install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install fdroidcl

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install fdroidcl

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

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#fdroidcl

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

Windows

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id Hoverth.fdroidcl -e

Windows Package Manager source index · Hoverth.fdroidcl · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

F-Droid desktop client

Project links

Commands and aliases

fdroidcl

history

Project history and usage

fdroidcl is a command-line desktop client for F-Droid. It is not an F-Droid repository server and it is not a replacement Android app store UI; it is a host-side tool that talks to connected Android devices over ADB and operates on F-Droid repositories from a terminal.

Project history

The fdroidcl repository was created in 2015 and its README presents the tool as a simple command-line client for F-Droid. The README contrasts it with the Android client: the Android client integrates with the device for update checks and notifications, while fdroidcl runs on the desktop and uses ADB.

The project grew from basic index, search, install, uninstall, and download operations into a broader CLI that can manage repositories and setups. The README documents commands for updating indexes, searching apps, installing updates, scanning connected devices, managing repositories, and creating setup definitions for mass installs.

Adoption history

The supplied package facts show fdroidcl distributed by Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Nix, and winget. That spread is notable for a small F-Droid companion tool: it means the CLI is useful outside a single Linux packaging niche and has become a recognizable bridge between desktop package managers, Android devices, and F-Droid repositories.

The README notes unofficial Debian and Ubuntu packages, while the current package facts show wider packaging. Its adoption is tied to users who manage multiple Android devices, prefer scripted installs, or want F-Droid repository access without installing the Android F-Droid client on every device first.

How it is used

The normal workflow is to run fdroidcl update to download repository indexes, search or show app metadata, and then install or upgrade packages on a connected device. Repository management and setup export/import make it useful for repeatable device provisioning.

The README also documents clear limits: fdroidcl does not run as a daemon, does not act as an F-Droid server, and does not swap apps with devices. Those boundaries make it a focused CLI rather than a general F-Droid platform.

Why package nerds care

fdroidcl is interesting because it turns F-Droid into something closer to a traditional package-manager CLI. For package nerds, app IDs, repository indexes, repeatable installs, and ADB-backed device operations make Android app management feel closer to apt, brew, or pacman workflows.

Timeline

2015: GitHub repository created and early v0.1.0 tag history appears.
2025: v0.8.1 tag history shows ongoing maintenance.
2026: README requires Go 1.21 or later and documents repository and setup management commands.

Related projects

F-Droid is the upstream app distribution ecosystem whose repositories fdroidcl consumes.
ADB is the Android device bridge fdroidcl uses to operate on connected devices.
fdroidserver is the complementary tool suite for creating and maintaining F-Droid repositories.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

text:client

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 8 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.

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.

Linux: ~/.config/fdroidcl/config.toml

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`fdroidcl`	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 version0.8.1

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv0.8.1

https://github.com/Hoverth/fdroidcl

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:fdroidcl
Version	0.8.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/fdroidcl
Homepage	https://github.com/Hoverth/fdroidcl
Repository	https://github.com/Hoverth/fdroidcl
Upstream docs	https://github.com/Hoverth/fdroidcl#readme
License	BSD-3-Clause
Source archive	https://github.com/Hoverth/fdroidcl/archive/refs/tags/v0.8.1.tar.gz
Build dependencies	go
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, 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	fdroidcl
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head 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%

fdroidcl 0.7.0-1+b11

F-Droid desktop client

https://github.com/mvdan/fdroidcl

sudo apt install fdroidcl

Section: devel
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: fdroidcl
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Fdroidcl

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

Debian apt95%

golang-github-mvdan-fdroidcl-dev 0.7.0-1

fdroidcl develpoment files

https://github.com/mvdan/fdroidcl

sudo apt install golang-github-mvdan-fdroidcl-dev

Section: golang
Architecture: all
Source Package: fdroidcl
normalized package name match
Matched by: Fdroidcl

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: golang-github-mvdan-fdroidcl-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

fdroidcl

nix profile install nixpkgs#fdroidcl

normalized package name match
Matched by: Fdroidcl

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

Ubuntu apt95%

fdroidcl 0.7.0-1build1

F-Droid desktop client

https://github.com/mvdan/fdroidcl

sudo apt install fdroidcl

Section: universe/devel
Architecture: amd64
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Fdroidcl

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

Ubuntu apt95%

golang-github-mvdan-fdroidcl-dev 0.7.0-1build1

fdroidcl develpoment files

https://github.com/mvdan/fdroidcl

sudo apt install golang-github-mvdan-fdroidcl-dev

Section: universe/devel
Architecture: all
Source Package: fdroidcl
normalized package name match
Matched by: Fdroidcl

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: golang-github-mvdan-fdroidcl-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

winget95%

Hoverth.fdroidcl

winget install --id Hoverth.fdroidcl -e

normalized package name match
Matched by: Fdroidcl

Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: Hoverth.fdroidcl from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

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/fdroidcl.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 fdroidcl with Homebrew, apt, Nix, winget

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Windows

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: blue

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Configuration and credential file locations

Configuration files

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources