macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install pipewirelocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 853
Install pipewire with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper
Server and user space API to deal with multimedia pipelines. Version 1.6.11 via Homebrew; verified 2026-10-30. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-pipewire.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add pipewireAlpine Linux edge package indexes · pipewire · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install pipewireDebian stable package indexes · pipewire · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install pipewireFedora Rawhide package metadata · pipewire · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#pipewirenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pi/pipewire/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S pipewireArch Linux sync databases · pipewire · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install pipewireopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · pipewire · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Server and user space API to deal with multimedia pipelines
Project links
Commands and aliases
- pipewire
- pipewire-aes67
- pipewire-avb
- pipewire-pulse
- pw-cat
- pw-cli
- pw-config
- pw-container
- pw-dot
- pw-dsdplay
- pw-dump
- pw-encplay
- pw-jack
- pw-link
- pw-loopback
- pw-metadata
- pw-midi2play
- pw-midi2record
- pw-mididump
- pw-midiplay
- pw-midirecord
- pw-mon
- pw-play
- pw-profiler
- pw-record
- pw-reserve
- pw-sysex
- pw-top
- pw-v4l2
- spa-acp-tool
- spa-inspect
- spa-json-dump
history
Project history and usage
PipeWire is a low-level, graph-based Linux multimedia framework for audio, video, and MIDI, designed for low latency, application compatibility, and sandbox-aware device access.
Project history
PipeWire was created by Wim Taymans, a Red Hat engineer and co-creator of GStreamer, to improve Linux audio and video handling.
The project combined a low-latency graph-based processing engine with a multiprocess design and per-object permissions. Its original goals included secure access to multimedia devices from containerized applications and support for workloads previously served separately by PulseAudio and JACK.
PipeWire separates media transport from policy. The server manages the processing graph, while a session manager—typically WirePlumber—discovers devices, applies policy, and links nodes.
Adoption history
PipeWire was designed to support existing PulseAudio, JACK, ALSA, and GStreamer applications while providing a security model suitable for sandboxed software such as Flatpak applications. That compatibility strategy positioned it as a migration layer as well as a new multimedia architecture.
Its packaging across major Linux ecosystems reflects its role as shared desktop infrastructure. WirePlumber commonly supplies the session and policy management that turns the underlying PipeWire graph into a practical desktop audio and video system.
How it is used
Desktop users usually run one PipeWire daemon per user, with applications connecting through native PipeWire or compatibility interfaces.
Use tools such as `pw-cli`, `pw-dump`, `pw-link`, `pw-top`, `pw-play`, and `pw-record` to inspect, connect, monitor, play, or capture graph resources.
Place local overrides in the appropriate `pipewire.conf.d` directory instead of editing distribution-owned configuration files; `pw-config` can show the paths and merged configuration.
Why package nerds care
PipeWire is central to the modern Linux multimedia transition because one graph can serve ordinary desktop audio, professional low-latency JACK workflows, and video-device sharing while preserving compatibility with established application APIs.
For package maintainers and system integrators, PipeWire is a stack rather than just a daemon: compatibility servers, client libraries, plugins, command-line inspection tools, and a session manager must work together. This makes package splits and replacement relationships especially important.
Timeline
- Project origin: Wim Taymans created PipeWire within the freedesktop.org and Red Hat multimedia ecosystem.
- Early design era: Secure video-device sharing and Flatpak integration were primary goals.
- Desktop adoption era: PulseAudio and JACK compatibility made PipeWire suitable as shared Linux audio infrastructure.
- Current architecture: PipeWire commonly operates with WirePlumber as its session and policy manager.
Related projects
- WirePlumber is the commonly used session and policy manager for PipeWire.
- PulseAudio is an established desktop sound-server model whose client protocol and common use cases PipeWire supports.
- JACK is the established professional low-latency audio system whose client applications can be redirected through PipeWire.
- GStreamer shares PipeWire's multimedia ecosystem and has native integration with it.
Sources
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for pipewire. Package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 2 platform targets.
- Installs with 11 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 3 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.
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
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/pipewire/pipewire.conf/etc/pipewire/pipewire.conf/usr/share/pipewire/pipewire.conf$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d//etc/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d//usr/share/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
pipewire | cli | global executable | |
pipewire-aes67 | cli | global executable | |
pipewire-avb | cli | global executable | |
pipewire-pulse | cli | global executable | |
pw-cat | cli | global executable | |
pw-cli | cli | global executable | |
pw-config | cli | global executable | |
pw-container | cli | global executable | |
pw-dot | cli | global executable | |
pw-dsdplay | cli | global executable | |
pw-dump | cli | global executable | |
pw-encplay | cli | global executable | |
pw-jack | cli | global executable | |
pw-link | cli | global executable | |
pw-loopback | cli | global executable | |
pw-metadata | cli | global executable | |
pw-midi2play | cli | global executable | |
pw-midi2record | cli | global executable | |
pw-mididump | cli | global executable | |
pw-midiplay | cli | global executable | |
pw-midirecord | cli | global executable | |
pw-mon | cli | global executable | |
pw-play | cli | global executable | |
pw-profiler | cli | global executable | |
pw-record | cli | global executable | |
pw-reserve | cli | global executable | |
pw-sysex | cli | global executable | |
pw-top | cli | global executable | |
pw-v4l2 | cli | global executable | |
spa-acp-tool | cli | global executable | |
spa-inspect | cli | global executable | |
spa-json-dump | cli | global executable | |
spa-monitor | cli | global executable | |
spa-resample | 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 generated2026-11-04
manager version1.6.11
manager updated2026-10-30
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://pipewire.orgnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:pipewire |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.6.11 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/pipewire |
| Homepage | https://pipewire.org |
| Upstream docs | https://pipewire.org |
| License | MIT AND GPL-2.0-only AND LGPL-2.1-or-later |
| Source archive | https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire/-/archive/1.6.11/pipewire-1.6.11.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-10-30T11:15:13+02:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | alsa-lib, dbus, fftw, glib, libsndfile, ncurses, openssl@4, opus, pulseaudio, readline, systemd |
| Build dependencies | meson, ninja, pkgconf |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, 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 | pipewire |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Requirements |
|
| 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%
gstreamer1.0-pipewire 1.4.2-1
GStreamer 1.0 plugin for the PipeWire multimedia server
sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-pipewire- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 6 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libpipewire-0.3-0t64 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server
sudo apt install libpipewire-0.3-0t64- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libpipewire-0.3-common 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server - common files
sudo apt install libpipewire-0.3-common- Section: libs
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pipewire
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libpipewire-0.3-dev 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server - development
sudo apt install libpipewire-0.3-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libpipewire-0.3-modules 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server - modules
sudo apt install libpipewire-0.3-modules- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 13 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libpipewire-0.3-modules-x11 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server - X11 modules
sudo apt install libpipewire-0.3-modules-x11- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 6 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libspa-0.2-bluetooth 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server - bluetooth plugins
sudo apt install libspa-0.2-bluetooth- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 12 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libspa-0.2-dev 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server Simple Plugin API - development
sudo apt install libspa-0.2-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libspa-0.2-jack 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server - JACK client
sudo apt install libspa-0.2-jack- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libspa-0.2-libcamera 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server - libcamera plugin
sudo apt install libspa-0.2-libcamera- Section: video
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
libspa-0.2-modules 1.4.2-1
libraries for the PipeWire multimedia server Simple Plugin API - modules
sudo apt install libspa-0.2-modules- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 13 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
pipewire 1.4.2-1
audio and video processing engine multimedia server
sudo apt install pipewire- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
pipewire-alsa 1.4.2-1
PipeWire ALSA plugin, for ALSA applications to output via PipeWire
sudo apt install pipewire-alsa- Section: sound
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
pipewire-audio 1.4.2-1
recommended set of PipeWire packages for a standard audio desktop use
sudo apt install pipewire-audio- Section: sound
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pipewire
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
pipewire-audio-client-libraries 1.4.2-1
transitional package for pipewire-alsa and pipewire-jack
sudo apt install pipewire-audio-client-libraries- Section: oldlibs
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pipewire
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
Debian apt95%
pipewire-bin 1.4.2-1
PipeWire multimedia server - programs
sudo apt install pipewire-bin- Section: video
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pipewire
- 9 dependencies
- 3 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pipewire
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 configuration and credential file locations
- 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