# Install libvterm with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper C99 library which implements a VT220 or xterm terminal emulator. Version 0.3.3 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libvterm ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libvterm ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libvterm ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/libvterm/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add libvterm ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libvterm from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install libvterm-bin ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libvterm-bin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libvterm ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libvterm 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#libvterm ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libvterm/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S libvterm ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libvterm from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install libvterm-devel ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libvterm-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libvterm - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.3.3 - **Source summary:** C99 library which implements a VT220 or xterm terminal emulator - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - unterm (cli) - vterm-ctrl (cli) - vterm-dump (cli) - unterm (alias) - vterm-ctrl (alias) - vterm-dump (alias) ## Build dependencies - libtool ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.3.3 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage libvterm is Paul "LeoNerd" Evans's C99 library for embedding a VT/xterm/ECMA-48 terminal emulator without binding the emulator to a graphics toolkit. In package-manager terms it is a small, sharp terminal-emulation core: applications provide callbacks for drawing while libvterm handles escape sequences, screen state, and terminal behavior. ### Project history The official libvterm page describes it as an abstract C99 implementation of a VT220 or xterm-like terminal emulator that avoids a specific graphics toolkit and avoids malloc during normal running state. Launchpad records the project as registered by Paul Evans on 2010-08-01, with Bazaar as the version-control system and MIT/X/Expat licensing. The project grew alongside related terminal experiments such as pangoterm and x86term. LeoNerd's project page points to pangoterm as a GTK/Pango terminal using libvterm, and blog posts from the 2010s document the library reaching enough completeness to drive Vim in its own terminal environment. ### Adoption history libvterm became best known beyond its author's ecosystem through editor and terminal embedding work. Neovim maintained a public fork and later documented that vterm had been bundled into Neovim itself under src/nvim/vterm, making libvterm part of the story behind Neovim's built-in :terminal support. ### How it is used Applications embed libvterm when they need terminal parsing and screen-state management but want to draw through their own UI toolkit, TUI layer, or experimental environment. The Homebrew package also ships small utilities such as unterm, vterm-ctrl, and vterm-dump for exercising or inspecting terminal behavior. ### Why package nerds care libvterm is the dependency you notice when a text editor or UI toolkit suddenly grows a real terminal. It is interesting because it packages a historically messy domain, VT and xterm escape behavior, into a reusable C library small enough for distros and embedders to carry. ### Timeline - 2010-08-01: libvterm is registered on Launchpad by Paul "LeoNerd" Evans. - 2015-03-02: Neovim's libvterm-based terminal work draws public attention in the editor community. - 2022-09-06: Launchpad lists v0.3 as released. - 2023-01-15: The official libvterm page is updated and lists libvterm-0.3.3, 0.2, and 0.1.4 tarballs. ### Related projects - Related projects include pangoterm, Tickit, libtermkey, x86term, Neovim's bundled vterm code, and the broader family of VT100, VT220, xterm, and ECMA-48 terminal behavior that terminal emulators implement. ### 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:** libvterm - **Version Scheme:** 1 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - libvterm-bin - 0.3.3-3+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvterm-bin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | abstract terminal library (utility programs) | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - Debian apt - libvterm-dev - 0.3.3-3+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvterm-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | abstract terminal library (development files) | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - Debian apt - libvterm0 - 0.3.3-3+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libvterm0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | abstract terminal library | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - Nix - libvterm: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libvterm/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - libvterm-bin - 0.3.3-2build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libvterm-bin from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | abstract terminal library (utility programs) | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - Ubuntu apt - libvterm-dev - 0.3.3-2build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libvterm-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | abstract terminal library (development files) | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - Ubuntu apt - libvterm0 - 0.3.3-2build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libvterm0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | abstract terminal library | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - apk - libvterm - 0.3.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libvterm from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Abstract library implementation of a VT220/xterm/ECMA-48 terminal emulator | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - apk - libvterm-dev - 0.3.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libvterm-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Abstract library implementation of a VT220/xterm/ECMA-48 terminal emulator (development files) | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - apk - libvterm-static - 0.3.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libvterm-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Abstract library implementation of a VT220/xterm/ECMA-48 terminal emulator (static library) | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - dnf - libvterm - 0.3.3-7.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libvterm from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | An abstract library implementation of a VT220/xterm/ECMA-48 terminal emulator | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm - dnf - libvterm-devel - 0.3.3-7.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libvterm-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files needed for libvterm | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm - dnf - libvterm-tools - 0.3.3-7.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libvterm-tools from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Tools for libvterm | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm - pacman - libvterm - 0.3.3-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: libvterm from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Abstract library implementation of a VT220/xterm/ECMA-48 terminal emulator | https://www.leonerd.org.uk/code/libvterm/ - zypper - libvterm-devel - 0.3.3-1.7: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libvterm-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Development files of libvterm | https://launchpad.net/libvterm - zypper - libvterm-tools - 0.3.3-1.7: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libvterm-tools from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Tools for libvterm | https://launchpad.net/libvterm ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [libtool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libtool/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [enchant](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/enchant/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [gflags](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gflags/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [lunar-date](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lunar-date/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [newt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/newt/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, terminal. - [notcurses](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/notcurses/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, terminal. - [tre](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tre/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [wy60](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wy60/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, terminal-emulator. - [xterm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xterm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, terminal-emulator. - [vte3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vte3/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, emulator, library. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libvterm.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libvterm.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