# Install orbiton with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, pacman Fast and config-free text editor and IDE limited by VT100. Version 2.74.4 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-18. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:orbiton ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install orbiton ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install orbiton ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: editors/orbiton/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#orbiton ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/or/orbiton/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S orbiton ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: orbiton from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:orbiton - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.74.4 - **Source summary:** Fast and config-free text editor and IDE limited by VT100 - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-3-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-18T16:34:38Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - o (cli) - obuild (cli) - osudo (cli) - vs (cli) - o (alias) - obuild (alias) - osudo (alias) - vs (alias) ## Build dependencies - go ## 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: 2.74.4 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-18 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/xyproto/orbiton - Upstream latest detected: v2.74.4 (current) ## Project history and usage Orbiton is a terminal text editor and small IDE distributed mainly as the `o` executable. Its project page emphasizes a configuration-free, portable, open-source editor limited by VT100, while the README describes its design goals as minimal annoyance, almost no configuration, and fast edit-format-compile-run cycles. ### Project history Orbiton is developed by Alexander F. Rodseth under the `xyproto` GitHub account. The README says the editor has been the author's main editor since early 2022 and is mostly written in itself, after some early NeoVim use. The project evolved from a focused terminal editor into a compact IDE-like tool. The README documents features including syntax highlighting, build and format commands, git commit-message behavior, Markdown table support, LSP support, a simple gdb and delve frontend, image preview, man-page viewing, and helper executables such as `osudo`. ### Adoption history Public adoption evidence is modest but visible through package-manager inclusion. The package metadata in this batch records Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, and Arch packaging, and the upstream README includes a packaging-status badge and installation paths through Go releases and packaged binaries. ### How it is used Developers use Orbiton as a fast terminal editor for commit messages, Markdown, configuration files, source files, man pages, and quick compile cycles. The README explicitly documents setting `git config --global core.editor o` and using `MANPAGER=o` for man-page viewing. Orbiton's constraints are part of its identity: it edits one file at a time by design, expects a terminal with `/dev/tty`, avoids broad user configuration, and targets users who prefer a self-contained terminal tool over a highly programmable editor. ### Why package nerds care Orbiton is interesting as a packaged editor because it compresses editor, formatter, build runner, debugger frontend, man viewer, and small admin helpers into a single small terminal-oriented tool. It also represents a recurring packaging niche: opinionated, low-dependency alternatives to Vim, Emacs, Nano, and GUI editors for rescue images, live systems, and developer shells. ### Timeline - 2022: The README says Orbiton became the author's main editor in early 2022. - 2026: The README describes a mature v2 branch with release binaries, Go installation instructions, helper executables, LSP support, and debugger integration. ### Related projects - Orbiton is closely related to `github.com/xyproto/vt100`, the terminal package it uses. Its README positions it among terminal editors and lightweight IDE tools rather than as a Vim or Emacs configuration framework. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for orbiton. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL. ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** orbiton - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - orbiton: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/or/orbiton/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman - orbiton - 2.74.3-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: orbiton from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Configuration-free text editor and IDE | https://roboticoverlords.org/orbiton/ - MacPorts - orbiton: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: editors/orbiton/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Nix - obuild: installed executable or alias match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ob/obuild/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/go/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [ex-vi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ex-vi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. - [micro](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/micro/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. - [msedit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/msedit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. - [nano](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nano/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. - [jed](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jed/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, text-editor. - [kakoune](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kakoune/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, text-editor. - [macvim](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/macvim/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, text-editor. - [mle](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mle/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/orbiton.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/orbiton.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