macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install darprovider-native install command
brew / rank 5286
Install dar with Homebrew
Backup directory tree and files. Version 2.8.5 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Backup directory tree and files
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dar
- dar_cp
- dar_manager
- dar_slave
- dar_split
- dar_xform
history
Project history and usage
DAR, Disk ARchive, is a Unix backup and archiving suite designed as a disk-oriented alternative to tar, with slicing, catalogs, differential backups, compression, encryption, and libdar for applications.
Project history
DAR documentation frames the tool as a replacement for tar that can use direct access on disk media, while also evolving to support tape-like streaming use. Its authentication page records signed releases back to April 2002, and its source documentation says the project used RCS in 2002, CVS until Q1 2012, then Git.
Adoption history
DAR's adoption is visible in its packaging footprint and in the project's own list of tools using dar or libdar. The package appeals to Unix backup users who want archive slicing, isolated catalogs, strong verification, differential workflows, and scriptable command-line operation.
How it is used
Users commonly create, list, test, compare, extract, isolate, merge, repair, and transform archives with the dar suite, using /etc/darrc or ~/.darrc for defaults and options such as remote FTP/SFTP repositories when compiled with the needed libraries.
Why package nerds care
DAR is interesting packaging terrain because the feature matrix depends on optional libraries: compression codecs, libgcrypt and gpgme, librsync, libcurl, libssh, filesystem attributes, threading, Python bindings, and documentation generators all affect what a distro build can do.
Timeline
- 2002: DAR release signing and early RCS-era source history are documented.
- 2012: The project moved from CVS to Git in Q1 2012.
- 2017: DAR began cloning its Git repository to GitHub while keeping SourceForge updated.
- 2026: Generated Disk ARchive 2.8.x documentation remains published.
Related projects
- DAR is related to tar, rsync-style delta workflows through librsync, par2/Parchive protection, AVFS, dar-backup tooling, and applications that consume libdar rather than shelling out to the dar command.
Sources
- https://dar.sourceforge.io/doc/
- https://dar.sourceforge.io/doc/presentation.html
- https://dar.sourceforge.io/doc/FAQ.html
- https://dar.sourceforge.io/doc/authentification.html
- https://dar.sourceforge.io/doc/from_sources.html
- https://dar.sourceforge.io/doc/man/dar.html
- https://dar.sourceforge.io/doc/api_tutorial.html
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:backup
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.
local files
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
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/darrc~/.darrc
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
~/.netrc~/.ssh/id_rsa~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
dar | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
dar_cp | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
dar_manager | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
dar_slave | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
dar_split | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
dar_xform | 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 version2.8.5
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:dar |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.8.5 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | http://dar.linux.free.fr/doc/index.html |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
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
- Nucleus package database
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation