# Install gnu-barcode with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Convert text strings to printed bars. Version 0.99 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:gnu-barcode ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install gnu-barcode ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install barcode ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: textproc/barcode/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add barcode ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: barcode from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install barcode ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: barcode from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install barcode ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: barcode from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#barcode ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ba/barcode/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S barcode ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: barcode from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install barcode ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: barcode from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:gnu-barcode - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.99 - **Source summary:** Convert text strings to printed bars - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - barcode (cli) - sample (cli) - barcode (alias) - sample (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.99 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage GNU Barcode is a GNU command-line tool and library for turning text strings into printable barcode output, originally centered on PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript and later extended with output formats such as SVG and PCL. ### Project history The project was authored and maintained in the GNU ecosystem by Alessandro Rubini. Its README describes a package built to cover common barcode creation needs with a conventional printer, shipping both a library and a command-line front end so applications and scripts can generate barcode symbols. The 0.99 NEWS entry records later maintenance work including internationalization, GPLv3-or-later licensing, SVG support, and PCL output. That makes GNU Barcode a small but durable example of GNU's printer-and-text utility culture. ### Adoption history GNU Barcode's upstream README notes distribution through ftp.gnu.org and GNU mirrors, a Windows port through GnuWin32, FreeBSD ports packaging, and downstream use by GLabels. Its adoption pattern is therefore typical of focused Unix utilities: not a broad platform, but a reusable program and library that other label-printing tools could embed. ### How it is used Practitioners use the `barcode` command to read strings from the command line or standard input and emit printable barcode pages or EPS fragments. It supports common product and book codes including UPC, EAN, ISBN, CODE39, and related formats, with sizing and label-table options useful for sticker sheets and print workflows. ### Why package nerds care Package maintainers care about GNU Barcode because it exposes a narrow, scriptable function with few moving parts: encode strings, select a symbology, and produce printer-friendly output. Its library/front-end split also made it useful as a dependency for label software rather than only as a standalone command. ### Timeline - 1999: GNU Barcode web page copyright record begins. - 2011: GNU Barcode 0.99 NEWS records i18n, GPLv3-or-later, SVG, and PCL work. - 2013: 0.99 NEWS copyright update recorded by the Free Software Foundation. ### Related projects - GLabels used GNU Barcode internally according to the upstream README. - Bookland.py is discussed by the README as a related ISBN-oriented barcode program. - GnuWin32 maintained a Windows port listed by upstream. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** gnu-barcode - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - barcode: installed executable or alias match | MacPorts ports tree: textproc/barcode/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Debian apt - barcode - 0.99-9: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: barcode from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Utility for barcode generation | https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode/ - Nix - barcode: installed executable or alias match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ba/barcode/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - barcode - 0.99-7: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: barcode from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Utility for barcode generation | https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode/ - apk - barcode - 0.99-r1: installed executable or alias match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: barcode from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Convert text strings to printed bars in various standards | https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode/ - dnf - barcode - 0.98-54.fc44: installed executable or alias match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: barcode from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Generates barcodes from text strings | https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode/ - dnf - barcode-devel - 0.98-54.fc44: installed executable or alias match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: barcode-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Header files and libraries for barcode development | https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode/ - pacman - barcode - 0.99-6: installed executable or alias match | Arch Linux sync databases: barcode from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A tool to convert text strings to printed bars | https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode/ - zypper - barcode - 0.99-12.4: installed executable or alias match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: barcode from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Text-Mode Barcode Creation Utility | https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode - zypper - barcode-devel - 0.99-12.4: installed executable or alias match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: barcode-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Text-Mode Barcode Creation Utility - Development files | https://www.gnu.org/software/barcode ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [ada-url](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ada-url/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [ancient](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ancient/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [apr](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/apr/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [apr-util](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/apr-util/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [bsdconv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bsdconv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [btparse](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/btparse/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [capstone](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/capstone/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [cctz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cctz/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [gnu-sed](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnu-sed/) - Package names and metadata indicate a similar tool family. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, gnu, text. - [enscript](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/enscript/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, convert, developer, developer-tools, gnu. - [gnu-complexity](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnu-complexity/) - Package names and metadata indicate a similar tool family. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, gnu. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/gnu-barcode.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/gnu-barcode.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph