# Install proctools with Homebrew, MacPorts OpenBSD and Darwin versions of pgrep, pkill, and pfind. Version 0.4pre1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-19. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:proctools ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install proctools ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install proctools ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/proctools/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:proctools - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.4pre1 - **Source summary:** OpenBSD and Darwin versions of pgrep, pkill, and pfind - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-4-Clause-UC - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-19T12:32:42-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - pfind (cli) - pgrep (cli) - pkill (cli) - pfind (alias) - pgrep (alias) - pkill (alias) ## Build dependencies - bsdmake ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.4pre1 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-19 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://proctools.sourceforge.net/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage proctools is a set of text-based process utilities providing pgrep, pkill, and pfind for OpenBSD and Darwin/Mac OS X. ### Project history The upstream homepage describes proctools as recreating Solaris pgrep and pkill for other operating systems, with the same command-line interface plus additional features. It identifies version 0.4pre1 as current on 07 December 2003. ### Adoption history The supplied package facts show packaging in Homebrew and MacPorts, matching the project's Darwin focus. ### How it is used pgrep prints matching process IDs, pkill sends signals to matching processes, and pfind provides find-like syntax for more precise process matching and interactive signal control. ### Why package nerds care proctools is relevant to package-manager history because it filled a portability gap before pgrep and pkill became common across Unix-like systems, especially for BSD and early Mac OS X users. ### Timeline - Solaris 7: Original pgrep and pkill commands appeared. - 2003: proctools 0.4 added pfind and Darwin support. - 2003-12-07: Upstream homepage lists 0.4pre1 as current. ### Related projects - Solaris pgrep - Solaris pkill - OpenBSD - Darwin - ps - killall ### Sources - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## 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:** proctools - **Aliases:** pgrep, pkill - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Requirements:** macos - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** yes - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - proctools: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/proctools/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## 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. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Matched curated package taxonomy and local package facts. - [bsdmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bsdmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [procps](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/procps/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, processes, system. - [procs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/procs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, processes, system. - [psgrep](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/psgrep/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, processes, system. - [cpulimit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cpulimit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system. - [daemon](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/daemon/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system. - [daemonize](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/daemonize/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system. - [detach](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/detach/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system. - [gruyere](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gruyere/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/proctools.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/proctools.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