# Install open-simh with Homebrew, Nix, scoop, winget, chocolatey, apt, MacPorts, zypper Multi-system computer simulator. Version 3.12-3 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:open-simh ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install open-simh ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install gri ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: science/gri/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#altair ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/al/altair/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install gri ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: gri from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install gri ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gri from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install extras/altair ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/altair.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Extras/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id altair-graphql.altair -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: altair-graphql.altair from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix - Chocolatey (92%): ```sh choco install eclipse ``` Evidence: Chocolatey community package catalog: eclipse from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','dotultimate' ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:open-simh - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.12-3 - **Source summary:** Multi-system computer simulator - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - altair (cli) - eclipse (cli) - gri (cli) - h316 (cli) - i1401 (cli) - i1620 (cli) - i7094 (cli) - id16 (cli) - id32 (cli) - lgp (cli) - pdp1 (cli) - pdp10 (cli) - pdp11 (cli) - pdp15 (cli) - pdp4 (cli) - pdp7 (cli) - pdp8 (cli) - pdp9 (cli) - sds (cli) - uc15 (cli) - vax (cli) - vax780 (cli) - altair (alias) - eclipse (alias) - gri (alias) - h316 (alias) - i1401 (alias) - i1620 (alias) - i7094 (alias) - id16 (alias) - id32 (alias) - lgp (alias) - pdp1 (alias) - pdp10 (alias) - pdp11 (alias) - pdp15 (alias) - pdp4 (alias) - pdp7 (alias) - pdp8 (alias) - pdp9 (alias) - sds (alias) - uc15 (alias) - vax (alias) - vax780 (alias) ## Dependencies - libpng - vde ## Uses from macOS - libedit - libpcap ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 3.12-3 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/open-simh/simh - Upstream latest detected: v3.12-3 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage Open SIMH is the GitHub-hosted Open SIMH stream of SIMH, a framework and family of simulators for historic computer systems. Its package exposes individual simulator binaries for machines such as PDP, VAX, Altair, IBM, Honeywell, Interdata, and Data General systems. ### Project history SIMH was initiated by Bob Supnik and continued by many contributors to preserve the knowledge contained in old software by simulating the hardware on which it ran. Supnik's classic SIMH site describes the goal as publishing portable open-source simulators together with representative software for historically significant systems. A SIMH presentation by Supnik explains that the project began in 1993 after Larry Stewart pointed out that computing's past was being lost. The initial targets were well-documented minicomputers such as the DEC PDP-8, DEC PDP-11, and Data General Nova, with MIMIC from the late 1960s and early 1970s serving as a starting point. Open SIMH's repository README says its code base was taken from a code base maintained by Mark Pizzolato as of 2022-05-12, after which there was no connection between that source and the Open SIMH code base. The Open SIMH site describes a steering-group model for maintaining the simulators and related tools. ### Adoption history SIMH grew from a one-person hobby into an Internet-enabled preservation project. Supnik's presentation says it moved from one code base to a collaborative effort of more than 30 people and became part of a broader ecosystem of collectors, document archivists, simulator writers, restoration projects, and museums. Open SIMH serves users who want a maintained, MIT-style licensed V4 simulator family with GitHub-based collaboration. The classic SIMH site notes that the V4 stream contains substantially enhanced code and additional simulators, while classic V3 remains separately maintained. ### How it is used Users run a specific simulator binary, attach disk or tape images, configure memory and devices, and boot historical operating systems or diagnostics. The Homebrew package's many executables mirror that model: each binary represents a historically distinct machine family rather than a single generic emulator front end. SIMH is used for preservation, education, retrocomputing, and practical replacement of aging systems. Supnik's presentation cites uses beyond hobby work, including PDP-11 operating-system development and replacement VAX platform work in a government software-development setting. ### Why package nerds care Open SIMH is package-nerd rich because it turns a preservation codebase into a pile of executable historical machines. A single formula installs many command names, and the value of the package depends as much on documentation, example software kits, and compatible disk/tape image formats as on the compiled binaries. It also illustrates a rare packaging concern: software preservation packages may care less about speed or modern UI and more about faithful enough behavior to boot old operating systems and expose decades-old assumptions. ### Timeline - 1993: Supnik began SIMH after being prompted to help preserve computing history. - 1996: Supnik's presentation reports six simulators and two host platforms at that stage. - 2004-era presentation snapshot: SIMH had grown to more than two dozen simulated machines and many host platforms. - 2022-05-12: the Open SIMH README identifies the code base point from which Open SIMH was taken. - 2024-07-16: the classic SIMH site lists SIMH V3.12-5 as updated on this date. ### Related projects - Classic SIMH is the 3.x stream maintained on Supnik's trailing-edge.com site. - MIMIC is the older late-1960s and early-1970s simulation system that Supnik names as a starting point. - Hercules, MAME, and CyberCray appear in Supnik's computer-history ecosystem discussion as neighboring simulator projects. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** open-simh - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Conflicts With:** nova-fairwinds, sigma-cli - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - gri: installed executable or alias match | MacPorts ports tree: science/gri/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Debian apt - gri - 2.12.27-1.2+b1: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: gri from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | a language for scientific illustration | http://gri.sourceforge.net/ - Debian apt - gri-el - 2.12.27-1.2: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: gri-el from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Emacs major-mode for gri, a language for scientific graphics | http://gri.sourceforge.net/ - Debian apt - gri-html-doc - 2.12.27-1.2: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: gri-html-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | HTML manual for gri, a language for scientific graphics | http://gri.sourceforge.net/ - Debian apt - gri-pdf-doc - 2.12.27-1.2: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: gri-pdf-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | PostScript manual for gri, a language for scientific graphics | http://gri.sourceforge.net/ - Nix - altair: installed executable or alias match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/al/altair/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - gri - 2.12.27-1.1build2: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gri from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | a language for scientific illustration | http://gri.sourceforge.net/ - Ubuntu apt - gri-el - 2.12.27-1.1build2: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gri-el from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Emacs major-mode for gri, a language for scientific graphics | http://gri.sourceforge.net/ - Ubuntu apt - gri-html-doc - 2.12.27-1.1build2: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gri-html-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | HTML manual for gri, a language for scientific graphics | http://gri.sourceforge.net/ - Ubuntu apt - gri-pdf-doc - 2.12.27-1.1build2: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gri-pdf-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | PostScript manual for gri, a language for scientific graphics | http://gri.sourceforge.net/ - zypper - gri - 2.12.27+git20240405.4d93a4e-1.1: installed executable or alias match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gri from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | A language for scientific illustration | http://gri.sourceforge.net - Chocolatey - eclipse: installed executable or alias match | Chocolatey community package catalog: eclipse from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','dotultimate' - Scoop - extras/altair: installed executable or alias match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/altair.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Extras/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget - altair-graphql.altair: installed executable or alias match | Windows Package Manager source index: altair-graphql.altair from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Related links - [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. - [Game and emulation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/game-emulation-tools/) - Matched game or emulation metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [libpng](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libpng/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [vde](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vde/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [hercules](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hercules/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, system. - [qemu](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/qemu/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulation, emulator, system. - [yaze-ag](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/yaze-ag/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, retrocomputing, system. - [cpmtools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cpmtools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, retrocomputing, system. - [foot](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/foot/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, system. - [lzsa](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lzsa/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, retrocomputing, system. - [rvvm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rvvm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, emulator, system. - [abduco](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abduco/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system. - [nagios](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nagios/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, libpng, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/open-simh.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/open-simh.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