macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install ncftplocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install ncftpMacPorts ports tree · net/ncftp/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install ncftp with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman
FTP client with an advanced user interface. Version 3.3.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add ncftpAlpine Linux edge package indexes · ncftp · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install ncftpDebian stable package indexes · ncftp · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install ncftpFedora Rawhide package metadata · ncftp · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#ncftpnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/nc/ncftp/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S ncftpArch Linux sync databases · ncftp · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
overview
Package summary
FTP client with an advanced user interface
Project links
Commands and aliases
- ncftp
- ncftpbatch
- ncftpbookmarks
- ncftpget
- ncftpls
- ncftpput
- ncftpspooler
history
Project history and usage
NcFTP is one of the older surviving enhanced FTP clients. The official client page says it has been in service on Unix systems since 1991 and positions it as a popular alternative to `/usr/bin/ftp` with ease-of-use and performance improvements.
Project history
The download page preserves the project's three main eras: 1.x from 1991, 2.x from 1995, and 3.x from 1998. The 3.0.0 changelog entry on 2000-03-19 marks a major modernized line with the Clarified Artistic License, native Win32 support, HTML manual pages, shell utilities, transfer logging, firewall configuration support, and the v3 preference file.
Adoption history
NcFTP's adoption comes from longevity and scripting utility more than novelty. It ships not just `ncftp`, but also `ncftpget`, `ncftpput`, `ncftpls`, `ncftpbatch`, and `ncftpspooler`, which made it attractive for unattended FTP workflows. The Homebrew formula API response consulted for this July 2026 batch reported 105 install-on-request events in 30 days and 2,716 in 365 days.
How it is used
Interactive use centers on bookmarked FTP sessions, resuming transfers, passive-mode handling, logging, and friendlier prompts than the classic FTP client. The utility programs are the package-nerd core: `ncftpget` downloads files or recursive trees from scripts, `ncftpput` uploads files or directory trees, both can use login config files, debug logs, redial counts, passive/PORT selection, background batch jobs, and raw FTP commands for awkward servers.
Why package nerds care
NcFTP matters as the pragmatic FTP survivor: useful when old appliances, mirrors, mainframes, or vendor dropboxes still speak FTP. It is less about fashionable networking and more about reliable edge-case behavior around recursive transfers, resume, timestamps, passive-mode fallback, batch queues, and strange server implementations.
Timeline
- 1991: NcFTP 1.x era began on Unix systems.
- 1995: NcFTP 2.x era began.
- 1998: NcFTP 3.x era began.
- 2000-03-19: 3.0.0 documented the v3 licensing, Win32, utility, and preference changes.
- 2025-04-23: 3.3.0 fixed configure-script checks for newer GCC.
Related projects
- FTP, RFC 959, LibNcFTP, NcFTPd, lftp, wget
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:ftp,client
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 8 platform targets.
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
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
ncftp | cli | global executable | |
ncftpbatch | cli | global executable | |
ncftpbookmarks | cli | global executable | |
ncftpget | cli | global executable | |
ncftpls | cli | global executable | |
ncftpput | cli | global executable | |
ncftpspooler | 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 version3.3.0
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.ncftp.com/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:ncftp |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.3.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/ncftp |
| Homepage | https://www.ncftp.com/ |
| Upstream docs | https://www.ncftp.com/ |
| License | ClArtistic |
| Source archive | https://www.ncftp.com/public_ftp/ncftp/ncftp-3.3.0-src.tar.gz |
| Uses from macOS | ncurses |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | ncftp |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
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%
ncftp 2:3.2.7-1
User-friendly and well-featured FTP client
sudo apt install ncftp- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
Nix95%
ncftp
nix profile install nixpkgs#ncftp- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
Ubuntu apt95%
ncftp 2:3.2.6-1
User-friendly and well-featured FTP client
sudo apt install ncftp- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
apk95%
ncftp 3.3.0-r0
A set of free application programs implementing FTP
sudo apk add ncftp- License: ClArtistic
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: ncftp
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
apk95%
ncftp-bookmarks 3.3.0-r0
A set of free application programs implementing FTP
sudo apk add ncftp-bookmarks- License: ClArtistic
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: ncftp
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
apk95%
ncftp-dev 3.3.0-r0
A set of free application programs implementing FTP (development files)
sudo apk add ncftp-dev- License: ClArtistic
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: ncftp
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
apk95%
ncftp-doc 3.3.0-r0
A set of free application programs implementing FTP (documentation)
sudo apk add ncftp-doc- License: ClArtistic
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: ncftp
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
dnf95%
ncftp 3.3.0-3.fc44
Improved console FTP client
sudo dnf install ncftp- License: ClArtistic AND NTP
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: ncftp
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
pacman95%
ncftp 3.3.0-1
A set of free application programs implementing FTP
sudo pacman -S ncftp- License: custom
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
MacPorts95%
ncftp
sudo port install ncftp- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ncftp
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.
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