# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:dopewars ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install dopewars ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install dopewars ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: games/dopewars/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install dopewars ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: dopewars from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#dopewars ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/do/dopewars/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S dopewars ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: dopewars from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:dopewars - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.6.2 - **Source summary:** Free rewrite of a game originally based on "Drug Wars" - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - dopewars (cli) - dopewars (alias) ## Dependencies - gettext - glib ## Build dependencies - pkgconf ## Uses from macOS - curl - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - 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 ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.6.2 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://dopewars.sourceforge.io - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## 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 - Unix: /etc/dopewars, ~/.dopewars - Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\dopewars\dopewars-config.txt ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** dopewars - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - dopewars - 1.6.2-1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: dopewars from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | drug-dealing game set in streets of New York City | http://dopewars.sourceforge.net - Debian apt - dopewars-data - 1.6.2-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: dopewars-data from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | drug-dealing game set in streets of New York City - data files | http://dopewars.sourceforge.net - Nix - dopewars: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/do/dopewars/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - dopewars - 1.6.2-1build4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: dopewars from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | drug-dealing game set in streets of New York City | http://dopewars.sourceforge.net - Ubuntu apt - dopewars-data - 1.6.2-1build4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: dopewars-data from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | drug-dealing game set in streets of New York City - data files | http://dopewars.sourceforge.net - pacman - dopewars - 1.6.2-3: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: dopewars from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Turn based strategy game based on "Drug Wars" from 1984 | https://dopewars.sourceforge.io/ - MacPorts - dopewars: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: games/dopewars/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Scientific computing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/scientific-computing-tools/) - Matched scientific computing metadata. - [Game and emulation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/game-emulation-tools/) - Matched game or emulation metadata. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pioneer](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pioneer/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, simulation. - [robotfindskitten](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/robotfindskitten/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, simulation. - [simutrans](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/simutrans/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, simulation. - [trader](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/trader/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, simulation. - [librcsc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/librcsc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, simulation. - [freeciv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/freeciv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, strategy. - [mrboom](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mrboom/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, multiplayer. - [netris](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/netris/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, multiplayer. - [widelands](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/widelands/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, free, game, games, gettext. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/dopewars.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/dopewars.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph