Install freetds with Homebrew

Project links

• Homepage
• Repository

Commands and aliases

• bsqldb
• bsqlodbc
• datacopy
• defncopy
• fisql
• freebcp
• osql
• tdspool
• tsql

Project history

The official user guide says FreeTDS began in early 1997 when Brian Bruns, a Sybase DBA, wanted DB-Library programs to run under Linux. The first work focused on DB-Library and TDS 5.0, then expanded to CT-Library compatibility, TDS 4.2, ODBC, and TDS 7.0/7.1 support.

As the project matured, the official history names contributors who expanded the ODBC driver, BCP support, CT-Library cursors, and documentation. The README describes the resulting codebase as portable C libraries plus utilities for Unix-like systems, Windows, VMS, and macOS.

Adoption history

FreeTDS grew because many open source applications needed access to Sybase and Microsoft SQL Server without relying on proprietary client libraries. The user guide explicitly cites use from Perl, PHP, and other language bindings that expect DB-Library or CT-Library APIs.

The project documentation describes the libraries as mature and stable, with users including large corporations, U.S. federal government systems, and web servers running Apache and PHP. That official framing explains why FreeTDS became a common dependency below scripting-language database adapters.

How it is used

Package users commonly install FreeTDS for libtds, ODBC drivers, and command-line tools such as tsql, freebcp, fisql, osql, bsqldb, defncopy, and datacopy. Configuration revolves around freetds.conf and ODBC driver manager integration.

Current NEWS entries show ongoing maintenance around encryption, TDS 8.0, UTF-8 and old Sybase compatibility, Windows Unicode paths, ODBC behavior, bulk copy, and Unix configuration search paths.

Why package nerds care

FreeTDS is a classic compatibility-layer package: small command-line utilities on the surface, but a large C library stack underneath for database adapters. Packagers care about ODBC manager choices, OpenSSL support, iconv behavior, ABI naming, and where freetds.conf is searched.

It is also historically important because it kept DB-Library-style clients useful after vendors shifted focus. The official guide notes Microsoft's DB-Library deprecation while presenting FreeTDS as a maintained route for code that still fits that API.

Timeline

• 1984: Sybase developed the TDS protocol for Sybase SQL Server, according to the FreeTDS user guide background.
• 1990: Sybase and Microsoft entered a technology sharing agreement that led to Microsoft's SQL Server line.
• 1997: Brian Bruns began FreeTDS to run DB-Library programs on Linux.
• 2002: James K. Lowden became maintainer after joining to improve documentation.
• 1.5: Release notes add TDS 8.0 support and allow freetds.conf under ~/.config on Unix.

Related projects

• FreeTDS/JDBC was a related Java JDBC driver mentioned in the official project history.
• DBD::Sybase is cited in the user guide as a Perl binding that works well with FreeTDS.
• unixODBC and iODBC are related driver managers used by the FreeTDS ODBC implementation.

Sources

• https://github.com/FreeTDS/freetds
• https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FreeTDS/freetds/master/NEWS.md
• https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FreeTDS/freetds/master/README.md
• https://www.freetds.org/userguide/FreeTDShistory.html
• https://www.freetds.org/userguide/projects.html
• https://www.freetds.org/userguide/what.html