# Install bitwise with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses. Version 0.50 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install bitwise. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:bitwise ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install bitwise ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install bitwise ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/bitwise/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add bitwise ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitwise from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install bitwise ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: bitwise from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install bitwise ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bitwise from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#bitwise ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bi/bitwise/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install bitwise ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: bitwise from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:bitwise - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Version:** 0.50 - **Source summary:** Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00 ## Executables - bitwise (alias) ## Install behavior - Bottle: not available ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-08-03 - Package-manager version: 0.50 ## Project history and usage Bitwise is a terminal bit-manipulation calculator with an ncurses interface and a command-line expression mode. The README describes it as a multi-base interactive calculator for low-level hackers, kernel developers, and device-driver developers. ### Project history The GitHub repository was created in 2019. Releases moved quickly through 0.3x and 0.4x in 2019, with v0.50 published in July 2023 and reflected in the generated man page. ### Adoption history The README documents installation across Ubuntu, Snap, openSUSE, Arch AUR, Void, Fedora, Buildroot, Yocto, MacPorts, Homebrew, and Nix. The input package-manager data also lists several mainstream Unix package managers. Its packaging footprint is broader than its small scope because bit/base conversion is useful in embedded, kernel, networking, and driver work where terminal tools are preferred. ### How it is used Without arguments, bitwise starts in interactive mode, where users can toggle individual bits, change bit widths, reverse endianness, and evaluate expressions. With an expression argument, it prints results in multiple bases, including binary. The README also documents IPv4 address parsing and a Vim integration project, making it useful as both a standalone terminal tool and a helper for editor-driven low-level work. ### Why package nerds care Bitwise is a compact example of the sort of utility package that earns its place by replacing mental arithmetic and ad hoc shell snippets with one focused terminal UI. Its significance is not ecosystem size but shape: ncurses, readline, packaged across Unix systems, and aimed at people reading registers, masks, addresses, and wire-level values. ### Timeline - 2019: mellowcandle/bitwise repository created. - 2019-07-10: v0.30 release published. - 2021-11-01: v0.43 release published. - 2023-07-20: v0.50 release published. ### Related projects - vim-bitwise is linked by the README as editor integration. - ncurses and readline are build-time/runtime libraries used for the terminal interface. - Buildroot and Yocto are relevant downstream environments because the README notes Bitwise availability there. ### Sources - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - bitwise - 0.50-1+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bitwise from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Interactive bitwise operation in ncurses | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise - Nix - bitwise: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bi/bitwise/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - bitwise - 0.50-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bitwise from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Interactive bitwise operation in ncurses | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise - apk - bitwise - 0.50-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitwise from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise - apk - bitwise-doc - 0.50-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitwise-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses (documentation) | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise - dnf - bitwise - 0.50-9.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bitwise from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Terminal based bit manipulator in ncurses | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise - zypper - bitwise - 0.50-1.10: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: bitwise from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Interactive bit-wise operation in ncurses | https://github.com/mellowcandle/bitwise - MacPorts - bitwise: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: devel/bitwise/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/bitwise.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/bitwise.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