Automic VaultAutomic Vault

brew

Install libcaca with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Convert pixel information into colored ASCII art. Version 0.99.beta20 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-27.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libcaca

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install libcaca

MacPorts ports tree · graphics/libcaca/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add libcaca

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

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install caca-utils

Debian stable package indexes · caca-utils · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install caca-utils

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · caca-utils · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libcaca

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/li/libcaca/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S libcaca

Arch Linux sync databases · libcaca · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install caca-utils

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · caca-utils · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Convert pixel information into colored ASCII art

Commands and aliases

  • caca-config
  • cacaclock
  • cacademo
  • cacafire
  • cacaplay
  • cacaserver
  • cacaview
  • img2txt

history

Project history and usage

libcaca is the Colour ASCII Art Library, a terminal/media library and utility suite for rendering images, demos, and animations as colored text.

Project history

The NEWS file starts with a 0.1 release that already had S-Lang, ncurses, and conio drivers plus primitive drawing routines. Subsequent early releases added 256 color pairs, mouse support, BMP loading, image viewing through cacaview, antialiasing, dithering controls, alpha handling, and the cacafire demo.

The 0.99 beta line expanded libcaca from a funny terminal renderer into a surprisingly broad text-graphics toolkit. The 0.99.beta1 notes list a switch to the WTFPL, a split into libcucul and libcaca, Unicode and TrueColor support, Floyd-Steinberg dithering, gamma correction, export formats including HTML, IRC, ANSI, SVG, PostScript, and TGA, OpenGL output, a telnet server, and image-to-IRC tooling. The 0.99.beta15 notes say libcucul was merged back into libcaca for clarity.

Adoption history

libcaca became widely packaged because it is both a library and a memorable collection of terminal demos and converters. Distribution packages often expose caca-utils commands such as cacaview, img2txt, cacafire, cacademo, and cacaplay.

How it is used

Developers can link against libcaca through pkg-config, while end users use tools such as img2txt and cacaview to convert or view pixel images in terminals. The README documents optional output backends including ncurses, S-Lang, conio, X11, OpenGL, Win32, and a network server.

Why package nerds care

libcaca is package-index folklore: useful enough to ship everywhere, unserious enough to be remembered, and technically richer than the joke suggests. Its presence in package managers marks the long Unix tradition of terminal graphics, demos, and image conversion tools.

Timeline

  • 0.1: Initial release with S-Lang, ncurses, conio drivers, and basic drawing primitives.
  • 0.99.beta1: Switched to WTFPL, split libcucul from libcaca, and added Unicode, TrueColor, dithering, exporters, OpenGL, cacaserver, and img2irc.
  • 2008-09-27: v0.99.beta14 and v0.99.beta15 tags were published on GitHub.
  • 2010-02-08: v0.99.beta17 tag was published on GitHub.
  • 2012-04-06: v0.99.beta18 tag was published on GitHub.
  • 2013-09-16: v0.99.beta19 tag was published on GitHub.
  • 2021-10-19: v0.99.beta20 release added IPv6 support in cacaserver and memory-safety fixes.

Related projects

  • Related projects and concepts include aalib-style text rendering, FIGlet and TOIlet fonts, ncurses, S-Lang, Imlib2-backed image viewing, OpenGL text output, and terminal demo programs such as cacafire.

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

  • broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

  • text:server

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
  • Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
  • 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

CommandKindExposureNote
caca-configcliglobal executable
cacaclockcliglobal executable
cacademocliglobal executable
cacafirecliglobal executable
cacaplaycliglobal executable
cacaservercliglobal executable
cacaviewcliglobal executable
img2txtcliglobal 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 version0.99.beta20
manager updated2026-06-27
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/cacalabs/libcaca

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:libcaca
Version0.99.beta20
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libcaca
Homepagehttp://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca
Repositoryhttps://github.com/cacalabs/libcaca
Upstream docshttp://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca
LicenseWTFPL
Source archivehttps://github.com/cacalabs/libcaca/releases/download/v0.99.beta20/libcaca-0.99.beta20.tar.bz2
Last updated2026-06-27T17:11:31-04:00
Pulseupdated
Dependenciesimlib2
Build dependenciespkgconf
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Namelibcaca
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Head VersionHEAD
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
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.

Debian apt95%

caca-utils 0.99.beta20-5

text mode graphics utilities

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apt install caca-utils
  • Section: utils
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: caca-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libcaca-dev 0.99.beta20-5

development files for libcaca

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apt install libcaca-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libcaca-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libcaca0 0.99.beta20-5

colour ASCII art library

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apt install libcaca0
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 6 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libcaca0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

libcaca

nix profile install nixpkgs#libcaca
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libcaca/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

caca-utils 0.99.beta20-4build2

text mode graphics utilities

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apt install caca-utils
  • Section: universe/utils
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: caca-utils from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libcaca-dev 0.99.beta20-4build2

development files for libcaca

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apt install libcaca-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libcaca-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libcaca0 0.99.beta20-4build2

colour ASCII art library

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apt install libcaca0
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 6 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libcaca0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

libcaca 0.99_beta20-r5

graphics library that outputs text instead of pixels

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apk add libcaca
  • License: WTFPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcaca from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcaca-apps 0.99_beta20-r5

graphics library that outputs text instead of pixels

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apk add libcaca-apps
  • License: WTFPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcaca-apps from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcaca-dev 0.99_beta20-r5

graphics library that outputs text instead of pixels (development files)

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apk add libcaca-dev
  • License: WTFPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcaca-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcaca-doc 0.99_beta20-r5

graphics library that outputs text instead of pixels (documentation)

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apk add libcaca-doc
  • License: WTFPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcaca-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcaca-static 0.99_beta20-r5

graphics library that outputs text instead of pixels (static library)

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apk add libcaca-static
  • License: WTFPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcaca-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

py3-libcaca 0.99_beta20-r5

graphics library that outputs text instead of pixels (python bindings)

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apk add py3-libcaca
  • License: WTFPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: py3-libcaca from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

py3-libcaca-pyc 0.99_beta20-r5

Precompiled Python bytecode for py3-libcaca

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo apk add py3-libcaca-pyc
  • License: WTFPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: py3-libcaca-pyc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

caca-utils 0.99-0.84.beta20.fc45

Colour AsCii Art Text mode graphics utilities based on libcaca

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo dnf install caca-utils
  • License: WTFPL
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 6 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: caca-utils from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

libcaca 0.99-0.84.beta20.fc45

Library for Colour AsCii Art, text mode graphics

http://caca.zoy.org/wiki/libcaca

sudo dnf install libcaca
  • License: WTFPL
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: libcaca
  • 16 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcaca
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libcaca from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

Related tools

  • imlib2Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • pkgconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • mplayerPopular package that depends on this formula.
  • plowsharePopular package that depends on this formula.
  • toiletPopular package that depends on this formula.

Same workflow

  • aalibShares av.db curated category or tags: ascii-art, cli, library, media, terminal.
  • lsixShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, terminal, terminal-graphics.
  • aviewShares av.db curated category or tags: ascii-art, cli, media, terminal.
  • imagemagickShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-conversion, library, media.
  • jp2aShares av.db curated category or tags: ascii-art, cli, image-conversion, media.
  • libicnsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image-conversion, library, media.

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.

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