macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install filebrowserlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install filebrowserMacPorts ports tree · net/filebrowser/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install filebrowser with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix
Web File Browser. Version 2.63.18 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-04.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add filebrowserAlpine Linux edge package indexes · filebrowser · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#filebrowsernixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/fi/filebrowser/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Web File Browser
Project links
Commands and aliases
- filebrowser
history
Project history and usage
File Browser is a self-hosted web file manager that serves a chosen directory through a browser UI for uploading, deleting, previewing, editing, and sharing files.
Its package-manager appeal is that it compresses a useful private-cloud pattern into a single Go binary: install it, point it at a path, and run a small web server.
Project history
The upstream repository was created in 2015 and describes the project as a web file browser. The README frames the goal as create-your-own-cloud software: a server-side binary directed at a filesystem path and exposed through a web interface.
Versioned tags show the project reaching v1.0.0 in 2017 and v2.0.0 in 2019, with the v2 series becoming the long-lived packaging target for most users.
The README says File Browser is a finished product and is in maintenance-only mode, with maintainers focusing on bug triage, security issues, and review of bug-fix pull requests rather than planned new features.
Adoption history
File Browser's adoption came from a simple niche: self-hosters, homelab users, and small teams wanted a browser-based file manager without deploying a full groupware or storage platform.
Its availability in Homebrew, Alpine, MacPorts, and Nix reflects that it is useful both as a local developer utility and as a small server component in Unix-like environments.
The maintenance-only status is also part of its adoption story: the project reached a stable product shape, so package managers mostly carry it as dependable infrastructure rather than a fast-moving feature app.
How it is used
Typical use is to install File Browser, choose the root directory to expose, configure a database and settings, and run the web server behind local authentication or a reverse proxy.
Users choose it when they need a quick file-management UI for a server directory, a small replacement for ad hoc SFTP access, or a browser-accessible drop zone for local infrastructure.
The operational model is intentionally compact: one binary, a database file for persistent state, static web assets in the binary, and command-line/config settings for binding, root path, and users.
Why package nerds care
File Browser is a neat package-manager specimen because it turns what could be a pile of web-app dependencies into a single installed executable.
It also represents the self-hosted Go-binary pattern common in Homebrew and Nix: portable server, minimal runtime dependencies, easy service wrapping, and a config/database file that package maintainers need to account for.
Timeline
- 2015: Upstream GitHub repository created.
- 2017: v1.0.0 tag committed.
- 2019: v2.0.0 tag committed.
- 2020: v2.6.x releases published in the long-running v2 line.
- 2026: README states the project is a finished product in maintenance-only mode.
Related projects
- File Browser sits near self-hosted file managers, WebDAV/SFTP front ends, and single-binary Go server tools.
- It is often paired with system service managers, reverse proxies, and container runtimes rather than with a larger application framework.
Sources
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for filebrowser. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 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.
- Unix
./.filebrowser.{json,toml,yaml,yml}~/.filebrowser.{json,toml,yaml,yml}/etc/filebrowser/.filebrowser.{json,toml,yaml,yml}
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
./filebrowser.db
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
filebrowser | 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 version2.63.18
manager updated2026-07-04
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv2.63.18
https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:filebrowser |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.63.18 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/filebrowser |
| Homepage | https://filebrowser.org/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser |
| Upstream docs | https://filebrowser.org/ |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Source archive | https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser/archive/refs/tags/v2.63.18.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-07-04T09:46:06Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | go |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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 | filebrowser |
| 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 |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Nix95%
filebrowser
nix profile install nixpkgs#filebrowser- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Filebrowser
apk95%
filebrowser 2.27.0-r21
Web File Browser
https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser
sudo apk add filebrowser- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: filebrowser
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Filebrowser
apk95%
filebrowser-openrc 2.27.0-r21
Web File Browser (OpenRC init scripts)
https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser
sudo apk add filebrowser-openrc- License: Apache-2.0
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: filebrowser
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Filebrowser
MacPorts95%
filebrowser
sudo port install filebrowser- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Filebrowser
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment