brew

Install netcdf with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, winget, zypper

Libraries and data formats for array-oriented scientific data. Version 4.10.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

Install command Security notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install netcdf

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install netcdf

MacPorts ports tree · science/netcdf/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add netcdf

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

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install libnetcdf-dev

Debian stable package indexes · libnetcdf-dev · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install netcdf

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · netcdf · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#netcdf

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ne/netcdf/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S netcdf

Arch Linux sync databases · netcdf · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install libnetcdf22

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libnetcdf22 · source: download.opensuse.org

Windows

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id Unidata.NetCDF -e

Windows Package Manager source index · Unidata.NetCDF · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

Libraries and data formats for array-oriented scientific data

Project links

Commands and aliases

nc-config
nccopy
ncdump
ncgen
ncgen3

history

Project history and usage

netCDF is one of the standard data formats and libraries for portable, self-describing, array-oriented scientific data. Homebrew's netcdf formula packages the C library and utilities such as nc-config, ncdump, ncgen, ncgen3, and nccopy.

Project history

The project grew out of Unidata's late-1980s work on a portable scientific data interface. Unidata's history says Glenn Davis developed an early C prototype layered on XDR in early 1988, then an August 1988 workshop settled the Unidata netCDF interface before Davis and Russ Rew implemented the first software. Version 2.0 was announced in October 1991, version 3.3 in May 1997 added a new type-safe C and Fortran interface, and version 3.4 in March 1998 brought initial large-file support and performance work.

Adoption history

Unidata describes netCDF as a community standard for sharing scientific data, with maintained C, C++, Java, and Fortran interfaces and additional interfaces for Python, IDL, MATLAB, R, Ruby, and Perl. Homebrew analytics show the core package's broad dependency role: on July 1, 2026 the formula page listed 90,512 installs over 365 days and 6,249 over 30 days, while only 14,750 of the annual installs were direct installs on request.

How it is used

Users interact with it both as a library and as a CLI toolkit. ncdump prints a netCDF file as CDL text, ncgen turns CDL back into binary netCDF, and nccopy copies files while changing binary format, compression, chunks, or storage settings. Developers use nc-config to discover compiler and linker flags, and higher-level ecosystems build on the C library for Python, Fortran, C++, and analysis tools.

Why package nerds care

For package people, netcdf is the anchor package in a stack that fans out into HDF5, compression libraries, OPeNDAP/curl support, language bindings, climate tools, and HPC I/O packages. A formula bump can ripple into scientific software because the data model is stable but the feature matrix depends on build options such as HDF5, DAP, zstd, and parallel I/O support.

Timeline

1988: Glenn Davis developed an early Unidata netCDF C prototype layered on XDR.
1988-08: a Unidata workshop agreed on the netCDF interface.
1991-10: netCDF 2.0 was announced.
1997-05: netCDF 3.3 added a type-safe C and Fortran interface.
1998-03: netCDF 3.4 added initial large-file support.
2026-02-25: netCDF-C 4.10.0 was released.
2026-07-01: Homebrew listed stable version 4.10.0 and 90,512 installs over 365 days.

Related projects

netcdf-fortran
netcdf-cxx
netcdf4-python
HDF5
PnetCDF
NCO

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 3 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.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure
`nc-config`	cli	global executable
`nccopy`	cli	global executable
`ncdump`	cli	global executable
`ncgen`	cli	global executable
`ncgen3`	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 version4.10.0

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv4.10.0

https://github.com/Unidata/netcdf-c

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:netcdf
Version	4.10.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/netcdf
Homepage	https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/
Repository	https://github.com/Unidata/netcdf-c
Upstream docs	https://docs.unidata.ucar.edu/netcdf-c/current
License	BSD-3-Clause
Source archive	https://github.com/Unidata/netcdf-c/archive/refs/tags/v4.10.0.tar.gz
Dependencies	hdf5, libaec, zstd
Build dependencies	cmake
Uses from macOS	bzip2, curl, libxml2
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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	netcdf
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head 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%

libnetcdf-dev 1:4.9.3-1

creation, access, and sharing of scientific data

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apt install libnetcdf-dev

Section: libdevel
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: netcdf
5 dependencies
3 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

Debian apt95%

libnetcdf22 1:4.9.3-1

Interface for scientific data access to large binary data

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apt install libnetcdf22

Section: libs
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: netcdf
5 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libnetcdf22 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Debian apt95%

netcdf-bin 1:4.9.3-1

Programs for reading and writing NetCDF files

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apt install netcdf-bin

Section: science
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: netcdf
3 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

Debian apt95%

netcdf-doc 1:4.9.3-1

Documentation for NetCDF

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apt install netcdf-doc

Section: doc
Architecture: all
Source Package: netcdf
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

Nix95%

netcdf

nix profile install nixpkgs#netcdf

normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

Ubuntu apt95%

libnetcdf-dev 1:4.9.2-5ubuntu4

creation, access, and sharing of scientific data

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apt install libnetcdf-dev

Section: universe/libdevel
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: netcdf
5 dependencies
3 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnetcdf-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

libnetcdf19t64 1:4.9.2-5ubuntu4

Interface for scientific data access to large binary data

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apt install libnetcdf19t64

Section: universe/libs
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: netcdf
5 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnetcdf19t64 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

netcdf-bin 1:4.9.2-5ubuntu4

Programs for reading and writing NetCDF files

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apt install netcdf-bin

Section: universe/science
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: netcdf
3 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: netcdf-bin from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

netcdf-doc 1:4.9.2-5ubuntu4

Documentation for NetCDF

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apt install netcdf-doc

Section: universe/doc
Architecture: all
Source Package: netcdf
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: netcdf-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

netcdf 4.10.0-r0

Libraries for the Unidata network Common Data Format

https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apk add netcdf

License: BSD-3-Clause
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: netcdf
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

apk95%

netcdf-dev 4.10.0-r0

Libraries for the Unidata network Common Data Format (development files)

https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apk add netcdf-dev

License: BSD-3-Clause
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: netcdf
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

apk95%

netcdf-doc 4.10.0-r0

Libraries for the Unidata network Common Data Format (documentation)

https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apk add netcdf-doc

License: BSD-3-Clause
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: netcdf
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

apk95%

netcdf-utils 4.10.0-r0

Libraries for the Unidata network Common Data Format

https://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo apk add netcdf-utils

License: BSD-3-Clause
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: netcdf
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

dnf95%

netcdf 4.10.0-3.fc45

Libraries for the Unidata network Common Data Form

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo dnf install netcdf

License: BSD-3-Clause
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: netcdf
16 dependencies
11 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

dnf95%

netcdf-devel 4.10.0-3.fc45

Development files for netcdf

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo dnf install netcdf-devel

License: BSD-3-Clause
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: netcdf
7 dependencies
3 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

dnf95%

netcdf-mpich 4.10.0-3.fc45

NetCDF mpich libraries

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

sudo dnf install netcdf-mpich

License: BSD-3-Clause
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: netcdf
17 dependencies
12 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Netcdf

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

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/netcdf.yml

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

Install netcdf with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, winget, zypper

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Windows

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

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