# Install direwolf with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper

Software "soundcard" AX.25 packet modem/TNC and APRS encoder/decoder. Version 1.8.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install direwolf.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:direwolf
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install direwolf
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install direwolf
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: science/direwolf/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

### Linux

- apk (92%):

```sh
sudo apk add direwolf
```

  Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: direwolf from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

- Debian apt (92%):

```sh
sudo apt install direwolf
```

  Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: direwolf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

- dnf (92%):

```sh
sudo dnf install direwolf
```

  Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: direwolf 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#direwolf
```

  Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/di/direwolf/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

- zypper (92%):

```sh
sudo zypper install direwolf
```

  Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: direwolf from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:direwolf
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 1.8.1
- **Source summary:** Software "soundcard" AX.25 packet modem/TNC and APRS encoder/decoder
- **Homepage:** <https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- aclients (alias)
- appserver (alias)
- atest (alias)
- cm108 (alias)
- decode_aprs (alias)
- direwolf (alias)
- dwespeak.sh (alias)
- gen_packets (alias)
- kissutil (alias)
- ll2utm (alias)
- log2gpx (alias)
- telem-balloon.pl (alias)
- telem-bits.pl (alias)
- telem-data.pl (alias)
- telem-data91.pl (alias)
- telem-eqns.pl (alias)
- telem-parm.pl (alias)
- telem-seq.sh (alias)
- telem-unit.pl (alias)
- telem-volts.py (alias)
- text2tt (alias)
- tnctest (alias)
- tt2text (alias)
- ttcalc (alias)
- utm2ll (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 1.8.1
## Project history and usage

Dire Wolf is a software soundcard AX.25 packet modem, TNC, and APRS encoder/decoder for amateur packet radio.

### Project history

The official README presents Dire Wolf as a modern software replacement for older hardware TNCs. It uses a computer soundcard and digital signal processing to decode packet radio signals and includes APRS tracker, digipeater, IGate, KISS, AGW, telemetry, and modem features.

### Adoption history

Dire Wolf's adoption follows the amateur-radio package path: source builds for Linux and macOS, Windows release archives, and distribution packages whose versions may lag development. The README explicitly lists Debian-style apt, Red Hat-style yum, and Homebrew installation routes.

### How it is used

Typical users run it as a virtual TNC for APRS and packet-radio applications, as an APRS Internet Gateway, or as a tracker/digipeater. The documentation directory has grown into user guides and application notes for Raspberry Pi APRS, IGate operation, FX.25, AIS reception, telemetry, and related packet-radio workflows.

### Why package nerds care

Dire Wolf matters to package nerds because it turns specialized radio hardware behavior into portable software that can be installed on ordinary Linux, macOS, Windows, and single-board-computer systems.

### Timeline

- 2015: GitHub repository created.
- 2020: Version 1.6 moved to a CMake build procedure.
- 2023: Version 1.7 added more external documentation and IL2P support.
- 2025: Version 1.8.1 released.

### Related projects

- The official documentation points to companion repositories for additional Dire Wolf documentation, presentations, Ham Radio of Things, and APRS packet specifications.

### Sources

- <https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf>
- <https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf/blob/dev/README.md>
- <https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf/blob/dev/doc/README.md>
- <https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf/blob/dev/CHANGES.md>
- <https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf/releases/tag/1.8.1>


## 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: ./direwolf.conf
## Other Package-Manager Records

- Debian apt - direwolf - 1.7+dfsg-2+deb13u1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: direwolf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Soundcard TNC for APRS | https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
- Nix - direwolf: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/di/direwolf/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Ubuntu apt - direwolf - 1.7+dfsg-2build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: direwolf from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Soundcard TNC for APRS | https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
- apk - direwolf - 1.8.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: direwolf from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Software soundcard AX.25 packet modem/TNC and APRS encoder/decoder | https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
- apk - direwolf-doc - 1.8.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: direwolf-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Software soundcard AX.25 packet modem/TNC and APRS encoder/decoder (documentation) | https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
- dnf - direwolf - 1.8.1-5.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: direwolf from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Sound Card-based AX.25 TNC | https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf/
- dnf - direwolf-doc - 1.8.1-5.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: direwolf-doc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Documentation for Dire Wolf | https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf/
- zypper - direwolf - 1.8.1-2.5: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: direwolf from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Software "soundcard" modem/TNC and APRS | https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
- zypper - direwolf-doc - 1.8.1-2.5: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: direwolf-doc from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Dire Wolf documentation | https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
- MacPorts - direwolf: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: science/direwolf/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/direwolf.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/direwolf.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph