install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install man-db

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install man-db

MacPorts ports tree · textproc/man-db/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add man-db

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

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install man-db

Debian stable package indexes · man-db · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install man-db

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · man-db · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#man-db

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ma/man-db/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S man-db

Arch Linux sync databases · man-db · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install man

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · man · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Unix documentation system

Project links

Commands and aliases

accessdb
catman
gaccessdb
gapropos
gcatman
glexgrog
gman
gman-recode
gmandb
gmanpath
gwhatis
lexgrog
mandb

history

Project history and usage

man-db is an implementation of the standard Unix manual-page system accessed through `man`. Its official homepage describes it as using an indexed database instead of traditional flat-text whatis databases, with utilities such as `man`, `mandb`, `apropos`, and `whatis` around that database.

Project history

The man-db source tree carries copyright lines going back to John W. Eaton in 1990-1991, Graeme W. Wilford, Fabrizio Polacco, and later Colin Watson. The README identifies Colin Watson as current maintainer and points users to the manual for configuration and formatter details.

man-db's development reflects the long transition from historical Unix man-page lookup toward database-backed indexing. Its configuration and cache model track Filesystem Hierarchy Standard paths such as `/usr/share` for manual pages and `/var/cache/man` for cached cat pages, while preserving compatibility with older FSSTND layouts.

Adoption history

The official man-db homepage lists use by several GNU/Linux distributions, including Arch Linux, Debian, Dragora, Fedora, Gentoo, openSUSE, and Ubuntu, and notes that it also compiles and runs on a number of proprietary Unix systems.

In package-manager culture, man-db is one of the packages users notice during installs and upgrades because `mandb` updates the manual-page index. It is infrastructure rather than an application: distributions depend on it to make `man`, `apropos`, and `whatis` fast and searchable.

How it is used

`mandb` initializes or manually updates index database caches, and the stored information is used by man-db utilities to improve speed and functionality. `manpath` computes manual search paths using the man-db configuration file and the user's environment.

The upstream documentation points packagers and builders to `./src/man_db.conf` and `man/man5/manpath.5` for configuration details. Installed paths depend on `sysconfdir`, while the upstream `manpath` manual documents `~/.manpath` as the default user configuration for `manpath -C`.

Why package nerds care

man-db is important to package nerds because it turns scattered manual pages from every installed package into a searchable local index. Its post-install hooks, cache ownership choices, setuid options, compression support, and path mapping influence how documentation behaves across a whole system.

It is also a classic distribution-integration package: the upstream tarball has defaults, but Linux distributions commonly patch paths or integrate it with package triggers, tmpfiles cleanup, and policy around `/usr/share/man` and `/var/cache/man`.

Timeline

1990: Early man-db copyright lineage begins with John W. Eaton.
2001: README notes FHS manual roots `/usr/share` and `/var/cache/man` as current defaults for manual and cat hierarchies.
2020: GitLab project creation records the modern GitLab project presence.
2022: NEWS notes the Git repository transfer to https://gitlab.com/man-db/man-db.
2025: man-db 2.13.1 was released with formatting, portability, and build fixes.

Related projects

man-db is related to traditional Unix `man`, `apropos`, `whatis`, `catman`, and `makewhatis` implementations.
It also depends on formatter tools such as groff or compatible nroff/troff implementations, and it is often compared with mandoc on systems that can use either as the manual-page viewer/searcher.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Installs with 2 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.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: ${sysconfdir}/man_db.conf~/.manpath

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure
`accessdb`	cli	global executable
`catman`	cli	global executable
`gaccessdb`	cli	global executable
`gapropos`	cli	global executable
`gcatman`	cli	global executable
`glexgrog`	cli	global executable
`gman`	cli	global executable
`gman-recode`	cli	global executable
`gmandb`	cli	global executable
`gmanpath`	cli	global executable
`gwhatis`	cli	global executable
`lexgrog`	cli	global executable
`mandb`	cli	global 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 version2.13.1

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:man-db
Version	2.13.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/man-db
Homepage	https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/
Repository	https://gitlab.com/man-db/man-db
Upstream docs	https://gitlab.com/man-db/man-db/-/tree/main/manual
License	GPL-2.0-or-later
Source archive	https://download.savannah.gnu.org/releases/man-db/man-db-2.13.1.tar.xz
Dependencies	groff, libpipeline
Build dependencies	pkgconf
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared
Caveats	Commands also provided by macOS have been installed with the prefix "g". If you need to use these commands with their normal names, you can add a "bin" directory to your PATH from your bashrc like: PATH="$HOMEBREW_PREFIX/opt/man-db/libexec/bin:$PATH"

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	man-db
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
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%

man-db 2.13.1-1

tools for reading manual pages

https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/

sudo apt install man-db

Section: doc
Architecture: amd64
10 dependencies
2 provides
4 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: man-db from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

man-db

nix profile install nixpkgs#man-db

normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ma/man-db/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

man-db 2.12.0-4build2

tools for reading manual pages

https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/

sudo apt install man-db

Section: doc
Architecture: amd64
10 dependencies
2 provides
4 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: man-db from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

man-db 2.13.1-r1

The man command and related utilities for examining on-line help files

https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/

sudo apk add man-db

License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: man-db
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: man-db from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

man-db-doc 2.13.1-r1

The man command and related utilities for examining on-line help files (documentation)

https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/

sudo apk add man-db-doc

License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: man-db
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: man-db-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

man-db-lang 2.13.1-r1

Languages for package man-db

https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/

sudo apk add man-db-lang

License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: man-db
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: man-db-lang from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

man-db-systemd 2.13.1-r1

The man command and related utilities for examining on-line help files (systemd files)

https://man-db.gitlab.io/man-db/

sudo apk add man-db-systemd

License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: man-db
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: man-db-systemd from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

dnf95%

man-db 2.13.1-3.fc44

Tools for searching and reading man pages

http://www.nongnu.org/man-db/

sudo dnf install man-db

License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: man-db
13 dependencies
7 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: man-db from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

man-db-cron 2.13.1-3.fc44

Periodic update of man-db cache

http://www.nongnu.org/man-db/

sudo dnf install man-db-cron

License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: man-db
3 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: man-db-cron from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

pacman95%

man-db 2.13.1-1

A utility for reading man pages

https://gitlab.com/man-db/man-db

sudo pacman -S man-db

License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
8 dependencies
1 provides
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: man-db from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/core/os/x86_64/core.db.tar.gz

zypper95%

man 2.13.1-7.1

A Program for Displaying man Pages

https://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/man-db

sudo zypper install man

License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Category: System/Base
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: man
17 dependencies
5 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: man from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

MacPorts95%

man-db

sudo port install man-db

normalized package name match
Matched by: Man Db

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: textproc/man-db/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

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

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.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/man-db.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install man-db with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: green

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Configuration and credential file locations

Configuration files

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources