# Install nvimpager with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix, zypper

Use NeoVim as a pager to view manpages, diffs, etc. Version 0.14.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-18. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#nvimpager.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:nvimpager
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install nvimpager
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install nvimpager
```

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

### Linux

- apk (92%):

```sh
sudo apk add nvimpager
```

  Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: nvimpager from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

- Nix (92%):

```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#nvimpager
```

  Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/nv/nvimpager/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

- zypper (92%):

```sh
sudo zypper install nvimpager
```

  Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: nvimpager from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:nvimpager
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 0.14.0
- **Source summary:** Use NeoVim as a pager to view manpages, diffs, etc.
- **Homepage:** <https://github.com/lucc/nvimpager>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/lucc/nvimpager>
- **Last updated:** 2026-05-18T12:31:01-04:00
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- nvimpager (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 0.14.0
## Project history and usage

nvimpager is a small pager wrapper that launches Neovim in a pager-like mode for man pages, files, pipes, and diffs. It is not trying to replace `less` for every workload; it exists for users who want Neovim syntax highlighting, mouse behavior, and familiar keybindings while reading output.

### Project history

The nvimpager repository was created on 2017-10-23. Its README describes the project as a rewrite of vimpager with fewer but stricter dependencies and with Neovim as the target editor.

The project stayed deliberately small: a wrapper script, a man page, a separate configuration path under `~/.config/nvimpager`, and enough logic to choose pager mode or cat mode depending on input.

### Adoption history

nvimpager's adoption follows the shell-customization path: people find it through Neovim, then set `PAGER=nvimpager` or use it for `man`, `git diff`, and piped command output. Homebrew packages version 0.14.0 and declares Neovim as a runtime dependency.

The package is also present in several Unix packaging ecosystems, including Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, Alpine, and openSUSE, which is the right scale for a focused terminal utility.

### How it is used

The README shows the practical workflow: run `nvimpager file`, pipe text into it, or export `PAGER=nvimpager` and then use `man bash` or `git diff`. Cat mode prints highlighted output directly when opening the full Neovim interface would be overkill.

Users configure nvimpager separately from their normal Neovim setup with `~/.config/nvimpager/init.vim` or `~/.config/nvimpager/init.lua`, which keeps pager behavior from being accidentally slowed or broken by a full editing config.

### Why package nerds care

nvimpager matters because it turns an editor into a Unix pipeline component without pretending every terminal read needs a new pager implementation. It is a thin adapter around a powerful installed tool.

Its limitations are part of the package story: the README notes that large files and lazy pipe reading remain areas where `less` is faster or more memory efficient.

### Timeline

- 2017-10-23: GitHub repository created.
- 2026-04-17: repository push date reported by GitHub API before Homebrew's 0.14.0 packaging.
- 2026 Homebrew metadata: stable version 0.14.0 listed with Neovim dependency.

### Related projects

- Neovim is the editor runtime nvimpager wraps.
- vimpager is the earlier Vim-oriented pager project named by the nvimpager README.
- `less` remains the conventional pager nvimpager complements rather than fully replaces.

### Sources

- <https://api.github.com/repos/lucc/nvimpager>
- <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/nvimpager>
- <https://github.com/lucc/nvimpager>
- <https://manpages.opensuse.org/Tumbleweed/nvimpager/nvimpager.1.en.html>
- <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lucc/nvimpager/main/README.md>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

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


## Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.


## Configuration files

- Unix: ~/.config/nvimpager/init.vim, ~/.config/nvimpager/init.lua
## Other Package-Manager Records

- Nix - nvimpager: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/nv/nvimpager/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- apk - nvimpager - 0.12.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: nvimpager from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Use nvim as a pager to view manpages, diffs, etc with nvim's syntax highlighting | https://github.com/lucc/nvimpager
- apk - nvimpager-doc - 0.12.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: nvimpager-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Use nvim as a pager to view manpages, diffs, etc with nvim's syntax highlighting (documentation) | https://github.com/lucc/nvimpager
- apk - nvimpager-zsh-completion - 0.12.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: nvimpager-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Zsh completions for nvimpager | https://github.com/lucc/nvimpager
- zypper - nvimpager - 0.14.0-1.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: nvimpager from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Use nvim as a pager | https://github.com/lucc/nvimpager
- zypper - nvimpager-zsh-completion - 0.14.0-1.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: nvimpager-zsh-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Zsh completion for nvimpager | https://github.com/lucc/nvimpager
- MacPorts - nvimpager: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/nvimpager/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/nvimpager.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/nvimpager.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
