macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libdivecomputerlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install libdivecomputerMacPorts ports tree · devel/libdivecomputer/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew / rank 12562
Install libdivecomputer with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix
Library for communication with various dive computers. Version 0.9.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#libdivecomputer.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libdivecomputernixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/li/libdivecomputer/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Library for communication with various dive computers
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dctool
history
Project history and usage
libdivecomputer is a cross-platform C library and utility set for talking to dive computers over serial, USB, USB HID, IrDA, Bluetooth Classic, and Bluetooth Low Energy transports. Its official site frames it as an open source compatibility layer across many dive-computer manufacturers rather than as an end-user dive log application.
Project history
The project grew around the practical problem of extracting dive profiles from vendor-specific dive computers on Unix-like systems, Windows, mobile platforms, and BSDs. The repository README points to the libdivecomputer site and a SourceForge project page, reflecting the project's older open-source hosting history before GitHub became the main development surface.
The public tag history shows a 0.2.0 release in September 2012, followed by 0.3.0 in February 2013, 0.4.x in 2013-2014, 0.5.0 in September 2016, 0.6.0 in November 2017, 0.7.0 in May 2021, 0.8.0 in May 2023, and 0.9.0 in June 2025.
Adoption history
libdivecomputer's adoption comes from being infrastructure: applications and scripts can use one library instead of maintaining per-device protocols for Aeris, Aqualung, Cressi, Mares, Oceanic, Shearwater, Suunto, Uwatec, and many other supported manufacturers. Homebrew, MacPorts, and Nix packaging make that hardware-support layer easy to install for developers and technically inclined divers.
How it is used
The documentation describes a conventional autotools build on Unix platforms and points users to a manual, manpages, examples, backend status, driver notes, roadmap material, and old API design discussions. The packaged `dctool` utility is the command-line face of the library for testing communication and retrieving data.
Why package nerds care
For package maintainers, libdivecomputer is interesting because it turns a messy hardware matrix into one LGPL library with optional platform transport details. It is the kind of package that quietly matters: most users meet it indirectly through dive-log software, but distribution packaging determines whether niche USB/Bluetooth dive-computer workflows work out of the box.
Timeline
- 2012: v0.2.0 tag published on GitHub.
- 2013: v0.3.0 and v0.4.0 tags published.
- 2016: v0.5.0 tag published.
- 2017: v0.6.0 tag published.
- 2021: v0.7.0 tag published.
- 2023: v0.8.0 release published.
- 2025: v0.9.0 release published.
Related projects
- The repository README identifies the older SourceForge project page as part of the project's public footprint. The documentation also points to bundled examples and manpages, while the official site lists the supported device families that drive the library's backend work.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
dctool | 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 version0.9.0
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:libdivecomputer |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.9.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://www.libdivecomputer.org/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/libdivecomputer/libdivecomputer |
| 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.
Nix95%
libdivecomputer
nix profile install nixpkgs#libdivecomputer- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdivecomputer
MacPorts95%
libdivecomputer
sudo port install libdivecomputer- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdivecomputer
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