# Install gpsbabel with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Converts/uploads GPS waypoints, tracks, and routes. Version 1.10.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:gpsbabel ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install gpsbabel ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install gpsbabel ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: textproc/gpsbabel/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add gpsbabel ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gpsbabel from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install gpsbabel ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: gpsbabel from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install gpsbabel ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gpsbabel 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#gpsbabel ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gp/gpsbabel/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S gpsbabel ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: gpsbabel from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install gpsbabel ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gpsbabel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:gpsbabel - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.10.0 - **Source summary:** Converts/uploads GPS waypoints, tracks, and routes - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - gpsbabel (cli) - gpsbabel (alias) ## Dependencies - libusb - qt5compat - qtbase - shapelib ## Build dependencies - cmake - pkgconf - qtserialport ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.10.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/GPSBabel/gpsbabel - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage GPSBabel is a long-running command-line and graphical utility for moving GPS waypoints, tracks, and routes between consumer GPS devices, GPX, geocaching files, mapping programs, and many vendor-specific formats. ### Project history Robert Lipe describes GPSBabel as growing out of his own frustration in late 2001 with Unix and Linux tools for transferring waypoints to a Magellan 330 for geocaching. The idea was to normalize the small set of information needed to represent a waypoint, then connect readers and writers for many formats around that common model. The first public GPSBabel release was made on SourceForge in July 2002. Lipe's history page says that release was Unix-only and supported ten formats: Geocaching.com LOC, GPSman, GPX 1.0, Magellan Serial, Mapsend, Mapsource, PCX, GPSUtil, Tiger, and CSV. The project later moved source development to GitHub while the gpsbabel.org site remained the authoritative documentation and release surface. Its change log shows years of format support, GPX/KML work, Garmin handling, GUI and build-system maintenance, and cross-platform packaging. ### Adoption history GPSBabel became a standard bridge in geocaching, mapping, and GPS-device workflows because it solved the unglamorous but persistent problem of converting proprietary GPS data into portable formats such as GPX and KML. Lipe's project history notes use by Google Earth and GSAK, plus coverage in mapping and GPS books and Linux publications. The package appears in many Unix-like package managers, reflecting its role as a reusable plumbing tool rather than a single-vendor application. ### How it is used Package users generally invoke the `gpsbabel` executable in scripts or shell pipelines to read one GPS/file format, apply filters, and write another format. Typical jobs include downloading waypoints from older GPS receivers, converting geocache files, exporting tracks to GPX, and preparing KML for map viewers. The official capabilities page is central to real use: users pick a supported reader/writer pair, then consult the generated HTML documentation for options specific to a device or file format. ### Why package nerds care GPSBabel matters to package-manager culture because it is classic Unix glue: a small executable with many format adapters that lets old devices, proprietary vendor formats, GPX, KML, GIS tools, and geocaching workflows coexist. It is also a useful packaging stress test. Builds have historically needed USB/Garmin support, Qt GUI pieces, platform-specific installers, and a large matrix of format tests while still exposing a simple CLI. ### Timeline - 2001: Robert Lipe buys a Magellan 330 and starts from waypoint-transfer frustration. - 2002: First public GPSBabel release appears on SourceForge with ten supported formats. - 2010: GPSBabel 1.4.0 release series includes continued GUI and format work. - 2014: GPSBabel 1.5.0 release series continues GPX, NMEA, device, and GUI maintenance. - 2016: GPSBabel 1.5.4 release notes include GPX metadata and device fixes. - 2019: Change-log maintenance folds 2017-2019 development entries into the public changes page. ### Related projects - GPX is a major interchange format in GPSBabel workflows. - Google Earth and KML are recurring GPSBabel targets in the official history and change log. - GSAK is named by the project history as a program using GPSBabel. - OpenStreetMap-style workflows commonly depend on GPX conversion, even when GPSBabel is only one step in the toolchain. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** gpsbabel - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - gpsbabel - 1.10.0+ds-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: gpsbabel from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | GPS file conversion plus transfer to/from GPS units | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - Debian apt - gpsbabel-doc - 1.10.0+ds-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: gpsbabel-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | GPS file conversion plus transfer to/from GPS units - documentation | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - Debian apt - gpsbabel-gui - 1.10.0+ds-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: gpsbabel-gui from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | GPS file conversion plus transfer to/from GPS units - GUI | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - Nix - gpsbabel: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gp/gpsbabel/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - gpsbabel - 1.9.0+ds-2build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gpsbabel from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | GPS file conversion plus transfer to/from GPS units | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - Ubuntu apt - gpsbabel-doc - 1.9.0+ds-2build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gpsbabel-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | GPS file conversion plus transfer to/from GPS units - documentation | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - Ubuntu apt - gpsbabel-gui - 1.9.0+ds-2build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gpsbabel-gui from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | GPS file conversion plus transfer to/from GPS units - GUI | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - apk - gpsbabel - 1.10.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gpsbabel from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Convert, manipulate, and transfer data from GPS programs or GPS receivers | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - apk - gpsbabel-lang - 1.10.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: gpsbabel-lang from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | translations for gpsbabel | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - dnf - gpsbabel - 1.10.0-3.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gpsbabel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | A tool to convert between various formats used by GPS devices | http://www.gpsbabel.org - dnf - gpsbabel-gui - 1.10.0-3.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gpsbabel-gui from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Qt GUI interface for GPSBabel | http://www.gpsbabel.org - pacman - gpsbabel - 1.10.0-4: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: gpsbabel from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Read, write and manipulate GPS waypoints in a variety of formats | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - zypper - gpsbabel - 1.10.0-3.1: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gpsbabel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Converts GPS waypoint, route and track data from one format type to another | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - zypper - gpsbabel-gui - 1.10.0-3.1: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gpsbabel-gui from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Qt GUI interface for GPSBabel | https://www.gpsbabel.org/ - MacPorts - gpsbabel: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: textproc/gpsbabel/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [qtbase](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/qtbase/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [shapelib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/shapelib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gdal](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gdal/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, geospatial. - [geoserver](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/geoserver/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, geospatial. - [h3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/h3/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, geospatial. - [imposm3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/imposm3/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, geospatial. - [libgeotiff](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libgeotiff/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, geospatial. - [librasterlite2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/librasterlite2/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, geospatial. - [mapnik](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mapnik/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, geospatial. - [mapproxy](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mapproxy/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, geospatial. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/gpsbabel.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/gpsbabel.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