install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install ent

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install ent

MacPorts ports tree · math/ent/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install ent

Debian stable package indexes · ent · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#ent

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/en/ent/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Pseudorandom number sequence test program

Project links

Commands and aliases

ent

history

Project history and usage

ent is John Walker's command-line program for applying statistical tests to byte streams, mainly to inspect pseudorandom number generators, compression output, encrypted data, and other files where information density matters.

Project history

The official Fourmilab page describes ent as a pseudorandom number sequence test program that reads a file or standard input and reports entropy, optimum compression estimate, chi-square distribution, arithmetic mean, Monte Carlo value for pi, and serial correlation.

The page frames the tool around practical comparisons of generated data, including examples contrasting compressed files, Unix `rand()` output, an improved generator, and radioactive-decay random data from Fourmilab's HotBits service.

Adoption history

ent is a small but widely repackaged scientific CLI. The input metadata lists it in Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, and Nix, reflecting its utility as a compact randomness and entropy smoke test in Unix-style workflows.

How it is used

Users run `ent` on a file or pipe data to standard input, optionally using flags for byte/bit-oriented output, counts, folding, terse CSV-style output, or stdin handling. The program is commonly used to sanity-check random generators, compressed data, encrypted data, and test fixtures.

Why package nerds care

ent is package-nerd friendly because it is tiny, public-domain in Homebrew metadata, scriptable, and easy to compare across systems. It gives quick statistical signals without requiring a larger cryptography or statistics suite.

Timeline

1990s-2000s: Fourmilab page documents ent as a standalone pseudorandom sequence test utility.
2010s: Third-party GitHub mirror created for source availability, while Fourmilab remains the official documentation source.
2020s: Package metadata shows continuing availability in Homebrew and several Unix package collections.

Related projects

The official page relates ent to Fourmilab HotBits, Unix `rand()`, Park-Miller style pseudorandom generators, and statistical references such as Knuth and Hamming.

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
`ent`	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 version1.0

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detected1.0

https://github.com/psm14/ent

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:ent
Version	1.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/ent
Homepage	https://www.fourmilab.ch/random/
Repository	https://github.com/psm14/ent
Upstream docs	https://www.fourmilab.ch/random
License	LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain
Source archive	https://github.com/psm14/ent/archive/refs/tags/1.0.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	ent
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

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%

ent 1.2debian-3

pseudorandom number sequence test program

http://www.fourmilab.ch/random/

sudo apt install ent

Section: science
Architecture: amd64
1 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Ent

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: ent from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

ent

nix profile install nixpkgs#ent

normalized package name match
Matched by: Ent

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/en/ent/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

ent 1.2debian-3

pseudorandom number sequence test program

http://www.fourmilab.ch/random/

sudo apt install ent

Section: universe/science
Architecture: amd64
1 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Ent

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ent from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

MacPorts95%

ent

sudo port install ent

normalized package name match
Matched by: Ent

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: math/ent/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/ent.yml

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

Install ent with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix