install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install esniper

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install esniper

MacPorts ports tree · net/esniper/Portfile · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Snipe eBay auctions from the command-line

Project links

Commands and aliases

esniper

history

Project history and usage

esniper is a legacy command-line eBay auction sniping tool. Its official manpage describes it as lightweight by design, with auctions supplied either on the command line or through an auction file.

Project history

The project dates back to the 2000s SourceForge era of small Unix command-line automation tools. Its manpage was updated in January 2005 and documents configuration, auction files, proxy support, bidding timing, username/password handling, and batch mode.

The official project site now warns that development stopped in January 2020 because eBay changed its login flow to require JavaScript, which esniper could not support in its existing architecture.

Adoption history

esniper's adoption was niche: it appealed to users comfortable storing auction and credential details in local files and running a CLI shortly before auction close. Its package-manager presence in Homebrew and MacPorts reflects a long-tail Unix utility audience more than mainstream consumer use.

How it is used

Users specify auction numbers and bid prices directly, or use an auction file. The default Unix configuration file is `$HOME/.esniper`; the same file can contain username and password values, so the official sample config warns that Unix users should restrict permissions if they store a password.

Why package nerds care

For package nerds, esniper is a fossil from the era when many web workflows could still be automated by small C or shell-friendly command-line programs. Its breakage after eBay's login changes is a useful reminder that packaged web automation tools can become obsolete when remote sites change interaction requirements.

Timeline

2005: Official manpage updated with CLI, configuration, and auction-file behavior.
2020: Development stopped after eBay login changes required JavaScript.
2020s: Package remains available in long-tail package managers for legacy users.

Related projects

Related tools are other eBay auction snipers and legacy command-line web automation utilities; the project is not closely related to modern browser automation frameworks.

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.

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: ~/.esniper

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix: ~/.esniper

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`esniper`	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 version2.35.0

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://sourceforge.net/projects/esniper/

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://sourceforge.net/projects/esniper/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:esniper
Version	2.35.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/esniper
Homepage	https://sourceforge.net/projects/esniper/
Repository	https://sourceforge.net/p/esniper/code-git
Upstream docs	https://esniper.sourceforge.net/
License	BSD-2-Clause
Source archive	https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/esniper/esniper/2.35.0/esniper-2-35-0.tgz
Uses from macOS	curl
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	esniper
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	yes
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.

MacPorts95%

esniper

sudo port install esniper

normalized package name match
Matched by: Esniper

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: net/esniper/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/esniper.yml

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

Install esniper with Homebrew, MacPorts