macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install bash_unitlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 7376
Install bash_unit with Homebrew, apt, Nix
Bash unit testing enterprise edition framework for professionals. Version 2.3.3 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install bash-unit.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install bash-unitDebian stable package indexes · bash-unit · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#bash_unitnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ba/bash_unit/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Bash unit testing enterprise edition framework for professionals
Project links
Commands and aliases
- bash_unit
history
Project history and usage
bash_unit is a Bash unit-testing framework. It is intentionally small: an installable shell test runner for projects that want assertions and test discovery without leaving Bash.
Project history
The official executable identifies itself as a Bash unit testing framework and carries Pascal Grange copyright years 2011-2016. Its source points to the official `bash-unit/bash_unit` repository and currently declares version v2.3.3.
The repository tag list starts at v0.0.1 and progresses through v1.x and v2.x releases, showing a long-maintained single-purpose shell testing tool rather than a recent wrapper around a larger framework.
Adoption history
bash_unit adoption is concentrated among shell-script projects that want tests but do not need Bats or a cross-language test framework. The batch input shows Homebrew, Debian, and Nix packages, which is enough distribution coverage to make it a repeatable dependency in developer workstations and CI images.
How it is used
Users write Bash test functions and run them with the `bash_unit` executable. The tool provides assertions, colored reporting, failure output, and a small runtime that remains close to plain shell code.
Why package nerds care
bash_unit matters mostly as part of the Bash testing ecosystem. Package nerds care because shell code is everywhere, but many shell projects historically had little test structure; a small packaged runner lowers the friction without introducing a language runtime beyond Bash itself.
It also sits in the interesting overlap between package infrastructure and package contents: many packages are built by shell scripts, and tools like bash_unit help test that glue code.
Timeline
- 2011: Copyright header begins for bash_unit's main executable.
- 2010s: Tag series begins at v0.0.1 and reaches v1.x.
- 2020s: v2.x release series continues through v2.3.3.
- 2020s: Homebrew, Debian, and Nix package the runner.
Related projects
- Related Bash and shell test tools include Bats, shunit2, ShellSpec, ShellCheck, and shfmt. bash_unit occupies the minimal unit-test-runner lane among those tools.
Sources
- Official `bash_unit` executable identifies the framework, copyright years 2011-2016, repository URL, and version v2.3.3.
- Official tags list shows v0.0.1 through v2.3.3 release tags.
- input.source_facts.package-manager lists Homebrew, Debian, and Nix packaging.
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 bottle metadata was recorded.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
bash_unit | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
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 generated2026-08-03
manager version2.3.3
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:bash_unit |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.3.3 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://github.com/bash-unit/bash_unit |
| Repository | https://github.com/bash-unit/bash_unit |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
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%
bash-unit 2.3.2-1
bash_unit - bash unit testing
https://github.com/pgrange/bash_unit
sudo apt install bash-unit- Section: devel
- Architecture: all
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bash Unit
Nix95%
bash_unit
nix profile install nixpkgs#bash_unit- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bash Unit
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
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation