# Install unp with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix, pacman Unpack everything with one command. Version 2.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:unp ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install unp ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install unp ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: archivers/unp/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install unp ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: unp from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#unp ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/un/unp/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S unp ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: unp from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:unp - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.0 - **Source summary:** Unpack everything with one command - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-only - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - ucat (cli) - unp (cli) - ucat (alias) - unp (alias) ## Dependencies - p7zip ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on all ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 2.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/unp - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage unp is a Perl command-line wrapper that chooses the right unpacking tool for an archive. Its own source says it runs the correct unpack program depending on filename extension or, where possible, file contents; the same script also provides `ucat`, a cat-like mode for compressed contents. ### Project history The current script credits the original `unp` to Andre Karwath in 1997 and the modern 1.x/2.x UI to Eduard Bloch from 2000-2009. Debian's changelog records an initial Debian release as `unp` 0.0.1-1 on 2000-03-09 and a 1.0.0 upstream release on 2000-06-04. The package evolved as archive formats and backend tools changed. The changelog records additions for CAB, ACE, TNEF, uuencode, MIME, hqx/binhex, afio, lzop, unzoo, ppmd, 7z, jar/war/ear, lzma, xz, zstd, InnoSetup, Nullsoft/7zip-based self-extracting archives, ISO images, and experimental InstallShield cabinet support through unshield. ### Adoption history The supplied package metadata shows `unp` packaged across Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, Nix, Arch/pacman, and other Unix-like package sets. Its long Debian changelog also shows the kind of maintenance trail common to small utility packages: dependency changes, backend recommendations, shell-completion fixes, translations, security quoting fixes, and compatibility with changing archive tools. ### How it is used The script's help text presents the normal workflow: pass one or more compressed files to `unp`, optionally use helper modes such as `-u` or `-U` to unpack into a directory, pass backend arguments after `--`, list supported formats with `-s`, or use `--dry-run` to print the calculated commands. `ucat` is the related streaming mode: it uncompresses multiple file contents to standard output, acting as a wrapper around zcat, bzcat, and similar tools. ### Why package nerds care unp is package-nerd comfort food: a tiny wrapper whose entire point is to hide the messy zoo of archive commands behind one predictable verb. It matters less as a new compression implementation and more as glue over the installed ecosystem of unpackers, recommendations, alternatives, shell completions, and distribution policy. The 2024 2.0 changelog entry is still about the same practical niche: switching the default recommendation toward 7zip, adding dry-run mode, generating bash completion at build time, fixing extension mappings, and adding experimental InstallShield handling via unshield. ### Timeline - 1997: Current source credits Andre Karwath's original `unp`. - 2000: Debian changelog records `unp` 0.0.1-1 and 1.0.0-1. - 2004: `ucat` is added as a zcat/bzcat-style wrapper. - 2010: 2.0 preview is described as a rewrite from scratch with `ucat` multicall use and bash completion. - 2023: 2.0 pre-release adds zstd, InnoSetup, Nullsoft installer, ISO, and 7zip-based support. - 2024: 2.0 adds dry-run mode, 7zip recommendation changes, completion generation, and experimental InstallShield cabinet support via unshield. ### Related projects - unp delegates to many archive utilities rather than replacing them. Related tools and formats named in the upstream changelog and script include tar, gzip, bzip2, xz, lzma, zstd, 7zip, unrar/lhasa, cabextract, unshield, InnoSetup extractors, and `ucat` as its companion command. ### Sources - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## 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:** unp - **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 - unp - 2.0: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: unp from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | unpack (almost) everything with one command - Nix - unp: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/un/unp/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - unp - 2.0: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: unp from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | unpack (almost) everything with one command - pacman - unp - 1:2.0-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: unp from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A script for unpacking a wide variety of archive formats | https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/unp - MacPorts - unp: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: archivers/unp/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Archive and compression packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/archive-compression-tools/) - Matched archive or compression 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. - [p7zip](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/p7zip/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [unar](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/unar/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: archive-utilities, cli, compression, system. - [atool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/atool/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, perl, system. - [cabextract](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cabextract/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: archive-extraction, cli, compression, system. - [unzip](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/unzip/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: archive-extraction, cli, compression, system. - [afsctool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/afsctool/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, system. - [borgbackup](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/borgbackup/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, system. - [clzip](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/clzip/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compression, system. - [convmv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/convmv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, perl, system. - [debianutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/debianutils/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, system, utilities. - [fakeroot](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fakeroot/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, system. - [apt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/apt/) - Both packages touch the same language runtime or ecosystem. Shared terms: cli, perl, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/unp.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/unp.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