# Install libcec with Homebrew, apk, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, apt, zypper Control devices with TV remote control and HDMI cabling. Version 8.1.4 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install cec-utils. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:libcec ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libcec ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libcec ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: multimedia/libcec/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add libcec ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcec from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libcec ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libcec from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/210a2053c8e007daf9ae39c2a21daaed9b2ddd07d63ecffa597050361e73650c-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#libcec ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libcec/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S libcec ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libcec from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install cec-utils ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: cec-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install cec-client ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: cec-client from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libcec - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 8.1.4 - **Source summary:** Control devices with TV remote control and HDMI cabling - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-08-04T22:13:35+00:00 ## Executables - cec-client (cli) - cec-client-8.1.3 (cli) - cecc-client (cli) - cecc-client-8.1.3 (cli) - cec-client (alias) - cec-client-8.1.3 (alias) - cecc-client (alias) - cecc-client-8.1.3 (alias) ## Build dependencies - cmake ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-08-04 - Package-manager version: 8.1.4 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/Pulse-Eight/libcec - Upstream latest detected: libcec-8.1.4 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage libcec is Pulse-Eight's open source HDMI-CEC communication library. It lets computers and media-center applications send and receive Consumer Electronics Control messages over HDMI, usually through Pulse-Eight USB or NUC CEC adapters or through hardware such as the Raspberry Pi. ### Project history Pulse-Eight presents libCEC as an abstraction layer for the HDMI CEC bus: developers can interact with TVs, receivers, and other HDMI devices without implementing vendor-specific handshaking and message quirks themselves. The GitHub README says the library supports Pulse-Eight USB-CEC hardware and other CEC-capable hardware including Raspberry Pi, Exynos SoCs, NXP TDA995x, and Odroid C2. The support documentation describes libcec as the open source library powering all Pulse-Eight CEC adapters, including cec-client, CEC-Tray, Standby Monitor, EventGhost integration, and third-party media-center applications. ### Adoption history libcec's most visible adoption is in media centers. Pulse-Eight says the library is used by popular media-center platforms, and the Kodi wiki documents Kodi's use of libCEC to receive TV-remote commands and send CEC messages over HDMI. That made libcec a common dependency on HTPC, Raspberry Pi, LibreELEC, OSMC, and Kodi-style systems. Distributions package libcec because it is both a hardware enablement library and a useful command-line tool provider. The cec-client utility gives shell scripts and diagnostics direct access to HDMI-CEC traffic, while GUI media centers use the same library for remote-control integration. ### How it is used Users commonly run cec-client to scan the HDMI-CEC bus, send power/input commands, or debug remote-control traffic. Applications link libcec when they need CEC support without handling USB adapter protocols, Raspberry Pi CEC interfaces, or vendor differences directly. ### Why package nerds care libcec is a neat package because it turns a messy living-room hardware protocol into a Unix dependency and CLI. It is also one of the rare Homebrew/Linux packages whose value depends on a physical HDMI topology: the same binary can be boring on a laptop and essential on an HTPC behind a TV. ### Timeline - 2010s: Pulse-Eight developed libCEC around USB and internal HDMI-CEC adapters for HTPC use. - 2018: Kodi wiki page for CEC was updated for Kodi v18 and documented libCEC as Kodi's CEC layer. - 2025-06: Pulse-Eight support documentation listed libcec 7.1.1 as released in June 2025. - 2025-06-23: GitHub release listing shows libcec-7.1.1. ### Related projects - Related projects include Kodi, Plex-style media centers, LibreELEC/OSMC systems, Raspberry Pi firmware and CEC support, Pulse-Eight USB-CEC and NUC adapters, EventGhost, and HDMI-CEC vendor implementations such as Anynet+, Bravia Sync, SimpLink, and VIERA Link. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** libcec - **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 - cec-utils - 7.0.0-1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: cec-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | USB CEC Adaptor communication Library (utility programs) | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - Debian apt - libcec-dev - 7.0.0-1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libcec-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | USB CEC Adaptor communication Library (development files) | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - Debian apt - libcec7 - 7.0.0-1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libcec7 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | USB CEC Adaptor communication Library (shared library) | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - Nix - libcec: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libcec/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - cec-utils - 6.0.2-1ubuntu6: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: cec-utils from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | USB CEC Adaptor communication Library (utility programs) | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - Ubuntu apt - libcec-dev - 6.0.2-1ubuntu6: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libcec-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | USB CEC Adaptor communication Library (development files) | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - Ubuntu apt - libcec6 - 6.0.2-1ubuntu6: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libcec6 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | USB CEC Adaptor communication Library (shared library) | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - Ubuntu apt - python3-cec - 6.0.2-1ubuntu6: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: python3-cec from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Python 3 bindings for USB CEC Adaptor | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - apk - libcec - 7.1.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcec from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | libcec for the Pulse-Eight USB-CEC adapter | https://github.com/Pulse-Eight/libcec - apk - libcec-dev - 7.1.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcec-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | libcec for the Pulse-Eight USB-CEC adapter (development files) | https://github.com/Pulse-Eight/libcec - apk - libcec-tools - 7.1.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcec-tools from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | libcec for the Pulse-Eight USB-CEC adapter (tools) | https://github.com/Pulse-Eight/libcec - apk - py3-libcec - 7.1.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: py3-libcec from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | libcec for the Pulse-Eight USB-CEC adapter | https://github.com/Pulse-Eight/libcec - dnf - libcec - 8.1.3-1.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libcec from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/210a2053c8e007daf9ae39c2a21daaed9b2ddd07d63ecffa597050361e73650c-primary.xml.zst | Library and utilities for HDMI-CEC device control | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - dnf - libcec-devel - 8.1.3-1.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libcec-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/210a2053c8e007daf9ae39c2a21daaed9b2ddd07d63ecffa597050361e73650c-primary.xml.zst | Development files for libcec | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - dnf - python3-libcec - 8.1.3-1.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: python3-libcec from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/210a2053c8e007daf9ae39c2a21daaed9b2ddd07d63ecffa597050361e73650c-primary.xml.zst | Python3 bindings for libcec | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ - pacman - libcec - 7.1.1-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: libcec from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Pulse-Eight's libcec for the Pulse-Eight USB-CEC adapter | http://libcec.pulse-eight.com/ ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://pkg.so/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://pkg.so/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://pkg.so/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Media and graphics packages](https://pkg.so/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [cmake](https://pkg.so/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [openexr](https://pkg.so/brew/openexr/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, library, media. - [imagemagick](https://pkg.so/brew/imagemagick/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, library, media. - [graphite2](https://pkg.so/brew/graphite2/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, library, media. - [libvmaf](https://pkg.so/brew/libvmaf/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, library, media. - [poppler](https://pkg.so/brew/poppler/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, library, media. - [libheif](https://pkg.so/brew/libheif/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, library, media. - [libavif](https://pkg.so/brew/libavif/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, library, media. - [jasper](https://pkg.so/brew/jasper/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, library, media. - [serialosc](https://pkg.so/brew/serialosc/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, control, device, devices, media. - [isponsorblocktv](https://pkg.so/brew/isponsorblocktv/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, client, media, tv. - [libcdio](https://pkg.so/brew/libcdio/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, control, library, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libcec.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/libcec.yml) ## Sources - pkg.so package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - pkgdb category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph