macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install x3270local Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install x3270MacPorts ports tree · x11/x3270/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install x3270 with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper
IBM 3270 terminal emulator for the X Window System and Windows. Version 4.5ga5 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-04.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install x3270Debian stable package indexes · x3270 · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install x3270Fedora Rawhide package metadata · x3270 · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#x3270nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/x3/x3270/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install x3270openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · x3270 · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
IBM 3270 terminal emulator for the X Window System and Windows
Project links
Commands and aliases
- b3270
- c3270
- pr3287
- prtodir
- s3270
- tcl3270
- x3270if
history
Project history and usage
x3270 is a family of IBM 3270 terminal emulators and related tools for Unix-like systems and Windows. It connects modern desktops, terminals, and scripts to IBM mainframe sessions over TELNET/TN3270/TN3270E, preserving the block-mode terminal model used by 3270 applications.
The package is historically anchored by Paul Mattes, who has modified and extended x3270 since version 3.1 in 1993 and remains the maintainer identified by the project site. Over time the name came to cover not only the X11 GUI emulator but also console, scripting, Tcl, printer, Windows, and backend variants.
Project history
IBM 3270 terminals were not character-at-a-time Unix terminals; they were display stations for mainframe applications that exchanged structured screens with the host. x3270 brought that interaction model to the X Window System, allowing users on Unix workstations to reach mainframe applications without physical 3270 hardware.
Paul Mattes' long stewardship turned x3270 into a suite. The project site lists x3270 for X displays, c3270 for curses terminals, wc3270 and wx3270 for Windows, s3270 and tcl3270 for screen-scraping and scripted automation, and pr3287 for printer emulation. GitHub mirrors the same shape with separate directories for the family members.
Adoption history
x3270's adoption lives in the durable mainframe niche: banks, governments, universities, enterprises, retrocomputing, and Hercules-based hobbyist systems still need 3270-compatible access. SourceForge describes it as a suite with full 3278/3279/3287 TN3270E emulation, DBCS support, IND$FILE file transfer, SSL, and scripting.
The project has persisted because mainframe interfaces persist. Its package value is not fashion; it is compatibility. Users need predictable keyboard maps, host-codepage handling, file transfer, printer sessions, scripted screen automation, and command-line variants that can run in terminals or batch jobs.
How it is used
Interactive users run `x3270` for an X11 GUI or `c3270` in a terminal to connect to a host and operate 3278/3279-style sessions. Windows users have corresponding graphical and console versions, while `pr3287` handles printer emulation.
Automation users run `s3270`, `tcl3270`, or helper interfaces such as `x3270if` to drive host screens programmatically. That screen-scraping role is a major part of x3270's continuing relevance because many mainframe workflows expose stable terminal screens rather than modern APIs.
Why package nerds care
x3270 is package-nerd significant because it is an old-school compatibility tool that remains live. It packages a whole protocol and terminal family into small executables whose names encode their frontends: X11, curses, scripting, Tcl, printer, and Windows variants.
It is also a useful reminder that 'networking' packages are not only HTTP clients and cloud CLIs. TN3270E, IND$FILE, 3278/3279 displays, and 3287 printers are still operational infrastructure for people who maintain or automate mainframe systems.
Timeline
- 1993: Paul Mattes begins modifying and extending x3270 from version 3.1.
- 2000s-2010s: The x3270 family expands across X11, curses, Windows, scripting, Tcl, and printer-emulation variants.
- 2020-03-17: The x3270 Wiki is launched as a frequently updated documentation home.
- 2026-04-01: SourceForge lists recent project activity, reflecting continued maintenance.
- 2026: The GitHub repository presents x3270 as a family of IBM 3270 emulators with thousands of commits and many tagged releases.
Related projects
- c3270 is the curses terminal frontend in the x3270 family.
- s3270 and tcl3270 are the automation and scripting-oriented members of the family.
- wc3270 and wx3270 are Windows-oriented members.
- pr3287 provides IBM 3287 printer emulation.
- Hercules is a common mainframe-emulator environment where 3270 emulators are used.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 2 runtime dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
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
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
~/.x3270pro~/.Xdefaults
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
b3270 | cli | global executable | |
c3270 | cli | global executable | |
pr3287 | cli | global executable | |
prtodir | cli | global executable | |
s3270 | cli | global executable | |
tcl3270 | cli | global executable | |
x3270if | 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 generated2026-07-08
manager version4.5ga5
manager updated2026-06-04
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://x3270.bgp.nu/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:x3270 |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.5ga5 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/x3270 |
| Homepage | https://x3270.bgp.nu/ |
| Repository | https://sourceforge.net/p/x3270/code/ci/master/tree |
| Upstream docs | https://x3270.bgp.nu/documentation.html |
| License | BSD-3-Clause |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/x3270/x3270/4.5ga5/suite3270-4.5ga5-src.tgz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-04T05:02:46Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | openssl@3, readline |
| Uses from macOS | expat, ncurses |
| 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 | x3270 |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
x3270 4.3ga10-5
X11 program for telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install x3270- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 7 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: X3270
Nix95%
x3270
nix profile install nixpkgs#x3270- normalized package name match
- Matched by: X3270
Ubuntu apt95%
x3270 4.1ga10-1.1build2
X11 program for telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install x3270- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 7 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: X3270
dnf95%
x3270 4.5ga5-1.fc45
An X Window System based IBM 3278/3279 terminal emulator
https://x3270.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page
sudo dnf install x3270- License: BSD-3-Clause AND HPND-sell-variant AND MIT AND Apache-2.0
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: x3270
- 7 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: X3270
dnf95%
x3270-text 4.5ga5-1.fc45
IBM 3278/3279 terminal emulator for text mode
https://x3270.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page
sudo dnf install x3270-text- License: BSD-3-Clause AND HPND-sell-variant AND MIT AND Apache-2.0
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: x3270
- 8 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: X3270
dnf95%
x3270-x11 4.5ga5-1.fc45
IBM 3278/3279 terminal emulator for the X Window System
https://x3270.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page
sudo dnf install x3270-x11- License: BSD-3-Clause AND HPND-sell-variant AND MIT AND Apache-2.0
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: x3270
- 11 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: X3270
zypper95%
x3270 4.5-1.3
A Family of IBM 3270 Terminal Emulators
sudo zypper install x3270- License: MIT
- Category: System/X11/Terminals
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: x3270
- 15 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: X3270
MacPorts95%
x3270
sudo port install x3270- normalized package name match
- Matched by: X3270
MacPorts94%
c3270
sudo port install c3270- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: C3270
Debian apt92%
b3270 4.3ga10-5
Backend tool for telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install b3270- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 4 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: B3270
Debian apt92%
c3270 4.3ga10-5
Curses program for telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install c3270- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 5 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: C3270
Debian apt92%
pr3287 4.3ga10-5
IBM 3287 printer emulation for telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install pr3287- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pr3287
Debian apt92%
s3270 4.3ga10-5
Program for scripted telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install s3270- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: S3270
Debian apt92%
tcl3270 4.3ga10-5
Program for Tcl-scripted telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install tcl3270- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 4 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Tcl3270
Ubuntu apt92%
b3270 4.1ga10-1.1build2
Backend tool for telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install b3270- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 4 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: B3270
Ubuntu apt92%
c3270 4.1ga10-1.1build2
Curses program for telnet sessions to IBM mainframes
sudo apt install c3270- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: ibm-3270
- 5 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: C3270
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.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment