# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:ncftp ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install ncftp ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install ncftp ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: net/ncftp/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add ncftp ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ncftp from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install ncftp ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: ncftp from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install ncftp ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: ncftp 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#ncftp ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/nc/ncftp/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S ncftp ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: ncftp from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:ncftp - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.3.0 - **Source summary:** FTP client with an advanced user interface - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** ClArtistic - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - ncftp (cli) - ncftpbatch (cli) - ncftpbookmarks (cli) - ncftpget (cli) - ncftpls (cli) - ncftpput (cli) - ncftpspooler (cli) - ncftp (alias) - ncftpbatch (alias) - ncftpbookmarks (alias) - ncftpget (alias) - ncftpls (alias) - ncftpput (alias) - ncftpspooler (alias) ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## 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: 3.3.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.ncftp.com/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** ncftp - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - ncftp - 2:3.2.7-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: ncftp from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | User-friendly and well-featured FTP client | https://www.ncftp.com/ncftp/ - Nix - ncftp: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/nc/ncftp/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - ncftp - 2:3.2.6-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ncftp from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | User-friendly and well-featured FTP client | https://www.ncftp.com/ncftp/ - apk - ncftp - 3.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ncftp from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A set of free application programs implementing FTP | https://www.ncftp.com/ - apk - ncftp-bookmarks - 3.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ncftp-bookmarks from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A set of free application programs implementing FTP | https://www.ncftp.com/ - apk - ncftp-dev - 3.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ncftp-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A set of free application programs implementing FTP (development files) | https://www.ncftp.com/ - apk - ncftp-doc - 3.3.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ncftp-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A set of free application programs implementing FTP (documentation) | https://www.ncftp.com/ - dnf - ncftp - 3.3.0-3.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: ncftp from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Improved console FTP client | http://www.ncftp.com/ncftp/ - pacman - ncftp - 3.3.0-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: ncftp from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A set of free application programs implementing FTP | https://www.ncftp.com/ - MacPorts - ncftp: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: net/ncftp/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [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. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [tnftp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tnftp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, network-client, networking. - [duck](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/duck/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, networking. - [lftp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lftp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, networking. - [yafc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/yafc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, networking. - [airshare](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/airshare/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking. - [bbftp-client](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bbftp-client/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking. - [croc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/croc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking. - [davix](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/davix/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ncftp.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/ncftp.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