# Install timelimit with Homebrew, apt, Nix Limit a process's absolute execution time. Version 1.9.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:timelimit ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install timelimit ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install timelimit ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: timelimit from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#timelimit ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ti/timelimit/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:timelimit - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.9.2 - **Source summary:** Limit a process's absolute execution time - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-2-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - timelimit (cli) - timelimit (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, 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: 1.9.2 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://devel.ringlet.net/sysutils/timelimit/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage timelimit is a small Unix command-line utility that runs another command and terminates it after an absolute time limit, first with a warning signal and then with a kill signal. ### Project history The official homepage presents timelimit as a process-control utility modelled after the staged signalling pattern used by init during shutdown. It is maintained by Peter Pentchev and developed in the official GitLab repository. The release archive on the official site lists timelimit 1.0 and later releases through 1.9.2, with source archives, signatures, and downstream Debian and FreeBSD packaging references. ### Adoption history timelimit entered classic Unix packaging channels because it solves a simple shell problem: bound a command's wall-clock runtime and choose the signals used to stop it. The input package-manager metadata lists Homebrew, Debian, Nix, and Ubuntu, showing cross-platform package adoption beyond its original release archive. The official release page also links historical Debian snapshots and a FreeBSD port for older releases. ### How it is used Typical use is in scripts, tests, batch jobs, and administrative commands where a child process must not run forever. Compared with an ad hoc shell wrapper, timelimit exposes explicit warning and kill stages. Its utility overlaps with timeout-style tools, but the official description emphasizes absolute execution time and configurable signals. ### Why package nerds care timelimit is package-nerd material because it is a tiny command that package managers keep alive for scripting compatibility. It is the kind of Unix utility people install when a shell pipeline needs one sharp behavior and no framework. ### Timeline - 2015: The official GitLab project was created. - 1.0: The official homepage lists timelimit-1.0 as an older release with source archive, Debian package links, and a FreeBSD port. - 1.9.2: The official homepage lists timelimit-1.9.2 as the latest release. ### Related projects - timelimit is related by purpose to POSIX shell process-control patterns and timeout-style command wrappers. ### Sources - - - input.source_facts.package-manager - package-manager availability lists Homebrew, Debian, Nix, and Ubuntu. ## 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:** timelimit - **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 - timelimit - 1.9.2-3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: timelimit from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | simple utility to limit a process's absolute execution time | https://devel.ringlet.net/sysutils/timelimit/ - Nix - timelimit: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ti/timelimit/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - timelimit - 1.9.2-2build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: timelimit from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | simple utility to limit a process's absolute execution time | https://devel.ringlet.net/sysutils/timelimit/ ## 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. - [supervisor](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/supervisor/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-control, process-management, system, unix. - [daemon](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/daemon/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system, unix. - [daemonize](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/daemonize/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system, unix. - [detach](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/detach/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system, unix. - [immortal](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/immortal/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system, unix. - [lockrun](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lockrun/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, process-management, system, unix. - [cpulimit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cpulimit/) - 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. - [procps](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/procps/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, management, process, process-management, system. - [man-db](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/man-db/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, system, unix. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/timelimit.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/timelimit.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