macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install dtachlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install dtachMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/dtach/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install dtach with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper
Emulates the detach feature of screen. Version 0.9 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add dtachAlpine Linux edge package indexes · dtach · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install dtachDebian stable package indexes · dtach · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install dtachFedora Rawhide package metadata · dtach · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#dtachnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/dt/dtach/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install dtachopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · dtach · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Emulates the detach feature of screen
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dtach
history
Project history and usage
dtach is a tiny C program that provides the detach-and-reattach part of GNU screen without screen's terminal emulator, window management, or broader feature set. It is a classic Unix package for people who want one behavior, a Unix-domain socket, and almost nothing else.
Project history
dtach was written by Ned T. Crigler because screen did not fit his needs: he wanted detached terminal sessions without multiple terminal support, terminal emulation, stream interpretation, or a large codebase. The official README says dtach passes the raw output stream through and only processes the detach character and suspend key unless those features are disabled.
The project's official changelog records an initial SourceForge release in version 0.3, portability work in 0.4 for FreeBSD, Debian alpha, Debian SPARC, Debian PowerPC, and Solaris, redraw and process-group changes in later releases, and version 0.9 adding AIX support plus `dtach -N` and `dtach -p` modes.
The SourceForge homepage points to the GitHub repository for development, making the GitHub URL the official HTTP(S) source-control page while SourceForge remains the canonical homepage and release-download surface.
Adoption history
dtach became a quiet packaging staple because it solves a durable Unix problem with a tiny dependency footprint. The input package metadata records packages across Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora/DNF, Alpine/apk, MacPorts, Nix, and zypper ecosystems, and Homebrew still packages the 0.9 SourceForge tarball.
Its adoption is not about a fast-moving upstream. It is about stability: terminal users, rescue environments, remote shells, and minimal systems can get detach semantics without installing the heavier screen or tmux experience.
How it is used
Users create or attach to sessions by naming a Unix-domain socket, for example with `dtach -A /tmp/session command`, then detach with the configured detach key and later reattach. Separate attachers can choose different detach characters, suspend handling, and redraw methods.
dtach does not preserve scrollback or screen contents, so it works best with programs that can redraw themselves. The official page calls out full-screen programs such as emacs and ircII as motivating use cases because dtach avoids screen's terminal interpretation layer.
Why package nerds care
dtach is significant because it is the purest version of a beloved package-manager category: carve one feature out of a larger tool, keep the code tiny, and let users compose it with the rest of Unix. It is the detach feature as a package.
It also remains a useful contrast point for screen, tmux, abduco, dvtm, and terminal multiplexers generally. Package nerds care because dtach marks the boundary between session persistence and full terminal multiplexing.
Timeline
- 2004: The README copyright line begins, matching the early dtach era.
- Version 0.3: The official changelog records the initial SourceForge release.
- Version 0.4: Portability work adds FreeBSD, Debian alpha, Debian SPARC, Debian PowerPC, and Solaris support.
- Version 0.9: The release adds AIX support, `dtach -N`, `dtach -p`, signal-state preservation, and socket-path fixes.
- 2016: The README copyright line extends through 2016.
- 2026: Homebrew still packages dtach 0.9 from SourceForge.
Related projects
- GNU screen is the direct comparison and source of the detach feature dtach emulates.
- tmux is the modern terminal multiplexer users often compare with dtach, though dtach intentionally avoids multiplexing features.
- abduco and dvtm occupy nearby minimalist terminal-session territory.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
dtach | 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 version0.9
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://dtach.sourceforge.net/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://dtach.sourceforge.net/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:dtach |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.9 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/dtach |
| Homepage | https://dtach.sourceforge.net/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/crigler/dtach |
| Upstream docs | https://dtach.sourceforge.net/ |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/dtach/dtach/0.9/dtach-0.9.tar.gz |
| 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 | dtach |
| 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%
dtach 0.9-7
emulates the detach/attach feature of screen
sudo apt install dtach- Section: misc
- Architecture: amd64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dtach
Nix95%
dtach
nix profile install nixpkgs#dtach- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dtach
Ubuntu apt95%
dtach 0.9-5build1
emulates the detach/attach feature of screen
sudo apt install dtach- Section: universe/misc
- Architecture: amd64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dtach
apk95%
dtach 0.9-r7
A program that emulates the detach feature of screen
https://dtach.sourceforge.net/
sudo apk add dtach- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dtach
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dtach
apk95%
dtach-doc 0.9-r7
A program that emulates the detach feature of screen (documentation)
https://dtach.sourceforge.net/
sudo apk add dtach-doc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dtach
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dtach
dnf95%
dtach 0.9-32.fc44
A simple program that emulates the detach feature of screen
sudo dnf install dtach- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dtach
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dtach
zypper95%
dtach 0.9+2.748020b-3.3
Background processes and reattach to them
sudo zypper install dtach- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: System/Console
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dtach
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dtach
MacPorts95%
dtach
sudo port install dtach- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dtach
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