# Install libdsk with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix Library for accessing discs and disc image files. Version 1.4.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-19. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libdsk ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libdsk ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libdsk ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/libdsk/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install libdsk-utils ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libdsk-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libdsk ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libdsk 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#libdsk ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libdsk/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libdsk - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.4.2 - **Source summary:** Library for accessing discs and disc image files - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-19T12:31:50-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - apriboot (cli) - dskdump (cli) - dskform (cli) - dskid (cli) - dskscan (cli) - dsktrans (cli) - dskutil (cli) - md3serial (cli) - apriboot (alias) - dskdump (alias) - dskform (alias) - dskid (alias) - dskscan (alias) - dsktrans (alias) - dskutil (alias) - md3serial (alias) ## 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: 1.4.2 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-19 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage LibDsk is John Elliott's library and utility suite for accessing floppy disks and disk image files, especially formats used by emulators, CP/M tools, and retrocomputing workflows. ### Project history The official LibDsk page positions the library between real floppy hardware, emulator disk-image formats, filesystem utilities, and floppy-controller emulation. It supports raw files and devices, CPCEMU/JOYCE-style .DSK images, MYZ80 hard-drive images, NanoWasp, CFI, CopyQM, TeleDisk, Compaq QRST, APRIDISK, LDBS, rcpmfs, serial-line LibDsk instances, and other formats. The documented 1.4.x and 1.5.x histories show continued maintenance for unusual formats and preservation edge cases: JV3, CP2, Commodore D64/D64CPM, QRST, SAP, Gotek layouts, Apple Disk Copy 4.2, D88, and the LDBS/LDBST formats. The page also documents Linux kernel FDRAWCMD deprecation as a practical constraint for direct floppy access after Linux 5.18. ### Adoption history LibDsk's adoption is concentrated in retrocomputing and emulator ecosystems. Its official page names CPMTOOLS integration, emulator tools that convert between real floppies and images, and floppy-controller emulation as intended uses, which explains why distributions package the command-line utilities even though the audience is specialized. ### How it is used Packaged utilities such as `dskdump`, `dskform`, `dskid`, `dskscan`, `dsktrans`, `dskutil`, and related tools make LibDsk useful for converting, scanning, formatting, identifying, and transferring disk images. The library side lets emulators and filesystem tools use the same format backends. ### Why package nerds care LibDsk matters because disk-image support is usually a graveyard of one-off converters. Packaging one maintained library with many obscure floppy formats keeps retrocomputing workflows reproducible and prevents every emulator or CP/M tool from carrying its own partial disk-format parser. ### Timeline - 2022: Official page notes Linux FDRAWCMD deprecation in Linux 5.18+ as a direct-access concern. - 2024: Official page lists 1.4.2 as stable and 1.5.22 as development downloads. - 1.4.x: JV3 support and IMD driver fixes documented. - 1.5.x: LDBS rewrite, D64/D64CPM, CP2, QRST, SAP, Gotek, dc42, LDBST, D88, and additional utilities documented. ### Related projects - The official page links LibDsk to CPMTOOLS, JOYCE, Lib765, Diskette Tools, AUXD, CPC/PCW/Spectrum +3 CP/M use cases, Gotek USB floppy images, and emulator .DSK formats. ### 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:** libdsk - **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 - libdsk-utils - 1.5.9+dfsg-1+b2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libdsk-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | library for accessing discs and disc image file (utilities) | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk/ - Debian apt - libdsk4 - 1.5.9+dfsg-1+b2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libdsk4 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | library for accessing discs and disc image file | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk/ - Debian apt - libdsk4-dev - 1.5.9+dfsg-1+b2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libdsk4-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | library for accessing discs and disc image file (development headers) | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk/ - Nix - libdsk: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libdsk/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - libdsk-utils - 1.5.9+dfsg-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libdsk-utils from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | library for accessing discs and disc image file (utilities) | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk/ - Ubuntu apt - libdsk4 - 1.5.9+dfsg-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libdsk4 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | library for accessing discs and disc image file | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk/ - Ubuntu apt - libdsk4-dev - 1.5.9+dfsg-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libdsk4-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | library for accessing discs and disc image file (development headers) | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk/ - dnf - libdsk - 1.5.22-2.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libdsk from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Library for accessing disk images | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk - dnf - libdsk-devel - 1.5.22-2.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libdsk-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files for libdsk | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk - dnf - libdsk-tools - 1.5.22-2.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libdsk-tools from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Tools for use with libdsk | http://www.seasip.info/Unix/LibDsk - MacPorts - libdsk: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: devel/libdsk/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/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. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [cpmtools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cpmtools/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [joyce](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/joyce/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [ccd2iso](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ccd2iso/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, disk-images, system. - [chkbit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chkbit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, storage, system. - [device-mapper](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/device-mapper/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, storage, system. - [di](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/di/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, storage, system. - [disktype](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/disktype/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, storage, system. - [dua-cli](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dua-cli/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, storage, system. - [duc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/duc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, storage, system. - [f3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/f3/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, storage, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libdsk.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libdsk.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