# Install tractorgen with Homebrew Generates ASCII tractor art. Version 0.31.7 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:tractorgen ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install tractorgen ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:tractorgen - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.31.7 - **Source summary:** Generates ASCII tractor art - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - tractorgen (cli) - tractorgen (alias) ## 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: 0.31.7 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://vergenet.net/~conrad/software/tractorgen/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage tractorgen is a deliberately absurd command-line program that generates ASCII tractor art. Its official page treats the joke seriously, framing the program as a contribution to 'ASCII tractor mechanics'. ### Project history The official page says tractorgen was written by Kbert, more as a dare than anything else, with original inspiration from SCOboy asking a dumb question. The page preserves the entire project in the style of old Unix freeware pages: introduction, news, binaries, source tarballs, packaging notes, changelog, mailing-list link, license, and related work. Unlike many joke programs, tractorgen has a surprisingly detailed package history. The page records Red Hat packages in April 2000, VAX and OpenBSD binaries in September 2000, Windows binaries in March 2002, Debian packages and a web interface in April 2002, a FreeBSD port in December 2002, and migration of sources to GitHub in December 2008. ### Adoption history tractorgen's adoption history is mostly a tour of early-2000s packaging culture. The author page documents community-made binaries and ports across Red Hat, Debian, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, VAX, Windows, and a web interface capable of generating very large tractors. Homebrew later packaged version 0.31.7, keeping the joke installable through a modern package manager. ### How it is used The program's purpose is simply to generate ASCII tractors from a tractor coefficient. The official page notes that it enforces the 'fundamental theorem' that side-on ASCII tractors must have at least four wheels, and that attempts to make smaller tractors cause the program to abort and dump core. ### Why package nerds care tractorgen is package-nerd bait: a tiny gag program with real tarballs, RPM specs, Debian packaging files, FreeBSD port archives, a GPL notice, a GitHub mirror, and a Homebrew formula. It is significant less for utility than for showing how package ecosystems preserve Unix jokes as runnable artifacts. ### Timeline - 2000-04: Red Hat packages announced. - 2000-09: VAX and OpenBSD binaries announced. - 2002-04: Debian packages and a web interface announced. - 2002-12: FreeBSD port announced. - 2008-12: Sources moved to GitHub. - 2008-12: Official page last modified. - 2026: Homebrew formula reports stable version 0.31.7. ### Related projects - init.d/pants, Pat's ASCII Kfish generator, early RPM, Debian, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and Homebrew packaging culture. ### 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:** tractorgen - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## 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. - [Game and emulation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/game-emulation-tools/) - Matched game or emulation metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [asciiquarium](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/asciiquarium/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ascii-art, cli, games, terminal. - [cowsay](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cowsay/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: ascii-art, cli, games, terminal. - [fortune](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fortune/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, terminal. - [trader](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/trader/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, terminal. - [tty-solitaire](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tty-solitaire/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, terminal. - [c2048](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/c2048/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, terminal. - [moon-buggy](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/moon-buggy/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, terminal. - [nsnake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nsnake/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, games, terminal. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/tractorgen.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/tractorgen.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 - cross-ecosystem install command graph