# Install kubo with Homebrew, apk, Nix, pacman, zypper, scoop, MacPorts Peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol. Version 0.42.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-08. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#kubo. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:kubo ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install kubo ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install ipfs ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: net/ipfs/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add kubo ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kubo from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#kubo ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ku/kubo/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S kubo ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: kubo from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install kubo ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: kubo from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/kubo ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/kubo.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:kubo - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.42.0 - **Source summary:** Peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT AND (MIT OR Apache-2.0) - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-08T13:58:59Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-25T07:20:51+00:00 ## Executables - ipfs (cli) - ipfs (alias) ## Build dependencies - go ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Service: declared - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-25 - Package-manager version: 0.42.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-08 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/ipfs/kubo - Upstream latest detected: v0.42.0 (current) ## Project history and usage Kubo is the Go implementation of IPFS and the command-line `ipfs` daemon most associated with running an IPFS node. The project was originally known as go-ipfs and was renamed Kubo in 2022. ### Project history Kubo originated as the first implementation of IPFS, the content-addressed, peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol. The repository describes Kubo as an opinionated implementation that prioritizes interoperability through CIDs, DAGs, UnixFS, HTTP gateways, Bitswap, and verifiable retrieval over HTTP. The 2022 rename from Go-IPFS to Kubo was part of a broader IPFS ecosystem cleanup: IPFS stewards wanted the name IPFS to refer to protocols and conventions rather than to a single Go implementation. Kubo v0.14.0 changed the published artifact name, Docker image name, and libp2p user agent while dual-publishing old names to reduce breakage. ### Adoption history Kubo became the standard CLI path for users who wanted more granular control than IPFS Desktop. Official docs describe it as the first and most widely used IPFS implementation, and its packaging spans direct distribution from dist.ipfs.tech, Docker images, Homebrew, Linux distributions, Nix, Scoop, and other package managers. Because Kubo exposes both a daemon and CLI, it also became infrastructure for applications that need local IPFS storage, pinning, gateways, RPC control, and DHT participation. Its release process documentation describes a regular release cadence with staged testing across unit, interop, integration, IPFS apps, production environments, and community testers. ### How it is used Users typically initialize a repository with `ipfs init`, start a node with `ipfs daemon`, add content with `ipfs add`, retrieve content with `ipfs cat`, and manage node behavior through the Kubo CLI or HTTP RPC API. Configuration and identity material live in the IPFS repository, commonly `$IPFS_PATH`, with the config file used for networking, datastore, gateway, API, and identity settings. ### Why package nerds care Kubo is package-nerd significant because it is both a user CLI and a network node implementation for a protocol stack. Package managers are not merely distributing a helper binary; they are distributing a long-running peer-to-peer daemon with repository migrations, DHT behavior, gateway semantics, RPC compatibility, and a compatibility story that survived the go-ipfs-to-kubo rename. ### Timeline - 2015: IPFS's first implementation emerged as the Go implementation later known as go-ipfs. - 2022: Kubo v0.14.0 renamed Go-IPFS to Kubo and dual-published old and new artifact names. - 2025: Kubo v0.39 stopped publishing the deprecated go-ipfs name as a normal release artifact. - 2020s: The project documents a regular release process with staged testing and QA across IPFS apps and production environments. ### Related projects - Kubo is related to the IPFS protocol specifications, libp2p, UnixFS, Bitswap, IPFS Desktop, IPFS WebUI, Helia, HTTP gateways, delegated routing, and the wider multiformats ecosystem. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service. - **Geiger risk:** orange / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal - formula declares a Homebrew service ## 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 - Unix: $IPFS_PATH/config ## Credential files - Unix: $IPFS_PATH/config ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** kubo - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - kubo: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ku/kubo/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - apk - kubo - 0.41.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kubo from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Inter Platnetary File System (IPFS), a peer-to-peer hypermedia distribution protocol | https://ipfs.tech/ - apk - kubo-bash-completion - 0.41.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kubo-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Bash completions for kubo | https://ipfs.tech/ - apk - kubo-doc - 0.41.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kubo-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Inter Platnetary File System (IPFS), a peer-to-peer hypermedia distribution protocol (documentation) | https://ipfs.tech/ - apk - kubo-fish-completion - 0.41.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kubo-fish-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Fish completions for kubo | https://ipfs.tech/ - apk - kubo-migration - 0.41.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kubo-migration from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Inter Platnetary File System (IPFS), a peer-to-peer hypermedia distribution protocol (15 to 16 migration) | https://ipfs.tech/ - apk - kubo-openrc - 0.41.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kubo-openrc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Inter Platnetary File System (IPFS), a peer-to-peer hypermedia distribution protocol (OpenRC init scripts) | https://ipfs.tech/ - apk - kubo-zsh-completion - 0.41.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: kubo-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Zsh completions for kubo | https://ipfs.tech/ - pacman - kubo - 0.42.0-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: kubo from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | IPFS implementation in Go | https://github.com/ipfs/kubo - zypper - kubo - 0.40.1-1.1: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: kubo from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | IPFS implementation in Go | https://github.com/ipfs/kubo - Scoop - main/kubo: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/kubo.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - MacPorts - ipfs: installed executable or alias match | MacPorts ports tree: net/ipfs/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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Documentation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/documentation-tools/) - Matched documentation, manual, or publishing metadata. - [go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/go/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [dumbpipe](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dumbpipe/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, peer-to-peer. - [nicotine-plus](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nicotine-plus/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, peer-to-peer. - [sendme](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sendme/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, peer-to-peer. - [airshare](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/airshare/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, p2p. - [bitcoin](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bitcoin/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, p2p. - [btpd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/btpd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, p2p. - [i2p](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/i2p/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, p2p. - [ipget](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ipget/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ipfs, networking. - [hyperdht](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/npm/hyperdht/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, networking, p2p, peer, peer-to-peer. - [bittorrent-tracker](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/npm/bittorrent-tracker/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, networking, p2p, peer, peer-to-peer. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/kubo.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/kubo.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - 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