macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install picotoollocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 2814
Install picotool with Homebrew, apt, Nix, zypper
Tool for interacting with RP2040/RP2350 devices and binaries. Version 2.3.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-11. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install picotool.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install picotoolDebian stable package indexes · picotool · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#picotoolnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pi/picotool/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install picotoolopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · picotool · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Tool for interacting with RP2040/RP2350 devices and binaries
Project links
Commands and aliases
- picotool
history
Project history and usage
picotool is Raspberry Pi’s command-line utility for inspecting, converting, loading, saving, verifying, and managing binaries and devices built around RP2040 and RP2350 microcontrollers.
Project history
Raspberry Pi developed picotool for inspecting RP2040 binaries and communicating with devices in BOOTSEL mode. Version 1.1 added interaction with running devices that expose compatible USB stdio support.
Version 2.0 accompanied Pico SDK 2.0 and introduced RP2350-aware operations. Subsequent releases expanded support for partitions, one-time-programmable memory, signing, encryption, embedded block devices, and UF2 manipulation.
Adoption history
picotool is maintained under the Raspberry Pi GitHub organization and is distributed by Homebrew, Debian, Nix, and openSUSE packaging ecosystems.
Its role expanded beyond an optional inspection and flashing utility when Raspberry Pi Pico SDK 2.0 began using picotool for ELF-to-UF2 conversion, replacing the earlier elf2uf2 utility in that workflow.
How it is used
Developers use picotool to inspect ELF and UF2 metadata, load or save flash contents, verify images, reboot boards into or out of BOOTSEL-related modes, convert binaries to UF2, and perform RP2350 OTP and security operations.
Why package nerds care
picotool is both a user-facing board utility and part of the Pico SDK toolchain. Package maintainers care about matching its version and capabilities to Pico SDK and silicon generations, particularly around RP2350 support and binary-format changes.
It provides a native command-line route to tasks often performed through drag-and-drop BOOTSEL storage, making Pico workflows scriptable and suitable for automated development environments.
Timeline
- Version 1.1: Added support for interacting with compatible running RP2040 devices via USB stdio.
- 2022: Version 1.1.0 expanded USB access, loading behavior, and installation support.
- 2024: Version 2.0 added RP2350 support alongside Pico SDK 2.0.
- 2025: Versions 2.1 and 2.2 expanded metadata, partitions, OTP, signing, encryption, and performance.
- 2026: Version 2.3.0 added embedded block-device and UF2-combination commands.
Related projects
- picotool is closely coupled to the Raspberry Pi Pico SDK and the UF2 firmware format. Its build uses libusb for device communication, and its ELF-to-UF2 role superseded the SDK’s earlier elf2uf2 tool.
Sources
- Official build documentation: https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool/blob/master/BUILDING.md
- Official releases: https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool/releases
- Official repository: https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool
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 1 runtime dependencies.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
picotool | 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 generated2026-09-19
manager version2.3.1
manager updated2026-09-11
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detected2.3.0
https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:picotool |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.3.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/picotool |
| Homepage | https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool |
| Repository | https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool |
| License | BSD-3-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool/archive/refs/tags/2.3.0.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-09-11T14:37:25Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | libusb |
| Build dependencies | cmake, pkgconf |
| 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 | picotool |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| 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%
picotool 2.1.1+dfsg-1
interact with RP2040/RP2350 devices or binaries
https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool
sudo apt install picotool- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Picotool
Nix95%
picotool
nix profile install nixpkgs#picotool- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Picotool
zypper95%
picotool 2.1.1-1.5
Tool to inspect RP2040 binaries
https://github.com/raspberrypi/picotool
sudo zypper install picotool- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Development/Tools/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: picotool
- 5 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Picotool
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
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation