# Install mkhexgrid with Homebrew, MacPorts

Fully-configurable hex grid generator. Version 0.1.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with macports: sudo port install mkhexgrid.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:mkhexgrid
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install mkhexgrid
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install mkhexgrid
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: graphics/mkhexgrid/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:mkhexgrid
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 0.1.1
- **Source summary:** Fully-configurable hex grid generator
- **Homepage:** <https://www.nomic.net/~uckelman/mkhexgrid/>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- mkhexgrid (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 0.1.1
## Project history and usage

mkhexgrid is a small command-line program by Joel Uckelman for generating configurable hexagonal grids, especially grids used for strategy games. The official page says it can create PNG, SVG, and PostScript output and can adjust line thickness, colors, center marks, coordinate styles, and coordinate placement.

### Project history

The project first released version 0.1.0 on August 6, 2006, with Windows and Linux binaries plus source packages. Version 0.1.1 followed on January 10, 2007, fixing several bugs and Mac OS X build issues.

### Adoption history

The official page announced FreeBSD Ports availability in December 2006 and recommended Fink for Mac OS X users. Homebrew and MacPorts later carried the package for users who wanted a scriptable hex-grid generator.

### How it is used

mkhexgrid reads grid parameters from a spec file or standard input and writes output to a named file or standard output. The reference manual documents options for output format, image size, rows, columns, grid color, coordinate format, coordinate origin, and center marks.

Its practical niche is generating repeatable printable or image-based hex maps without opening a graphical map editor.

### Why package nerds care

mkhexgrid is package-nerd interesting because it packages a very specific tabletop/strategy-game utility as a normal Unix command. It is small, source-archived, and useful in scripts that generate assets or print-ready grid sheets.

### Timeline

- 2006-08: mkhexgrid 0.1.0 initial release.
- 2006-12: Official news says mkhexgrid was added to FreeBSD Ports.
- 2007-01: mkhexgrid 0.1.1 released.

### Related projects

- mkhexgrid is related to strategy-game map tooling, tabletop hex maps, GD PNG generation, SVG, PostScript, FreeBSD Ports, Fink, Homebrew, and MacPorts.

### Sources

- <https://www.nomic.net/~uckelman/mkhexgrid/>
- <https://www.nomic.net/~uckelman/mkhexgrid/HISTORY>
- <https://www.nomic.net/~uckelman/mkhexgrid/README>
- <https://www.nomic.net/~uckelman/mkhexgrid/mkhexgrid.html>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

## Other Package-Manager Records

- MacPorts - mkhexgrid: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: graphics/mkhexgrid/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/mkhexgrid.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/mkhexgrid.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