Automic VaultAutomic Vault

brew

Install tcpflow with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

TCP/IP packet demultiplexer. Version 1.6.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-26.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install tcpflow

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install tcpflow

MacPorts ports tree · net/tcpflow/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add tcpflow

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

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install tcpflow

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

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install tcpflow

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

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#tcpflow

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S tcpflow

Arch Linux sync databases · tcpflow · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install tcpflow

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

overview

Package summary

TCP/IP packet demultiplexer

Commands and aliases

  • tcpflow

history

Project history and usage

tcpflow is a packet-capture and TCP stream reassembly tool that writes each reconstructed flow to files for protocol analysis, debugging, and network forensics.

Project history

The upstream README says Jeremy Elson originally wrote tcpflow to capture data sent by programs using undocumented network protocols, including streaming media and instant messaging applications, so those protocols could be reverse engineered.

The README also records that Simson Garfinkel later took over maintenance after leaving Sandstorm Enterprises and needing a TCP flow reassembly program. The public GitHub repository was created in 2012 and continues as the upstream development home.

Adoption history

tcpflow's README states that most common GNU/Linux distributions ship it in their repositories, and the input package facts show it packaged by Homebrew and major Linux and Unix package systems.

Its niche adoption follows from doing something adjacent to tcpdump and Wireshark but more file-oriented: reconstructing application byte streams into separate artifacts that can be inspected after capture.

How it is used

Common usage is to capture live traffic or read stored tcpdump packet flows, split each TCP direction into a named file, and optionally post-process HTTP responses into headers and bodies.

The README positions it for understanding network packet flows, protocol debugging, malware analysis from HTTP sessions, and forensic workflows.

Why package nerds care

Package nerds care because tcpflow sits in the pcap toolchain but exposes a different abstraction: not packets, but reconstructed conversations. That makes it useful as a small dependency-free-ish CLI companion to tcpdump in forensic and debugging toolboxes.

It is also a packaging case study in older network tooling modernized over time, with libpcap, OpenSSL/zlib-style dependencies, autotools, CMake notes, RPM building instructions, and active distribution packaging all visible in upstream docs.

Timeline

  • 1998: Sandstorm Enterprises founded, later producing related commercial TCP flow tools TCPDEMUX and NetIntercept.
  • 2012: simsong/tcpflow GitHub repository created.
  • 2013: Upstream README recommends citing the Naval Postgraduate School technical report on tcpflow.
  • 2020: Maintainer status report describes porting tcpflow and related libraries to modern C++.

Related projects

  • tcpdump and libpcap are related because tcpflow can process tcpdump packet flows and uses the LBL Packet Capture Library.
  • Wireshark is mentioned upstream as a contrasting packet analyzer; TCPDEMUX and NetIntercept are named as related commercial flow tools.

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 6 platform targets.
  • Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
  • 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

CommandKindExposureNote
tcpflowcliglobal 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 version1.6.1
manager updated2026-04-26
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:tcpflow
Version1.6.1
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/tcpflow
Homepagehttps://github.com/simsong/tcpflow
Repositoryhttps://github.com/simsong/tcpflow
Upstream docshttps://github.com/simsong/tcpflow#readme
LicenseGPL-3.0-only
Source archivehttps://corp.digitalcorpora.org/downloads/tcpflow/tcpflow-1.6.1.tar.gz
Last updated2026-04-26T22:28:28Z
Pulseupdated
Dependenciesopenssl@4
Build dependenciesboost
Uses from macOSbzip2, libpcap
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Nametcpflow
Version Scheme0
Revision1
Head VersionHEAD
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • head
  • 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%

tcpflow 1.6.1-3+b1

TCP flow recorder

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo apt install tcpflow
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: tcpflow
  • 8 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: tcpflow from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

tcpflow-nox 1.6.1-3+b1

TCP flow recorder - version without X11 dependencies

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo apt install tcpflow-nox
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: tcpflow
  • 7 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: tcpflow-nox from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

tcpflow

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

tcpflow 1.6.1-3build2

TCP flow recorder

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo apt install tcpflow
  • Section: universe/net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 8 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: tcpflow from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

tcpflow-nox 1.6.1-3build2

TCP flow recorder - version without X11 dependencies

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo apt install tcpflow-nox
  • Section: universe/net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: tcpflow
  • 7 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: tcpflow-nox from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

tcpflow 1.6.1-r14

A Tool for monitoring, capturing and storing TCP connections flows

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo apk add tcpflow
  • License: GPL-3.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: tcpflow
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: tcpflow from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

tcpflow-doc 1.6.1-r14

A Tool for monitoring, capturing and storing TCP connections flows (documentation)

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo apk add tcpflow-doc
  • License: GPL-3.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: tcpflow
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: tcpflow-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

tcpflow 1.6.2-0.1.8d47b53.fc45

Network traffic recorder

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo dnf install tcpflow
  • License: GPL-1.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: tcpflow
  • 9 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: tcpflow from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
pacman95%

tcpflow 1.6.1-2

Captures data transmitted as part of TCP connections then stores the data conveniently

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo pacman -S tcpflow
  • License: GPL
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: tcpflow from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
zypper95%

tcpflow 1.6.1-2.15

Program for capturing and collecting TCP streams

https://github.com/simsong/tcpflow

sudo zypper install tcpflow
  • License: GPL-3.0-or-later
  • Category: Productivity/Networking/Diagnostic
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: tcpflow
  • 6 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: tcpflow from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
MacPorts95%

tcpflow

sudo port install tcpflow
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tcpflow
MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: net/tcpflow/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

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

Related tools

  • openssl@4Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • httpflowShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, packet-analysis, packet-capture.
  • miruoShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, packet-analysis, tcp.
  • sngrepShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, packet-analysis, packet-capture.
  • tcpdumpShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, packet-analysis, packet-capture.
  • tcpsplitShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, packet-analysis, tcp.
  • httpryShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, packet-analysis.

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