Automic VaultAutomic Vault

brew

Install frotz with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman

Infocom-style interactive fiction player. Version 2.55 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-18.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install frotz

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install frotz

MacPorts ports tree · games/frotz/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add frotz

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · frotz · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install frotz

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

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install frotz

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · frotz · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#frotz

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S frotz-ncurses

Arch Linux sync databases · frotz-ncurses · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

overview

Package summary

Infocom-style interactive fiction player

Commands and aliases

  • dfrotz
  • frotz
  • sfrotz

history

Project history and usage

Frotz is an interpreter for Infocom and other Z-machine interactive fiction games. The current Unix Frotz README describes it as compliant with the Z-Machine Standard 1.1 and able to play Z-code games through curses, dumb-terminal, and SDL interfaces.

Project history

Frotz was originally written by Stefan Jokisch in 1995-1997 and later ported to Unix by Galen Hazelwood. The reference code and Unix port are currently maintained by David Griffith in the GitLab repository.

The broader platform history comes from Infocom's Z-machine: Infocom built an imaginary machine for its interactive fiction games, the format was reverse-engineered in the early to mid-1990s, and Inform enabled new Z-code games after Infocom's commercial era.

Adoption history

Frotz became a standard way to play Infocom-style interactive fiction on Unix-like systems and other platforms. The README lists support for common Unix flavors including macOS, DOS and FreeDOS, TOPS20 on PDP-10 systems, and portability to other operating systems and hardware.

The project points users to the Interactive Fiction Archive for releases and game material, tying Frotz to the long-running freeware and preservation infrastructure around Z-code games.

How it is used

The main commands include `frotz`, `dfrotz`, and `sfrotz`. Users run Frotz with a Z-code or Blorb file, then interact with the story through natural-language commands such as movement, inventory, save, restore, transcript, and look commands.

The Unix line includes config files, user-configurable error checking, sound support through libao, SDL graphics, and multiple front ends for different terminal or graphical needs.

Why package nerds care

Frotz is package-nerd significant because it is the canonical small interpreter package for a preserved game platform. It packages decades of interactive-fiction compatibility into a few command-line front ends, and it is useful on old, unusual, and modern systems alike.

It is also a neat packaging artifact because the program is not the game content: package managers ship the interpreter, while users bring Z-code or Blorb story files from archives, personal collections, or newly authored Inform games.

Timeline

  • Late 1970s-1980s: Infocom develops interactive fiction games for the Z-machine.
  • Early to mid-1990s: The Z-machine is reverse-engineered and Inform enables new Z-code games.
  • 1995-1997: Stefan Jokisch writes the original Frotz.
  • 2019: Frotz 2.50 modernizes the Unix line with UTF-8 input/output, sound, Blorb handling, portability fixes, and safer code changes.
  • 2025: Frotz 2.55 is released with bug fixes, manual updates, Z-machine save-restore prompt support, and related enhancements.

Related projects

  • Related projects and artifacts include Infocom, Zork, the Z-machine standards, Inform, Blorb, Quetzal save files, the Interactive Fiction Archive, and other Z-machine interpreters.
  • Frotz's platform ports and interfaces relate it to curses, SDL, libao, DOS, TOPS20, and Unix terminal packaging.

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 6 platform targets.
  • Installs with 11 runtime dependencies.
  • 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
~/.frotzrc

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
dfrotzcliglobal executable
frotzcliglobal executable
sfrotzcliglobal 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 version2.55
manager updated2026-06-18
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://661.org/proj/if/frotz/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:frotz
Version2.55
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/frotz
Homepagehttps://661.org/proj/if/frotz/
Repositoryhttps://gitlab.com/DavidGriffith/frotz
Upstream docshttps://gitlab.com/DavidGriffith/frotz/-/blob/master/README.md
LicenseGPL-2.0-or-later
Source archivehttps://www.ifarchive.org/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/frotz/frotz-2.55.tar.gz
Last updated2026-06-18T02:28:58-04:00
Pulseupdated
Dependenciesfreetype, jpeg-turbo, libao, libmodplug, libpng, libsamplerate, libsndfile, libvorbis, ncurses, sdl2-compat, sdl2_mixer
Build dependenciespkgconf
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Namefrotz
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Head VersionHEAD
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
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%

frotz 2.55+dfsg-2

interpreter of Z-code story-files

https://davidgriffith.gitlab.io/frotz/

sudo apt install frotz
  • Section: games
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 7 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: frotz from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

sdlfrotz 2.55+dfsg-2

interpreter of Z-code story-files (SDL version)

https://davidgriffith.gitlab.io/frotz/

sudo apt install sdlfrotz
  • Section: games
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: frotz
  • 7 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: sdlfrotz from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

frotz

nix profile install nixpkgs#frotz
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/fr/frotz/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

frotz 2.54+dfsg-3build2

interpreter of Z-code story-files

https://davidgriffith.gitlab.io/frotz/

sudo apt install frotz
  • Section: universe/games
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 7 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: frotz from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

sdlfrotz 2.54+dfsg-3build2

interpreter of Z-code story-files (SDL version)

https://davidgriffith.gitlab.io/frotz/

sudo apt install sdlfrotz
  • Section: universe/games
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: frotz
  • 7 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: sdlfrotz from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

frotz 2.55-r0

Portable Z-Machine Interpreter

https://davidgriffith.gitlab.io/frotz/

sudo apk add frotz
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: frotz
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: frotz from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

frotz-doc 2.55-r0

Portable Z-Machine Interpreter (documentation)

https://davidgriffith.gitlab.io/frotz/

sudo apk add frotz-doc
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: frotz
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: frotz-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

frotz 2.55-3.fc44

Interactive fiction interpreter for Z-Machine (Infocom) games

https://gitlab.com/DavidGriffith/frotz/

sudo dnf install frotz
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: frotz
  • 8 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: frotz from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

frotz-gui 2.55-3.fc44

SDL GUI for frotz interactive fiction interpreter

https://gitlab.com/DavidGriffith/frotz/

sudo dnf install frotz-gui
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: frotz
  • 12 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: frotz-gui from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
pacman95%

frotz-ncurses 2.55-1

ncurses-based Z-machine interpreter for interactive fiction games

https://gitlab.com/DavidGriffith/frotz

sudo pacman -S frotz-ncurses
  • License: GPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 5 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: frotz-ncurses from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
MacPorts95%

frotz

sudo port install frotz
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Frotz
MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: games/frotz/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Nix92%

sfrotz

nix profile install nixpkgs#sfrotz
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Sfrotz
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/sf/sfrotz/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
pacman92%

frotz-dumb 2.55-1

Z-machine interpreter for interactive fiction games, for dumb terminals or scripting

https://gitlab.com/DavidGriffith/frotz

sudo pacman -S frotz-dumb
  • License: GPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Dfrotz
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: frotz-dumb from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
pacman92%

frotz-sdl 2.55-1

Graphical Z-machine interpreter for interactive fiction games

https://gitlab.com/DavidGriffith/frotz

sudo pacman -S frotz-sdl
  • License: GPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 8 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Sfrotz
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: frotz-sdl from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

package graph

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

Related tools

  • freetypeRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • jpeg-turboRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • libpngRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • libsndfileRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • pkgconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • fizmoShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction, interpreter, z-machine.
  • glulxeShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction, interpreter, z-machine.
  • dmagneticShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction, interpreter.
  • git-ifShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction, interpreter.
  • dungeonShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction.
  • qtadsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, interactive-fiction.

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.

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