macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install snowflakelocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install snowflake with Homebrew, apk, apt, Nix, zypper
Pluggable Transport using WebRTC, inspired by Flashproxy. Version 2.14.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-25.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add snowflakeAlpine Linux edge package indexes · snowflake · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install golang-snowflake-devDebian stable package indexes · golang-snowflake-dev · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#snowflakenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/sn/snowflake/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install snowflakeopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · snowflake · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Pluggable Transport using WebRTC, inspired by Flashproxy
Project links
Commands and aliases
- snowflake-broker
- snowflake-client
- snowflake-proxy
- snowflake-server
history
Project history and usage
Tor Snowflake is a censorship-circumvention pluggable transport that uses WebRTC and volunteer proxies to help users connect to Tor where direct access is blocked. It sits in the CLI/package-manager world as both user-facing Tor transport software and a proxy package that volunteers can run from terminals, servers, browsers, or containers.
Project history
The official repository describes Snowflake as a censorship-evasion pluggable transport inspired by Flashproxy. Its code is organized around broker, client, proxy, server, common libraries, and documentation components, reflecting the split between Tor clients, volunteer proxies, and bridge-side infrastructure.
The Tor Project's public Snowflake site explains the user-facing model: censored users route through volunteer proxies in uncensored locations, while WebRTC makes traffic resemble common audio or video calling patterns. The project is part of Tor's pluggable transports family.
Adoption history
Snowflake became a community-operated contribution path for people who cannot or do not want to run a full Tor relay or bridge. Tor's community docs present browser proxy, standalone proxy, Docker, Debian, FreeBSD, Ansible, and source builds as supported setup routes.
The package-manager footprint in the input lists Homebrew, apk, Debian/Ubuntu, Nix, and zypper packages, which shows Snowflake crossing from Tor-specific docs into ordinary Unix package ecosystems.
How it is used
Users run Snowflake through Tor as a client pluggable transport. Volunteers can run a browser extension, a web widget, a standalone Go proxy, a Docker deployment, or packaged services such as Debian's `snowflake-proxy`.
Why package nerds care
Package nerds care because Snowflake turns anti-censorship infrastructure into installable components: separate broker/client/proxy/server binaries, distro packages, reproducible Android build notes, container deployment, and service-management instructions. It is a rare package where installation choices directly affect a public circumvention network.
Timeline
- 2019: Official GitLab project metadata records the current Tor Project repository.
- 2020s: Tor community documentation describes browser, standalone, Docker, Debian, FreeBSD, Ansible, and source installation paths.
- 2026: The official GitLab project remains active according to repository metadata.
Related projects
- Related Tor circumvention tools include Flashproxy, meek, obfs4, WebTunnel, Tor Browser, and the pluggable transports specification.
Sources
- https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/snowflake/
- https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/snowflake/standalone/
- https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/snowflake/standalone/debian/
- https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/anti-censorship/pluggable-transports/snowflake
- https://snowflake.torproject.org/
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:client,server
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 1 build 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
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
snowflake-broker | cli | global executable | |
snowflake-client | cli | global executable | |
snowflake-proxy | cli | global executable | |
snowflake-server | cli | global 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 version2.14.1
manager updated2026-06-25
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.torproject.orgnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:snowflake |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.14.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/snowflake |
| Homepage | https://www.torproject.org |
| Repository | https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/anti-censorship/pluggable-transports/snowflake |
| Upstream docs | https://community.torproject.org/relay/setup/snowflake |
| License | BSD-3-Clause |
| Source archive | https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/anti-censorship/pluggable-transports/snowflake/-/archive/v2.14.1/snowflake-v2.14.1.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-25T20:07:27Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | go |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | snowflake |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
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%
golang-snowflake-dev 2.5.1-1
WebRTC pluggable transport for Tor (library)
https://snowflake.torproject.org
sudo apt install golang-snowflake-dev- Section: golang
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: snowflake
- 13 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
Debian apt95%
snowflake-client 2.5.1-1+b16
WebRTC pluggable transport for Tor (client)
https://snowflake.torproject.org
sudo apt install snowflake-client- Section: golang
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: snowflake
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
Debian apt95%
snowflake-proxy 2.5.1-1+b16
WebRTC pluggable transport for Tor (proxy)
https://snowflake.torproject.org
sudo apt install snowflake-proxy- Section: golang
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: snowflake
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
Nix95%
snowflake
nix profile install nixpkgs#snowflake- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
Ubuntu apt95%
golang-snowflake-dev 2.5.1-1build1
WebRTC pluggable transport for Tor (library)
https://snowflake.torproject.org
sudo apt install golang-snowflake-dev- Section: universe/golang
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: snowflake
- 13 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
Ubuntu apt95%
snowflake-client 2.5.1-1build1
WebRTC pluggable transport for Tor (client)
https://snowflake.torproject.org
sudo apt install snowflake-client- Section: universe/golang
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: snowflake
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
Ubuntu apt95%
snowflake-proxy 2.5.1-1build1
WebRTC pluggable transport for Tor (proxy)
https://snowflake.torproject.org
sudo apt install snowflake-proxy- Section: universe/golang
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: snowflake
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
apk95%
snowflake 2.13.1-r1
Pluggable Transport for Tor using WebRTC - meta package
https://snowflake.torproject.org/
sudo apk add snowflake- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: snowflake
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
apk95%
snowflake-client 2.13.1-r1
Pluggable Transport for Tor using WebRTC - client
https://snowflake.torproject.org/
sudo apk add snowflake-client- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: snowflake
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
apk95%
snowflake-client-doc 2.13.1-r1
Pluggable Transport for Tor using WebRTC - client (man page)
https://snowflake.torproject.org/
sudo apk add snowflake-client-doc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: snowflake
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
apk95%
snowflake-doc 2.13.1-r1
Pluggable Transport for Tor using WebRTC (documentation)
https://snowflake.torproject.org/
sudo apk add snowflake-doc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: snowflake
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
apk95%
snowflake-proxy 2.13.1-r1
Pluggable Transport for Tor using WebRTC - proxy
https://snowflake.torproject.org/
sudo apk add snowflake-proxy- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: snowflake
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
apk95%
snowflake-proxy-doc 2.13.1-r1
Pluggable Transport for Tor using WebRTC - proxy (man page)
https://snowflake.torproject.org/
sudo apk add snowflake-proxy-doc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: snowflake
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
apk95%
snowflake-proxy-openrc 2.13.1-r1
Pluggable Transport for Tor using WebRTC - proxy (OpenRC init scripts)
https://snowflake.torproject.org/
sudo apk add snowflake-proxy-openrc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: snowflake
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
zypper95%
snowflake 2.11.0-1.4
Pluggable Transport using WebRTC, inspired by Flashproxy.
https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/anti-censorship/pluggable-transports/snowflake
sudo zypper install snowflake- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: snowflake
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Snowflake
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.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
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