# Install genext2fs with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix
Generates an ext2 filesystem as a normal (non-root) user. Version 1.6.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install genext2fs.
## Install
```sh
sudo av install brew:genext2fs
```
Additional install commands:
### macOS
- Homebrew (100%):
```sh
brew install genext2fs
```
Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata
- MacPorts (94%):
```sh
sudo port install genext2fs
```
Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/genext2fs/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
### Linux
- apk (92%):
```sh
sudo apk add genext2fs
```
Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: genext2fs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
- Debian apt (92%):
```sh
sudo apt install genext2fs
```
Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: genext2fs from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
- dnf (92%):
```sh
sudo dnf install genext2fs
```
Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: genext2fs 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#genext2fs
```
Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ge/genext2fs/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
## Package facts
- **Package key:** brew:genext2fs
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 1.6.2
- **Source summary:** Generates an ext2 filesystem as a normal (non-root) user
- **Homepage:**
- **Repository:**
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00
## Executables
- genext2fs (alias)
## Install behavior
- Bottle: not available
## Freshness
- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 1.6.2
## Project history and usage
genext2fs is a small filesystem-image builder for creating ext2 filesystems without mounting an image and without running as root. Its niche is especially visible in embedded and image-building workflows, where reproducible creation of root filesystems matters more than interactive disk administration.
### Project history
The project homepage describes the original design goal plainly: generate an ext2 filesystem as a normal user, including ownership, permissions, and device nodes, without mounting the image. The GitHub repository later became the source and issue-tracking home for bug fixes and feature work.
### Adoption history
The SourceForge homepage notes that many Linux users obtain genext2fs through distribution packages. Homebrew, Debian-family, Alpine, Fedora-family, MacPorts, and Nix packaging in the input record reflect its long-running role as a build-time utility rather than an end-user application.
### How it is used
Practitioners use genext2fs to assemble ext2 images from directories, tarballs, and device-table specifications. The README documents image sizing, inode control, device node creation, stdin pipelines, fake timestamps, SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH support, and examples for flash or floppy-style images.
### Why package nerds care
genext2fs matters because it avoids privileged mounts in build systems. That makes it attractive for package builders, embedded distributions, and CI jobs that need filesystem artifacts but should not require root.
### Timeline
- 2017: the GitHub repository used by the project homepage was created.
- 2026: Homebrew packaged the 1.6.x line while the upstream README documented reproducible-build timestamp support.
### Related projects
- Related tools and concepts include ext2, device tables, reproducible-build SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH handling, and embedded Linux root filesystem image generation.
### Sources
-
-
-
-
## 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 - genext2fs - 1.5.0-3+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: genext2fs from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | ext2 filesystem generator for embedded systems | https://github.com/bestouff/genext2fs
- Nix - genext2fs: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ge/genext2fs/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Ubuntu apt - genext2fs - 1.5.0-3build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: genext2fs from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | ext2 filesystem generator for embedded systems | https://github.com/bestouff/genext2fs
- apk - genext2fs - 1.6.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: genext2fs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Generate ext2 filesystems as a normal user | https://genext2fs.sourceforge.net/
- apk - genext2fs-doc - 1.6.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: genext2fs-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Generate ext2 filesystems as a normal user (documentation) | https://genext2fs.sourceforge.net/
- dnf - genext2fs - 1.6.2-2.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: genext2fs from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | ext2 filesystem generator | https://github.com/bestouff/genext2fs/
- MacPorts - genext2fs: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/genext2fs/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/genext2fs.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/genext2fs.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