# Install libsixel with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation. Version 1.10.5 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libsixel ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libsixel ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libsixel ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: graphics/libsixel/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add libsixel ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libsixel from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install libsixel-bin ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libsixel-bin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libsixel ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libsixel 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#libsixel ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libsixel/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S libsixel ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libsixel from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install libsixel-bash-completion ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libsixel-bash-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libsixel - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.10.5 - **Source summary:** SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - img2sixel (cli) - libsixel-config (cli) - sixel2png (cli) - img2sixel (alias) - libsixel-config (alias) - sixel2png (alias) ## Dependencies - jpeg-turbo - libpng ## Build dependencies - meson - ninja ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.10.5 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - Upstream latest detected: v1.10.5 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage libsixel is a C encoder and decoder for DEC SIXEL terminal graphics, plus command-line tools such as img2sixel and sixel2png. It matters because it helped revive a 1980s terminal image protocol for modern terminals, plots, previews, and command-line image workflows. ### Project history The project traces back to Hayaki Saito's libsixel work, described as an implementation derived from kmiya's sixel encoder. Its README explains SIXEL as a Digital Equipment Corporation format for printer and terminal imaging whose data is represented as terminal-friendly escape sequences. A community fork under the libsixel GitHub organization continued the project after Saito stopped participating publicly in January 2020, according to the fork README. That fork collected improvements and security patches, later switching the build system to Meson for libsixel 2.0. ### Adoption history libsixel rode a broader revival of terminal graphics. The README lists use in or integration with projects and workflows around gnuplot, Ghostscript, ImageMagick, lsix, FFmpeg-SIXEL, SDL experiments, w3m integration, GNU Screen forks, RetroArch, and terminal support in xterm, mlterm, iTerm2, WezTerm, and related emulators. The README also lists packaging through FreeBSD ports, pkgsrc, Homebrew, Debian, Arch, Gentoo, Ubuntu, NixOS, OpenBSD Ports, Fedora Copr, SlackBuilds, and MacPorts, which made it a common optional dependency for software that wants SIXEL output. ### How it is used Users most often meet libsixel through `img2sixel`, which converts images and animations into SIXEL escape sequences for display in a compatible terminal, and `sixel2png`, which decodes SIXEL back into PNG. Developers can use the C API and several language bindings to generate or decode SIXEL programmatically. The practical constraint is terminal support: when the terminal understands SIXEL, the output renders inline; when it does not, users see escape data or nothing useful. ### Why package nerds care libsixel is a package-nerd favorite because it compresses a lot of terminal history into one dependency: DEC hardware, escape sequences, image quantization, terminal emulator feature flags, and modern CLI image previews all meet in a small C library. It also shows how optional media support propagates through package managers. A plotting tool, terminal browser, or file manager may grow SIXEL support only when a distro or formula enables the right build option and ships libsixel. ### Timeline - 1980s: DEC introduced SIXEL for printer and terminal imaging. - 2020-01: The community fork README records Saito's disappearance from public maintenance activity. - 2025-01-11: The libsixel organization release page records v1.10.5. - 2025-02-12: The libsixel organization repository was archived as read-only. ### Related projects - Related projects include the original saitoha/libsixel repository, kmiya's sixel encoder, mlterm, xterm, iTerm2, gnuplot, ImageMagick, Ghostscript, lsix, FFmpeg-SIXEL, and other terminal graphics protocols such as kitty graphics. ### 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:** libsixel - **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 - Debian apt - libsixel-bin - 1.10.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libsixel-bin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | DEC SIXEL graphics codec implementation (binary) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - Debian apt - libsixel-dev - 1.10.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libsixel-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | DEC SIXEL graphics codec implementation (develop) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - Debian apt - libsixel-examples - 1.10.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libsixel-examples from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | DEC SIXEL graphics codec implementation (examples) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - Debian apt - libsixel1 - 1.10.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libsixel1 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | DEC SIXEL graphics codec implementation (runtime) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - Nix - libsixel: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libsixel/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - libsixel-bin - 1.10.3-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libsixel-bin from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | DEC SIXEL graphics codec implementation (binary) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - Ubuntu apt - libsixel-dev - 1.10.3-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libsixel-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | DEC SIXEL graphics codec implementation (develop) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - Ubuntu apt - libsixel-examples - 1.10.3-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libsixel-examples from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | DEC SIXEL graphics codec implementation (examples) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - Ubuntu apt - libsixel1 - 1.10.3-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libsixel1 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | DEC SIXEL graphics codec implementation (runtime) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - apk - libsixel - 1.10.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libsixel from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - apk - libsixel-dev - 1.10.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libsixel-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation (development files) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - apk - libsixel-doc - 1.10.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libsixel-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation (documentation) | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - apk - libsixel-tools - 1.10.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libsixel-tools from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - apk - libsixel-tools-bash-completion - 1.10.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libsixel-tools-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - apk - libsixel-tools-zsh-completion - 1.10.5-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libsixel-tools-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel - dnf - libsixel - 1.10.5-6.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libsixel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | SIXEL encoding and decoding | https://github.com/libsixel/libsixel ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [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. - [jpeg-turbo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jpeg-turbo/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libpng](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libpng/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [meson](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/meson/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [ninja](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ninja/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [timg](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/timg/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [aalib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aalib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media, terminal. - [batik](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/batik/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media. - [chafa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chafa/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, media, terminal, terminal-graphics. - [dicebear](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dicebear/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media. - [efl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/efl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media. - [epstool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/epstool/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media. - [fig2dev](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fig2dev/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media. - [gd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media. - [libwmf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libwmf/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, config, graphics, jpeg, jpeg-turbo. - [libavif](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libavif/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: cli, decoder, encoder, image, jpeg. - [jbig2enc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jbig2enc/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: cli, encoder, image, jpeg, jpeg-turbo. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libsixel.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libsixel.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