install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install websocat

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install websocat

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

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add websocat

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

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#websocat

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S websocat

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

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%

scoop install main/websocat

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/websocat.json · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Command-line client for WebSockets

Project links

Commands and aliases

websocat

history

Project history and usage

websocat is a Rust command-line WebSocket client and relay tool created by Vitaly "Vi" Shukela. Its own documentation describes it as the WebSocket analogue of netcat, curl, or socat: a small CLI that connects standard input/output, TCP, Unix sockets, subprocesses, and WebSocket endpoints.

Project history

The GitHub repository and crates.io package both date from November 2016, placing websocat in the wave of developer tools that treated RFC 6455 WebSockets as a normal Unix-stream target rather than only a browser API. The project grew around a compact idea: make `ws://` and `wss://` endpoints scriptable from a shell while still supporting more advanced socat-style addressing and overlays.

The reference manual documents three enduring modes: simple client mode, simple server mode, and an advanced mode that connects two address specifications. Later releases kept that model while adding a large address/overlay vocabulary, binary and text handling, subprocess bridging, proxying, TLS/WebSocket options, and server-side use cases.

Adoption history

websocat became a common package-manager tool because it filled the same niche for WebSockets that `curl` fills for HTTP and `nc` fills for TCP: quick inspection, smoke testing, and shell automation. By July 2026, the GitHub repository had more than eight thousand stars, and the crates.io package metadata showed publication continuity from 2016 through the 1.14.x line.

Its README explicitly lists sibling tools such as wscat, websocketd, wstunnel, and wsd, which situates websocat in a small ecosystem of command-line WebSocket utilities. Compared with simpler clients, its package-nerd appeal is the socat-like address system that lets it act as a connector, relay, or miniature protocol adapter.

How it is used

Typical use starts with `websocat wss://example/path` to send terminal lines as WebSocket messages and print replies. The same binary can listen as a WebSocket server, forward between WebSocket and TCP or Unix sockets, or run an external program and connect that process to a WebSocket stream.

Because it is useful in pipelines, CI smoke tests, reverse-proxy debugging, and ad hoc protocol work, websocat is often installed alongside curl, netcat, socat, and jq on developer machines rather than deployed as an application dependency.

Why package nerds care

websocat matters to package-manager users because it turns WebSockets into a first-class shell transport. It is the boring, dependable diagnostic binary people reach for when a browser console, custom script, or full application client would be too much machinery.

Timeline

2016-11: GitHub repository and crates.io package created.
2019: Public issues and examples show users applying websocat to JSON requests, recording output, and WebSocket testing workflows.
2024-11: v1.14.0 release described as the 1.x line nearing sunset while Websocat4 previews began.
2025-12: v1.14.1 maintenance release and v4.0.0 alpha releases published.

Related projects

The README points users toward wstunnel, wscat, websocketd, and wsd as related WebSocket command-line tools. websocat is closest in spirit to socat and netcat because it focuses on connecting endpoints rather than embedding a WebSocket library in an application.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

text:client

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 2 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

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`websocat`	cli	global 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 generated2026-07-25

manager version1.14.1

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv1.14.1

https://github.com/vi/websocat

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:websocat
Version	1.14.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/websocat
Homepage	https://github.com/vi/websocat
Repository	https://github.com/vi/websocat
Upstream docs	https://github.com/vi/websocat#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/vi/websocat/archive/refs/tags/v1.14.1.tar.gz
Build dependencies	pkgconf, rust
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	websocat
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	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.

Nix95%

websocat

nix profile install nixpkgs#websocat

normalized package name match
Matched by: Websocat

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/we/websocat/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

apk95%

websocat 1.14.1-r0

Netcat, curl and socat for WebSockets

https://github.com/vi/websocat

sudo apk add websocat

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: websocat
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Websocat

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: websocat from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

pacman95%

websocat 1.14.1-1

Command-line client for web sockets, like netcat/curl/socat for ws://

https://github.com/vi/websocat/

sudo pacman -S websocat

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
3 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Websocat

Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: websocat from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

MacPorts95%

websocat

sudo port install websocat

normalized package name match
Matched by: Websocat

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: net/websocat/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Scoop95%

main/websocat

scoop install main/websocat

normalized package name match
Matched by: Websocat

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/websocat.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/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.

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.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/websocat.yml

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

Install websocat with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop