macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install entlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install entMacPorts ports tree · math/ent/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew / rank 5394
Install ent with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix
Pseudorandom number sequence test program. Version 1.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install ent.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install entDebian stable package indexes · ent · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#entnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/en/ent/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Pseudorandom number sequence test program
Project links
Commands and aliases
- ent
history
Project history and usage
ent is John Walker's command-line program for applying statistical tests to byte streams, mainly to inspect pseudorandom number generators, compression output, encrypted data, and other files where information density matters.
Project history
The official Fourmilab page describes ent as a pseudorandom number sequence test program that reads a file or standard input and reports entropy, optimum compression estimate, chi-square distribution, arithmetic mean, Monte Carlo value for pi, and serial correlation.
The page frames the tool around practical comparisons of generated data, including examples contrasting compressed files, Unix `rand()` output, an improved generator, and radioactive-decay random data from Fourmilab's HotBits service.
Adoption history
ent is a small but widely repackaged scientific CLI. The input metadata lists it in Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, and Nix, reflecting its utility as a compact randomness and entropy smoke test in Unix-style workflows.
How it is used
Users run `ent` on a file or pipe data to standard input, optionally using flags for byte/bit-oriented output, counts, folding, terse CSV-style output, or stdin handling. The program is commonly used to sanity-check random generators, compressed data, encrypted data, and test fixtures.
Why package nerds care
ent is package-nerd friendly because it is tiny, public-domain in Homebrew metadata, scriptable, and easy to compare across systems. It gives quick statistical signals without requiring a larger cryptography or statistics suite.
Timeline
- 1990s-2000s: Fourmilab page documents ent as a standalone pseudorandom sequence test utility.
- 2010s: Third-party GitHub mirror created for source availability, while Fourmilab remains the official documentation source.
- 2020s: Package metadata shows continuing availability in Homebrew and several Unix package collections.
Related projects
- The official page relates ent to Fourmilab HotBits, Unix `rand()`, Park-Miller style pseudorandom generators, and statistical references such as Knuth and Hamming.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
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.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
ent | 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 version1.0
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:ent |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://www.fourmilab.ch/random/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/psm14/ent |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
ent 1.2debian-3
pseudorandom number sequence test program
http://www.fourmilab.ch/random/
sudo apt install ent- Section: science
- Architecture: amd64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ent
Nix95%
ent
nix profile install nixpkgs#ent- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ent
Ubuntu apt95%
ent 1.2debian-3
pseudorandom number sequence test program
http://www.fourmilab.ch/random/
sudo apt install ent- Section: universe/science
- Architecture: amd64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ent
MacPorts95%
ent
sudo port install ent- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Ent
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
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation