# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:otf2bdf ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install otf2bdf ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add otf2bdf ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: otf2bdf from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install otf2bdf ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: otf2bdf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install otf2bdf ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: otf2bdf 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#otf2bdf ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ot/otf2bdf/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install otf2bdf ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: otf2bdf from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:otf2bdf - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.1_p1 - **Source summary:** OpenType to BDF font converter - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-25T13:38:00+02:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - otf2bdf (cli) - otf2bdf (alias) ## Dependencies - freetype ## 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: 3.1_p1 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-25 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/jirutka/otf2bdf - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## 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. ### 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:** otf2bdf - **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 - otf2bdf - 3.1-4.1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: otf2bdf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | generate BDF bitmap fonts from OpenType outline fonts | http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/ - Nix - otf2bdf: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ot/otf2bdf/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - otf2bdf - 3.1-4.1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: otf2bdf from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | generate BDF bitmap fonts from OpenType outline fonts | http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/ - apk - otf2bdf - 3.1_p1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: otf2bdf from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | OpenType to BDF Converter | http://sofia.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/ - apk - otf2bdf-doc - 3.1_p1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: otf2bdf-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | OpenType to BDF Converter (documentation) | http://sofia.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/ - dnf - otf2bdf - 3.1-32.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: otf2bdf from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Generate BDF bitmap fonts from OpenType outline fonts | http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~mleisher/Software/otf2bdf/ - zypper - otf2bdf - 3.1-1.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: otf2bdf from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Conversion utility for OpenType outline fonts to BDF bitmap fonts | https://github.com/jirutka/otf2bdf ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [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. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [freetype](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/freetype/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [psftools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/psftools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, fonts, media. - [eot-utils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/eot-utils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, fonts, media, opentype. - [convertlit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/convertlit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [fig2dev](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fig2dev/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [font-util](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/font-util/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, fonts, media. - [fontconfig](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fontconfig/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, fonts, media. - [fontforge](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fontforge/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, fonts, media. - [libemf2svg](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libemf2svg/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, conversion, freetype, media. - [libwmf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libwmf/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, conversion, freetype, media. - [pdf2json](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pdf2json/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, conversion, converter, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/otf2bdf.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/otf2bdf.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