macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install rxvt-unicodelocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install rxvt-unicodeMacPorts ports tree · x11/rxvt-unicode/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew / rank 5873
Install rxvt-unicode with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Rxvt fork with Unicode support. Version 9.31 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-13. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install rxvt-unicode.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add rxvt-unicodeAlpine Linux edge package indexes · rxvt-unicode · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install rxvt-unicodeDebian stable package indexes · rxvt-unicode · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install rxvt-unicodeFedora Rawhide package metadata · rxvt-unicode · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#rxvt-unicodenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/rx/rxvt-unicode/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S rxvt-unicodeArch Linux sync databases · rxvt-unicode · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install rxvt-unicodeopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · rxvt-unicode · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Rxvt fork with Unicode support
Project links
Commands and aliases
- urclock
- urxvt
- urxvtc
- urxvtd
history
Project history and usage
rxvt-unicode, commonly invoked as urxvt, is an X11 terminal emulator derived from rxvt and designed around Unicode correctness, low overhead, and extensibility.
Project history
rxvt-unicode originated as a fork of rxvt. The fork concentrated on correct Unicode and locale handling while adding features such as combining characters, mixed fonts, Xft support, line rewrapping, daemon mode, and an embedded Perl interpreter.
Adoption history
rxvt-unicode became a package-manager staple for users wanting a lightweight X11 terminal with Unicode, daemon/client operation, multiple-font support, and extensive Perl customization. Its presence under the same package name in many Unix-like package ecosystems reflects that cross-distribution niche.
How it is used
Users normally launch urxvt directly or run urxvtd with urxvtc clients to share one daemon among multiple terminal windows. X resources configure appearance and behavior, while Perl extensions add features such as tabs, URL handling, selection transformations, and scrollback search.
Why package nerds care
It represents a distinctive branch of the rxvt family: comparatively small and traditional in appearance, but unusually extensible through embedded Perl. Its urxvtd/urxvtc split also made it attractive to users optimizing terminal startup time and memory use.
Timeline
- rxvt lineage: Project began as a fork of the established rxvt terminal emulator.
- Current lineage: Distributed with urxvt, urxvtc, urxvtd, and urclock executables.
Related projects
- rxvt is the upstream terminal-emulator lineage from which rxvt-unicode was forked.
- xterm and mlterm are related X11 terminal emulators; the official page specifically points to mlterm for complex-script and right-to-left rendering needs.
Sources
- Official manuals and change log linked from the project page: https://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/
- Official project overview and feature list: https://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
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 8 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.
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
~/.Xdefaults~/.Xresources$XENVIRONMENT~/.Xdefaults-<nodename>
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
urclock | cli | global executable | |
urxvt | cli | global executable | |
urxvtc | cli | global executable | |
urxvtd | 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 version9.31
manager updated2026-09-13
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.htmlnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:rxvt-unicode |
|---|---|
| Version | 9.31 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/rxvt-unicode |
| Homepage | https://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html |
| Upstream docs | https://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html |
| License | GPL-3.0-only |
| Source archive | https://dist.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/rxvt-unicode-9.31.tar.bz2 |
| Last updated | 2026-09-13T07:43:38Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | fontconfig, freetype, libx11, libxext, libxft, libxmu, libxrender, libxt |
| Build dependencies | cmake, pkgconf |
| Uses from macOS | perl |
| 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 | rxvt-unicode |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 4 |
| 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%
rxvt-unicode 9.31-3+b2
RXVT-like terminal emulator with Unicode and 256-color support
http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
sudo apt install rxvt-unicode- Section: x11
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: rxvt-unicode
- 16 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 4 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
Nix95%
rxvt-unicode
nix profile install nixpkgs#rxvt-unicode- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
Ubuntu apt95%
rxvt-unicode 9.31-3build2
RXVT-like terminal emulator with Unicode and 256-color support
http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
sudo apt install rxvt-unicode- Section: universe/x11
- Architecture: amd64
- 16 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 4 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
apk95%
rxvt-unicode 9.31-r10
rxvt fork with improved unicode support
http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
sudo apk add rxvt-unicode- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rxvt-unicode
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
apk95%
rxvt-unicode-doc 9.31-r10
rxvt fork with improved unicode support (documentation)
http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
sudo apk add rxvt-unicode-doc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rxvt-unicode
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
apk95%
rxvt-unicode-terminfo 9.31-r10
rxvt fork with improved unicode support (terminfo data)
http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
sudo apk add rxvt-unicode-terminfo- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rxvt-unicode
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
dnf95%
rxvt-unicode 9.31-17.fc45
Unicode version of rxvt
http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
sudo dnf install rxvt-unicode- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rxvt-unicode
- 18 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
pacman95%
rxvt-unicode 9.31-9
Unicode enabled rxvt-clone terminal emulator (urxvt)
https://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html
sudo pacman -S rxvt-unicode- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- 8 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
zypper95%
rxvt-unicode 9.31-3.15
Rxvt X Terminal with Unicode Support
http://software.schmorp.de/#rxvt-unicode
sudo zypper install rxvt-unicode- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: System/X11/Terminals
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: rxvt-unicode
- 17 dependencies
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
MacPorts95%
rxvt-unicode
sudo port install rxvt-unicode- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Rxvt Unicode
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