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brew

Install otf2bdf with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, zypper

OpenType to BDF font converter. Version 3.1_p1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-25.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install otf2bdf

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add otf2bdf

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · otf2bdf · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install otf2bdf

Debian stable package indexes · otf2bdf · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install otf2bdf

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · otf2bdf · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#otf2bdf

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ot/otf2bdf/package.nix · source: api.github.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install otf2bdf

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · otf2bdf · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

OpenType to BDF font converter

Commands and aliases

  • otf2bdf

history

Project history and usage

otf2bdf is a small C command-line utility for turning OpenType or TrueType outline fonts into BDF bitmap fonts. Its practical niche is old-school X11 and bitmap-font workflows that still need generated BDF files at specific point sizes, resolutions, encodings, or XLFD names.

Project history

The upstream README identifies version 3.1 and credits Mark Leisher of the Computing Research Lab at New Mexico State University. Its changelog shows the program lineage beginning at version 1.0 and evolving through fixes for glyph counts, XLFD naming, mapping tables, metrics, and platform build issues.

Version 3.0 was the major identity change: the changelog says it converted the old ttf2bdf lineage to FreeType 2, changed the name to otf2bdf, and renamed BDF properties from TTF-oriented names to OTF-oriented names. Version 3.1, dated 22 May 2008 in the README, focused on build fixes and glyph bitmap correctness.

Adoption history

The tool survived mainly through distribution packaging and mirrors. Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Homebrew, and other package systems carry otf2bdf as a compact font-conversion utility rather than as a broad application platform.

Fedora and ManKier package descriptions emphasize the same historical distinction: otf2bdf is essentially ttf2bdf updated for FreeType 2, plus bug fixes and an option to print encoding tables from the font.

How it is used

Users run otf2bdf on a font file and direct the generated BDF to stdout or an output path. The man page documents controls for point size, horizontal and vertical DPI, output filename, platform and encoding IDs, spacing, foundry/typeface/weight/slant/width names, glyph subsets, and remapping files.

That option surface makes otf2bdf useful when a generated bitmap font must match X11 naming and encoding expectations, not merely when a font needs to be rasterized once.

Why package nerds care

otf2bdf is package-nerd catnip because it packages a narrow compatibility bridge: modern outline fonts in, plain-text BDF bitmap fonts out. It is also a reminder that package ecosystems keep tiny format converters alive long after their upstream web pages and original desktop contexts fade.

Timeline

  • Version 1.0: The changelog records the initial release of the ttf2bdf lineage.
  • Version 3.0: The project moved to FreeType 2, took the otf2bdf name, and changed generated BDF properties to OTF naming.
  • 22 May 2008: The README identifies version 3.1, adding FreeType include fixes and other build and bitmap-generation corrections.

Related projects

  • otf2bdf is closely related to ttf2bdf, FreeType 2, BDF bitmap font editors such as gbdfed, and X11 font naming and bitmap-font workflows.

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 8 platform targets.
  • Installs with 1 runtime 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

CommandKindExposureNote
otf2bdfcliglobal 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 version3.1_p1
manager updated2026-06-25
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/jirutka/otf2bdf

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:otf2bdf
Version3.1_p1
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/otf2bdf
Homepagehttps://github.com/jirutka/otf2bdf
Repositoryhttps://github.com/jirutka/otf2bdf
Upstream docshttps://github.com/jirutka/otf2bdf#readme
LicenseMIT
Source archivehttps://github.com/jirutka/otf2bdf/archive/refs/tags/v3.1_p1.tar.gz
Last updated2026-06-25T13:38:00+02:00
Pulseupdated
Dependenciesfreetype
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Nameotf2bdf
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • 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%

otf2bdf 3.1-4.1+b1

generate BDF bitmap fonts from OpenType outline fonts

http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/

sudo apt install otf2bdf
  • Section: utils
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: otf2bdf
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Otf2bdf
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: otf2bdf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

otf2bdf

nix profile install nixpkgs#otf2bdf
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Otf2bdf
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ot/otf2bdf/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

otf2bdf 3.1-4.1

generate BDF bitmap fonts from OpenType outline fonts

http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/

sudo apt install otf2bdf
  • Section: universe/utils
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Otf2bdf
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: otf2bdf from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

otf2bdf 3.1_p1-r0

OpenType to BDF Converter

http://sofia.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/

sudo apk add otf2bdf
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: otf2bdf
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Otf2bdf
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: otf2bdf from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

otf2bdf-doc 3.1_p1-r0

OpenType to BDF Converter (documentation)

http://sofia.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/

sudo apk add otf2bdf-doc
  • License: MIT
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: otf2bdf
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Otf2bdf
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: otf2bdf-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

otf2bdf 3.1-32.fc44

Generate BDF bitmap fonts from OpenType outline fonts

http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/

sudo dnf install otf2bdf
  • License: MIT
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: otf2bdf
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Otf2bdf
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: otf2bdf from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

otf2bdf 3.1-1.3

Conversion utility for OpenType outline fonts to BDF bitmap fonts

https://github.com/jirutka/otf2bdf

sudo zypper install otf2bdf
  • License: MIT
  • Category: System/X11/Utilities
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: otf2bdf
  • 2 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Otf2bdf
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: otf2bdf from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

Related tools

  • freetypeRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • psftoolsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, fonts, media.
  • eot-utilsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, fonts, media, opentype.
  • convertlitShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media.
  • fig2devShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media.
  • font-utilShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, fonts, media.
  • fontconfigShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, fonts, media.

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.

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