# Install libbladerf with Homebrew, Nix USB 3.0 Superspeed Software Defined Radio Source. Version 2025.10 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libbladerf ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libbladerf ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#libbladeRF ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libbladeRF/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libbladerf - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2025.10 - **Source summary:** USB 3.0 Superspeed Software Defined Radio Source - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later AND MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - bladeRF-cli (cli) - bladeRF-fsk (cli) - bladeRF-power (cli) - bladeRF-update (cli) - bladeRF-cli (alias) - bladeRF-fsk (alias) - bladeRF-power (alias) - bladeRF-update (alias) ## Dependencies - libusb - ncurses ## Build dependencies - cmake - pkgconf ## Uses from macOS - curl - libedit ## 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: 2025.10 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/Nuand/bladeRF - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage libbladeRF is the host library and tool suite for Nuand's bladeRF software-defined radio hardware. The upstream repository combines host-side C libraries and utilities, Cypress FX3 firmware, FPGA HDL, drivers, samples, and supporting documentation. ### Project history Nuand built bladeRF as an open source USB 3.0 software-defined radio platform, with the project repository carrying the host software, firmware, FPGA sources, and utilities needed to program and operate the boards. The README's quick start leads users from cloning the repository to installing libbladeRF and running `bladeRF-cli` against attached hardware. The release history shows the host library evolving with the hardware. The 2016.06 release added clock and synchronization features, the 2018.08 line introduced libbladeRF v2.0 and bladeRF 2.0 Micro support, and later releases added packet mode, Wishbone-related features, 8-bit format mode, and continued FPGA/firmware updates. ### Adoption history libbladeRF is adopted primarily by SDR users who own bladeRF hardware, rather than by general networking software. Its package-manager presence matters because installing the host tools on macOS or Linux gives users `bladeRF-cli`, firmware update commands, and a C API without building the whole hardware support stack by hand. ### How it is used Users run `bladeRF-cli` to probe devices, inspect versions, load FPGA images, update firmware, configure RF parameters, and stream samples. Developers use libbladeRF as the host API for receive/transmit streaming and device control, while the repository also includes MATLAB, Simulink, Python, firmware, and FPGA pieces. ### Why package nerds care This is a hardware package wearing a Unix package's clothes. It has shared-library ABI concerns, command-line tools, firmware images, FPGA bitstreams, USB access, and calibration workflows, so it is exactly the kind of formula where package maintainers must respect both software dependencies and physical-device behavior. ### Timeline - 2016: Release 2016.06 adds SMB clock control, synchronization trigger support, XB-300 support, and related firmware changes. - 2018: Release 2018.08 introduces libbladeRF v2.0 and bladeRF 2.0 Micro support. - 2020: Release 2020.12 adds packet mode support across libbladeRF, FX3 firmware, and FPGA logic. - 2021: Release 2021.10 adds Wishbone master core support and bladeRF 2.0 micro xA5 support. - 2023: Release 2023.02 adds 8-bit format mode and AD936x overclocking support. - 2025: Nuand's 2025.10 release post describes throughput, stability, and streaming upgrades for bladeRF 2.0 micro. ### Related projects - bladeRF-cli, bladeRF-fsk, bladeRF-wiphy, GNU Radio-style SDR workflows, FPGA images, FX3 firmware, MATLAB and Python bindings, and out-of-tree radio cores are the closest ecosystem pieces. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes library-like package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - library-like package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** libbladerf - **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 - libbladeRF: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libbladeRF/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [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. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [ncurses](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ncurses/) - 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. - [dump1090-fa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dump1090-fa/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [readsb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/readsb/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, radio, sdr. - [rtl_433](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rtl-433/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, radio, sdr. - [soapyremote](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/soapyremote/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, radio, sdr. - [adns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [c-ares](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/c-ares/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [curl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/curl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. - [czmq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/czmq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, networking. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libbladerf.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libbladerf.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