# Install ent with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix Pseudorandom number sequence test program. Version 1.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:ent ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install ent ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install ent ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: math/ent/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install ent ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: ent from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#ent ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/en/ent/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:ent - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.0 - **Source summary:** Pseudorandom number sequence test program - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - ent (cli) - ent (alias) ## 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, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/psm14/ent - Upstream latest detected: 1.0 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** ent - **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 - ent - 1.2debian-3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: ent from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | pseudorandom number sequence test program | http://www.fourmilab.ch/random/ - Nix - ent: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/en/ent/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - ent - 1.2debian-3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ent from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | pseudorandom number sequence test program | http://www.fourmilab.ch/random/ - MacPorts - ent: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: math/ent/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. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [xlispstat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xlispstat/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, statistics. - [jags](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jags/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, statistics. - [aamath](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aamath/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [abpoa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abpoa/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [abricate](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abricate/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [abyss](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abyss/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [acl2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/acl2/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [adapterremoval](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adapterremoval/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science. - [miller-rabin](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/npm/miller-rabin/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, number, science, test. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ent.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/ent.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - 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