macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install gnu-unitslocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 3293
Install gnu-units with Homebrew, winget, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, zypper, scoop
GNU unit conversion tool. Version 2.27 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with winget: winget install --id GNU.Units -e.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add unitsAlpine Linux edge package indexes · units · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install unitsDebian stable package indexes · units · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install unitsFedora Rawhide package metadata · units · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#unitsnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/un/units/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install unitsopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · units · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id GNU.Units -eWindows Package Manager source index · GNU.Units · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/unitsScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/units.json · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
GNU unit conversion tool
Project links
Commands and aliases
- units
history
Project history and usage
GNU Units is a command-line unit conversion program and scientific calculator. It converts between measurement systems, checks dimensional consistency, supports nonlinear conversions, and reads its knowledge from data files that users can extend.
Project history
The GNU FTP archive records Units releases from the 1.x line in 1997 through the 2.x line, while the manual describes edition 2.25 and the program model used by the modern package. Its evolution turned a unit converter into a calculator that understands products, quotients, powers, roots, temperature conversions, unit lists, physical constants, currency data, CPI data, Unicode, readline, and custom definitions.
The project keeps unit definitions outside the executable. The GNU page and manual both stress that users can rely on the bundled data files or provide supplemental definitions, making the package partly a maintained measurement database and partly an interactive calculator.
Adoption history
GNU Units is broadly useful in engineering, science, cooking, astronomy, packaging, and everyday shell work because it gives unit-aware answers without opening a large computer algebra system. Its availability across Unix package managers and a Windows binary reflects that utility: the program is small, scriptable, and backed by a large curated unit database.
How it is used
Practitioners use units interactively at the You have and You want prompts, or non-interactively by passing source and destination expressions on the command line. They also use it to reduce a unit to its definition, search the database, verify conformability, calculate with constants, and add local definitions for domain-specific units.
Why package nerds care
Package nerds care about GNU Units because it turns messy measurement lore into a reproducible data file shipped by the operating system. It is one of those quiet command-line tools that prevents dimensional mistakes in scripts, documentation, package formulas, lab notebooks, and build-time calculations.
Timeline
- 1997: GNU FTP archive lists units 1.53.
- 2012: GNU FTP archive lists units 2.00.
- 2024: GNU FTP archive lists units 2.23 and 2.24.
- 2026: GNU FTP archive lists units 2.27.
Related projects
- Related tools include bc, dc, physical-constants tables, currency data updaters, readline-enabled command interpreters, and unit support in scientific programming environments.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
units | 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 version2.27
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:gnu-units |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.27 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://www.gnu.org/software/units/ |
| 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.
winget95%
GNU.Units
winget install --id GNU.Units -e- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Gnu Units
Debian apt92%
units 2.24-1+deb13u1
converts between different systems of units
https://www.gnu.org/software/units/
sudo apt install units- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
Nix92%
units
nix profile install nixpkgs#units- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
Ubuntu apt92%
units 2.23-1build2
converts between different systems of units
https://www.gnu.org/software/units/
sudo apt install units- Section: universe/utils
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
apk92%
units 2.23-r0
Units conversion and calculation program
https://www.gnu.org/software/units/
sudo apk add units- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: units
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
apk92%
units-cur-update 2.23-r0
Units conversion and calculation program (currency database updater)
https://www.gnu.org/software/units/
sudo apk add units-cur-update- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: units
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
apk92%
units-doc 2.23-r0
Units conversion and calculation program (documentation)
https://www.gnu.org/software/units/
sudo apk add units-doc- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: units
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
dnf92%
units 2.27-3.fc45
A utility for converting amounts from one unit to another
https://www.gnu.org/software/units/units.html
sudo dnf install units- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: units
- 8 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
zypper92%
units 2.27-1.4
Conversion Utility
https://www.gnu.org/software/units/
sudo zypper install units- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Scientific/Physics
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: units
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
Scoop92%
main/units
scoop install main/units- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Units
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