# Install bbftp-client with Homebrew Secure file transfer software, optimized for large files. Version 3.2.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:bbftp-client ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install bbftp-client ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:bbftp-client - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Version:** 3.2.1 - **Source summary:** Secure file transfer software, optimized for large files - **Homepage:** - **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00 ## Executables - bbftp (alias) - bbftpstatus (alias) ## Install behavior - Bottle: not available ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-08-03 - Package-manager version: 3.2.1 ## Project history and usage bbFTP is IN2P3's secure file-transfer software for large files. It implements its own protocol, supports multi-stream transfers, large TCP windows, compression, retries, and authentication modes aimed at scientific-computing environments. ### Project history The official overview says bbFTP was written by Gilles Farrache at the IN2P3 Computing Center in Lyon, France. The download archive shows public 1.9.x releases by 2000, with the 2.x and 3.x lines adding certificate authentication, RFIO/HPSS-oriented large-file work, passive mode, remote operations, and platform ports. The 3.2.1 documentation was generated in February 2013 and lists 3.2.1 as the latest release. The newer IN2P3 GitLab repository preserves the project under the CC-IN2P3 HPSS service namespace. ### Adoption history bbFTP's adoption history is more institutional than mass-market: its feature set and official docs target large scientific data transfers, HPSS/RFIO storage, grid-style certificate authentication, and Unix platforms such as Scientific Linux, Ubuntu, macOS, and Solaris. ### How it is used Users run the `bbftp` client to transfer files larger than 2 GB, often with multiple data streams, retry behavior, customized timeouts, and secure authentication. `bbftpstatus`, added in the 3.2.0 line, provides status queries for the transfer system. ### Why package nerds care bbFTP is significant as a pre-cloud, research-computing file-transfer package: it solved a real package-manager problem for sites moving very large files before modern object stores and ubiquitous HTTPS tooling. Its formula also demonstrates how Homebrew carries niche scientific infrastructure clients, not just desktop developer tools. ### Timeline - 2000-08-29: Download archive lists bbftp.v.1.9.0. - 2001-04-05: Version 2.0.0 archive published. - 2003-04-01: Version 3.0.0 released. - 2004-07-22: Version 3.1.0 released with remote operations and site configuration files. - 2005-05-30: Version 3.2.0 released with `bbftpstatus` and Darwin port work. - 2013-02-07: Version 3.2.1 released as the latest listed release. ### Related projects - Related projects include GridFTP, scp, rsync, lftp, HPSS/RFIO tooling, and other high-throughput scientific data-transfer clients. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## 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 - Unix: ~/.bbftprc, /etc/bbftp.conf ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/bbftp-client.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/bbftp-client.yml) ## Sources - pkg.so package database - Geiger risk classifier - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - pkgdb category and tag curation - cross-ecosystem install command graph