# Install tweak with Homebrew, apt, dnf, Nix Command-line, ncurses library based hex editor. Version 3.02 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:tweak ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install tweak ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install tweak ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: tweak from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install tweak ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: tweak from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#tweak ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/tw/tweak/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:tweak - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.02 - **Source summary:** Command-line, ncurses library based hex editor - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - tweak (cli) - tweak (alias) ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## 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: 3.02 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Tweak is Simon Tatham's terminal hex editor for Unix systems. Its distinguishing historical point is not being another small hex viewer, but a hex editor built around efficient editing of large binary files. ### Project history The official Tweak page presents the tool as an ncurses-based Unix hex editor and explains why it was written: it uses a B-tree-based data structure so insertions, cut/copy/paste, and lazy loading can remain fast even for very large files such as disk or CD images. The current public release documented on the official page is Tweak 3.02, with an online man page and a browsable development repository hosted on git.tartarus.org. ### Adoption history Tweak's adoption appears to be modest but durable: it is packaged by Homebrew and several Unix-like distributions, and its appeal is strongest for users who want a console hex editor with insert-mode editing rather than a GUI binary editor. ### How it is used Typical use is `tweak filename` in a terminal to inspect or edit exact binary file contents. The man page highlights uses such as modifying executables, editing disk or CD images, debugging binary file formats, and constructing new files from scratch with insert mode. ### Why package nerds care For package nerds, Tweak is a good example of a small, old-school Unix tool whose implementation detail is the feature: it packages a specialized data structure behind a simple curses interface for binary-file work. It is also a reminder that package managers preserve narrow utilities long after mainstream developer tooling has moved to graphical or IDE-centered workflows. ### Timeline - Pre-2010s: Tweak is published by Simon Tatham as a Unix ncurses hex editor. - Tweak 3.02: Current public release documented on the official project page. - 2010s-2020s: Tweak remains available through Unix package managers including Homebrew and Linux distributions. ### Related projects - Simon Tatham's other free software, especially PuTTY and Halibut, shares the same upstream site and packaging culture. - Other terminal hex editors and binary editors occupy the same niche, but Tweak's official page emphasizes efficient large-file editing through its B-tree design. ### Sources - Official man page: https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/manpage-3.02.html - Official project page: https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/ - Official repository: https://git.tartarus.org/simon/tweak.git ## Security Notes library-like package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - library-like package without higher-risk signals ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: ~/.tweakrc ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** tweak - **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 - tweak - 3.02-6: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: tweak from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Efficient text-mode hex editor | https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/ - Nix - tweak: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/tw/tweak/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - tweak - 3.02-6: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: tweak from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Efficient text-mode hex editor | https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/ - dnf - tweak - 3.02-22.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: tweak from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | An efficient hex editor | http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/ ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [dhex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dhex/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: binary-editing, cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, ncurses. - [ghex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ghex/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, editors, hex-editor. - [ired](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ired/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: binary-editing, cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, terminal. - [bvi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bvi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, terminal. - [hexcurse](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hexcurse/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, ncurses. - [hexedit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hexedit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, terminal. - [hyx](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hyx/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor, terminal. - [hexapoda](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hexapoda/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, hex-editor. - [ipbt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ipbt/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, terminal. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/tweak.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/tweak.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - 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