# Install with-readline with Homebrew

Allow GNU Readline to be used with arbitrary programs. Version 0.1.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:with-readline
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install with-readline
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:with-readline
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Package manager page:** <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/with-readline>
- **Version:** 0.1.1
- **Source summary:** Allow GNU Readline to be used with arbitrary programs
- **Homepage:** <https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/sw/withreadline.html>
- **Upstream docs:** <https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/sw/withreadline.html>
- **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later
- **Source archive:** <https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/sw/with-readline-0.1.1.tar.gz>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-04T22:13:35+00:00

## Executables

- with-readline (cli)
- with-readline (alias)

## Dependencies

- readline

## Install behavior

- Post-install hook: not defined
- Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-04
- Package-manager version: 0.1.1
- Local data: ok
- Upstream repository: https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/sw/withreadline.html
- info: No package-manager update timestamp was available.
- info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.
## Project history and usage

with-readline is a small Unix utility by Richard Kettlewell that wraps arbitrary terminal programs with GNU Readline editing. Its homepage describes the original use case plainly: improve programs that do not themselves link Readline, such as adding line editing and history to an sftp session.

### Project history

The project dates back to at least 2005 according to its copyright notice, with later source releases and a GitHub mirror created in 2013. It is intentionally narrow software: a compatibility wrapper for terminal programs rather than a shell, terminal emulator, or application framework.

### How it is used

The package is useful in the old Unix tradition of wrapping one program with another to add interactive behavior. Its niche is strongest for simple command-line clients that read from a pseudo-terminal but lack editing conveniences; the project documentation notes testing on Linux and Mac OS X and possible portability to other Unix platforms.

### Sources

- <https://api.github.com/repos/ewxrjk/with-readline>
- <https://github.com/ewxrjk/with-readline>
- <https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/sw/withreadline.html>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

## Source Database Details

- **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API
- **Tap:** homebrew/core
- **Full Name:** with-readline
- **Version Scheme:** 0
- **Revision:** 2
- **Bottle Stable Root URL:** <https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core>
- **Deprecated:** no
- **Disabled:** no
- **Keg Only:** no
- **URL Keys:** stable


## Related links

- [Terminal utility packages](https://pkg.so/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata.
- [Text processing packages](https://pkg.so/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata.
- [Developer build packages](https://pkg.so/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata.
- [Networking and protocol packages](https://pkg.so/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata.
- [rlwrap](https://pkg.so/brew/rlwrap/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, readline, terminal.
- [fzy](https://pkg.so/brew/fzy/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, unix.
- [teip](https://pkg.so/brew/teip/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, unix.
- [ex-vi](https://pkg.so/brew/ex-vi/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, unix.
- [ipbt](https://pkg.so/brew/ipbt/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, unix.
- [fzf](https://pkg.so/brew/fzf/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal.
- [neovim](https://pkg.so/brew/neovim/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal.
- [starship](https://pkg.so/brew/starship/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal.
- [cgdb](https://pkg.so/brew/cgdb/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, gnu, readline.
- [ired](https://pkg.so/brew/ired/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: be, cli, developer, developer-tools, editing.

## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/with-readline.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/with-readline.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
- cross-ecosystem install command graph