# Install basis_universal with Homebrew, pacman, apk Basis Universal GPU texture codec command-line compression tool. Version 2.50 via Homebrew; verified 2026-08-03. Also installable with pacman: sudo pacman -S basis-universal. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:basis_universal ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install basis_universal ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S basis-universal ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: basis-universal from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add basisu ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: basisu from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:basis_universal - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Version:** 2.50 - **Source summary:** Basis Universal GPU texture codec command-line compression tool - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Last updated:** 2026-08-03T16:08:28Z - **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00 ## Executables - basisu (alias) ## Install behavior - Bottle: not available ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-08-03 - Package-manager version: 2.50 ## Project history and usage Basis Universal is Binomial's portable GPU texture supercompression and transcoding system. The README describes it as an open source LDR/HDR GPU compressed texture interchange system supporting Khronos KTX2 and Binomial's `.basis` format, with rapid transcoding to many GPU texture formats. ### Project history The repository marks the reference encoder, transcoder, and specifications as copyright 2016-2026 Binomial LLC. Its early public identity centered on ETC1S and UASTC as portable intermediate formats: asset pipelines could ship one compressed texture and transcode on the target device to formats such as BC, ETC, PVRTC, ASTC, ATC, and FXT1. The project matured from a command-line compressor/transcoder into a broader texture infrastructure stack: native C/C++ libraries, a `basisu` CLI, WebAssembly builds, JavaScript wrappers, WebGL examples, Python support, KTX2 support, HDR modes, and detailed codec specifications in the wiki. ### Adoption history Khronos KTX-Software officially documents that KTX files can contain Basis Universal formats and includes a Basis Universal WebAssembly transcoder for JavaScript KTX parsers. That places Basis Universal inside the standard KTX2 toolchain used by OpenGL, Vulkan, Web, and asset-pipeline tooling. Package-manager adoption follows the CLI and library utility: the supplied facts list Homebrew, Alpine, and Arch packages, while the upstream README documents native builds on Windows, Ubuntu, macOS, ARM, RISC-V, WebAssembly, and WASI. ### How it is used The `basisu` command-line tool creates, validates, transcodes, and unpacks `.ktx2` and `.basis` files. The README documents CMake builds, Visual Studio builds, WebAssembly/WASI executables, SSE/OpenCL options, and a `-test` mode for exercising encoder and transcoder paths. Developers use Basis Universal to reduce download and distribution size while deferring final GPU format choice until runtime. KTX2 plus Basis formats are especially important for web and cross-platform engines that must support different GPU texture capabilities. ### Why package nerds care Basis Universal is package-nerd significant because it is both a CLI formula and a piece of graphics infrastructure. Packaging it gives asset pipelines access to the `basisu` encoder without requiring a full game engine or SDK install. Its significance also comes from codec standardization pressure: the project has to track KTX2 headers, supercompression IDs, GPU texture formats, WebAssembly constraints, fuzzing, and compatibility with Khronos tooling. ### Timeline - 2016: Binomial copyright range begins for the reference encoder, transcoder, and specifications. - 2022-01-28: Version 1.16 release notes describe smaller code size, fewer dependencies, OpenCL support, faster ETC1S encoding, and parallel processing. - 2024-09-10: Version 1.50.0 adds UASTC HDR, EXR/HDR image support, DDS read/write, and defaults the command-line tool to KTX2 output. - 2025-01-21: Version 1.60.0 requires C++17 and adds UASTC HDR 6x6 and GPU Photo HDR-related modes. - 2026-01-19: Version 2.0 adds full ASTC LDR support, XUASTC LDR, WASM/WASI support, Python support, and new real-time BC7/ETC1 encoders. - 2026-02-24: Version 2.1 focuses on KTX-Software compatibility for UASTC HDR 4x4, UASTC HDR 6x6 intermediate, and XUASTC LDR formats. ### Related projects - Related official projects and standards include Khronos KTX/KTX2, Khronos KTX-Software, Binomial's KTX-Software fork, WebAssembly/WASI builds, and GPU texture formats such as ETC1S, UASTC, ASTC, BC6H/BC7, PVRTC, ETC2, and DDS. ### Sources - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Other Package-Manager Records - pacman - basis-universal - 2.1.0-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: basis-universal from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Basis Universal GPU Texture Codec | https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal - apk - basisu - 1.16.4-r1: installed executable or alias match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: basisu from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Basis Universal GPU Texture Codec | https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal - apk - basisu-dev - 1.16.4-r1: installed executable or alias match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: basisu-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Basis Universal GPU Texture Codec (development files) | https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal - apk - basisu-libs - 1.16.4-r1: installed executable or alias match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: basisu-libs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Basis Universal GPU Texture Codec (libraries) | https://github.com/BinomialLLC/basis_universal ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/basis_universal.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/basis_universal.yml) ## Sources - pkg.so package database - Geiger risk classifier - curated package history - pkgdb category and tag curation - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph