install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install gauth

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add gauth

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

overview

Package summary

Google Authenticator in your terminal

Project links

Commands and aliases

gauth

history

Project history and usage

gauth is a small command-line authenticator for time-based one-time passwords. Its README frames the project as a terminal replacement for Google Authenticator.

Project history

The official GitHub repository was created in 2013 and is maintained as a Go command-line tool. The README documents installation through Homebrew or `go install`, a plain text account file, optional OpenSSL-based encryption, and compatibility reports for common services.

Adoption history

Official adoption evidence is modest and mostly visible through packaging and repository activity. The tool is packaged by Homebrew and Alpine, and the README invites users to report additional service compatibility results.

How it is used

Users store one secret per line in `~/.config/gauth.csv` using `name:secret` entries or otpauth URLs, restrict file permissions, and run `gauth` to display previous, current, and next codes. The CLI also supports printing a single key, bare output for scripting, adding and removing keys, and retrieving an account secret.

Why package nerds care

gauth matters to package-manager users as a deliberately small security CLI: one binary plus a user-managed local secrets file. It represents the Unix preference for inspectable text configuration and shell-friendly output in a domain often dominated by mobile apps.

Timeline

2013: The official GitHub repository was created.
2010s: The README documented use with Homebrew, Go installation, and multiple online services.
2020s: The project remains available as a packaged Go TOTP CLI.

Related projects

The README points users who need to interpret QR codes toward gauthQR. The project is conceptually related to Google Authenticator-compatible TOTP tools and the otpauth URI format.

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 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.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`gauth`	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 version1.5.0

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv1.5.0

https://github.com/pcarrier/gauth

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:gauth
Version	1.5.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/gauth
Homepage	https://github.com/pcarrier/gauth
Repository	https://github.com/pcarrier/gauth
Upstream docs	https://github.com/pcarrier/gauth#readme
License	ISC
Source archive	https://github.com/pcarrier/gauth/archive/refs/tags/v1.5.0.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	gauth
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.

apk95%

gauth 1.5.0-r14

Replacement for Google Authenticator

https://github.com/pcarrier/gauth

sudo apk add gauth

License: ISC
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: gauth
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gauth

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gauth from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

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/gauth.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install gauth with Homebrew, apk