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brew

Install libgetdata with Homebrew, apt

Reference implementation of the Dirfile Standards. Version 0.11.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-19.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libgetdata

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libf95getdata7

Debian stable package indexes · libf95getdata7 · source: deb.debian.org

overview

Package summary

Reference implementation of the Dirfile Standards

Commands and aliases

  • checkdirfile
  • dirfile2ascii

history

Project history and usage

GetData is the reference implementation of the Dirfile Standards, a filesystem-based, column-oriented format for time-ordered binary data. Its history is unusually tied to scientific instrumentation: it grew out of quick-look and analysis needs in balloon-borne cosmology experiments, then became a standalone library and format reference.

Project history

The GetData project page states that GetData and the Dirfile Standards were originally written by C. B. Netterfield and later maintained by D. V. Wiebe. It was originally written for the BOOMERanG and BLAST experiments as a data format suitable for quick-look and data reduction, and it began as one of the native data formats supported by the kst plotting program.

As use spread beyond those experiments, GetData became a standalone library. The project documents C, C++, Fortran, IDL, MATLAB, Perl, PHP, and Python bindings, plus command-line utilities such as checkdirfile and dirfile2ascii.

Adoption history

GetData adoption is domain-specific rather than mass-market. The official page names cosmological and astrophysical users including ACT, Planck, Spider, BOOMERanG, and BLAST, and describes BLAST analysis dirfiles with roughly 10^4 fields and 10^8 samples each.

Package-manager adoption reflects that niche: Homebrew, Debian, and Ubuntu package it for scientific users who need the reference implementation and its language bindings rather than a general database server.

How it is used

GetData is used to read and write dirfiles, whose data streams live as binary files with ASCII metadata describing raw and derived fields. The format is optimized for fast, simple storage and retrieval of time-ordered data, including concurrent read/write scenarios.

The package is useful when software needs a stable on-disk format for high-volume sampled data, plus bindings for analysis environments. The included tools validate dirfile metadata and export dirfile contents to ASCII.

Why package nerds care

GetData is the kind of package that keeps scientific archives reproducible: small, old-school C, autotools, man-page standards, and bindings for several analysis languages. It matters less for popularity metrics than for preserving access to experiment data and legacy analysis pipelines.

Its package name is also easy to underestimate. In distro graphs it is not a generic downloader; it is a reference implementation for a specialized scientific data standard.

Timeline

  • 2008: Project website copyright range begins and GetData 0.3-era documentation marks the legacy API transition.
  • 2012: Dirfile Standards Version 9 published, according to the GetData README history note.
  • 2015: GetData was registered in the Astrophysics Source Code Library as ascl:1512.02.
  • 2017: GetData 0.10.0 became the first release to support Dirfile Standards Version 10.
  • 2021: GetData 0.11.0 was released on 12 November 2021.

Related projects

  • Dirfile is the file-format standard that GetData implements. kst is historically related as the plotting program whose quick-look needs shaped early usage. BOOMERanG, BLAST, ACT, Planck, and Spider are named scientific users in the project documentation.

security posture

Risk level: green

library-like package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

  • library-like package without higher-risk signals

Signals

  • metadata:library-like

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.

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
checkdirfilecliglobal executable
dirfile2asciicliglobal 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 version0.11.0
manager updated2026-06-19
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:libgetdata
Version0.11.0
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libgetdata
Homepagehttps://getdata.sourceforge.net/
Repositoryhttps://github.com/ketiltrout/getdata
Upstream docshttps://getdata.sourceforge.net/dirfile.html
LicenseLGPL-2.1-or-later
Source archivehttps://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/getdata/getdata/0.11.0/getdata-0.11.0.tar.xz
Last updated2026-06-19T12:32:36-07:00
Pulseupdated
Dependencieslibtool
Uses from macOSperl
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 Namelibgetdata
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • 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%

libf95getdata7 0.11.0-15+b1

library to read/write dirfile data - Fortran 95 bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libf95getdata7
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 5 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libf95getdata7 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libfgetdata6 0.11.0-15+b1

library to read/write dirfile data - Fortran 77 bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libfgetdata6
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libfgetdata6 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libgetdata++7 0.11.0-15+b1

library to read/write dirfile data - C++ bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libgetdata++7
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgetdata++7 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libgetdata-dev 0.11.0-15+b1

library to read/write dirfile data - devel files (C, C++, F77, F95)

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

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

libgetdata-doc 0.11.0-15

library to read/write dirfile data - API and standards documents

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libgetdata-doc
  • Section: doc
  • Architecture: all
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgetdata-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libgetdata-perl 0.11.0-15+b1

library to read/write dirfile data - perl bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

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

libgetdata-tools 0.11.0-15+b1

library to read/write dirfile data - extra tools

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

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

libgetdata8 0.11.0-15+b1

library to read/write dirfile data

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libgetdata8
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgetdata8 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

python3-pygetdata 0.11.0-15+b1

library to read/write dirfile data - Python3 bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install python3-pygetdata
  • Section: python
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 6 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: python3-pygetdata from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Ubuntu apt95%

libf95getdata7 0.11.0-13

library to read/write dirfile data - Fortran 95 bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libf95getdata7
  • Section: universe/libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 5 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libf95getdata7 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libfgetdata6 0.11.0-13

library to read/write dirfile data - Fortran 77 bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libfgetdata6
  • Section: universe/libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libfgetdata6 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libgetdata++7 0.11.0-13

library to read/write dirfile data - C++ bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libgetdata++7
  • Section: universe/libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgetdata++7 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libgetdata-dev 0.11.0-13

library to read/write dirfile data - devel files (C, C++, F77, F95)

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

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

libgetdata-doc 0.11.0-13

library to read/write dirfile data - API and standards documents

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

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

libgetdata-perl 0.11.0-13

library to read/write dirfile data - perl bindings

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libgetdata-perl
  • Section: universe/perl
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgetdata-perl from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libgetdata-tools 0.11.0-13

library to read/write dirfile data - extra tools

https://getdata.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libgetdata-tools
  • Section: universe/libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libgetdata
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libgetdata
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgetdata-tools from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

package graph

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

Related tools

  • libtoolRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • netcdfShares av.db curated category or tags: c-library, cli, data, scientific-data.
  • cgnsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, scientific-data.
  • hdf5Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, scientific-data.
  • hdf5-mpiShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, scientific-data.
  • netcdf-cxxShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, scientific-data.
  • netcdf-fortranShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, scientific-data.

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