS | curl, ncurses |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, 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 | dopewars |
| 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%
dopewars 1.6.2-1+b1
drug-dealing game set in streets of New York City
http://dopewars.sourceforge.net
sudo apt install dopewars- Section: games
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: dopewars
- 11 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dopewars
Debian apt95%
dopewars-data 1.6.2-1
drug-dealing game set in streets of New York City - data files
http://dopewars.sourceforge.net
sudo apt install dopewars-data- Section: games
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: dopewars
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dopewars
Nix95%
dopewars
nix profile install nixpkgs#dopewars- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dopewars
Ubuntu apt95%
dopewars 1.6.2-1build4
drug-dealing game set in streets of New York City
http://dopewars.sourceforge.net
sudo apt install dopewars- Section: universe/games
- Architecture: amd64
- 11 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dopewars
Ubuntu apt95%
dopewars-data 1.6.2-1build4
drug-dealing game set in streets of New York City - data files
http://dopewars.sourceforge.net
sudo apt install dopewars-data- Section: universe/games
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: dopewars
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dopewars
pacman95%
dopewars 1.6.2-3
Turn based strategy game based on "Drug Wars" from 1984
https://dopewars.sourceforge.io/
sudo pacman -S dopewars- License: GPL
- Architecture: x86_64
- 5 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dopewars
MacPorts95%
dopewars
sudo port install dopewars- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dopewars
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