brew / rank 8491

Install paperkey with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Extract just secret information out of OpenPGP secret keys. Version 1.6 via Homebrew; verified 2026-10-31. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install paperkey.

Install command Security notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install paperkey

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install paperkey

MacPorts ports tree · security/paperkey/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add paperkey

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · paperkey · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install paperkey

Debian stable package indexes · paperkey · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install paperkey

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · paperkey · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#paperkey

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pa/paperkey/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S paperkey

Arch Linux sync databases · paperkey · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install paperkey

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · paperkey · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Extract just secret information out of OpenPGP secret keys

Project links

Commands and aliases

paperkey

history

Project history and usage

Paperkey is David Shaw's command-line archiver for extracting the secret portion of an OpenPGP private key into a compact representation suitable for printing and later recovery.

Project history

David Shaw created Paperkey as an OpenPGP key-archiving utility, with upstream copyright beginning in 2007. Its design is based on the observation that an OpenPGP secret-key packet duplicates public material that usually exists elsewhere, so only the secret portion needs to be printed.

Paperkey does not encrypt or otherwise alter the secret material. A passphrase-protected key remains protected by the same passphrase, while an unprotected key produces an equally unprotected paper backup.

Adoption history

Paperkey is distributed by numerous Unix-oriented package ecosystems, including Homebrew, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, MacPorts, Nix, Ubuntu, and openSUSE. This breadth reflects its enduring niche in OpenPGP disaster-recovery workflows.

How it is used

A typical backup exports a secret key from GnuPG and pipes it through `paperkey` to printable base16 output. Recovery combines the transcribed secret data with a public-key file to reconstruct the secret key.

The official guidance treats paper as a last-resort complement to machine-readable backups and recommends testing restoration before storing the printed copy.

Why package nerds care

Paperkey is deliberately small security plumbing rather than another key manager. Package enthusiasts value its Unix-filter design, interoperability with GnuPG exports, and unusual focus on backups intended to remain recoverable after contemporary storage hardware has failed.

Timeline

2007: Paperkey's upstream copyright period began.
2020: The official repository's copyright record extended through this year.

Related projects

GnuPG supplies the secret-key exports and public-key material used in Paperkey's documented backup and recovery workflow.

Sources

https://github.com/dmshaw/paperkey#readme
https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/
source_facts.package-manager

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 post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.

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
`paperkey`	cli	global executable

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 generated2026-11-04

manager version1.6

manager updated2026-10-31

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/

infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:paperkey
Version	1.6
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/paperkey
Homepage	https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/
Upstream docs	https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/
License	GPL-2.0-or-later
Source archive	https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/paperkey-1.6.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-10-31T15:46:38+09:00
Pulse	updated
Bottle	available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_golden_gate, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	paperkey
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

paperkey 1.6-1

extract just the secret information out of OpenPGP secret keys

http://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/

sudo apt install paperkey

Section: utils
Architecture: amd64
1 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: paperkey from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

paperkey

nix profile install nixpkgs#paperkey

normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

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

Ubuntu apt95%

paperkey 1.6-1build1

extract just the secret information out of OpenPGP secret keys

http://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/

sudo apt install paperkey

Section: universe/utils
Architecture: amd64
1 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: paperkey from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

paperkey 1.6-r2

Archive OpenPGP keys on paper

https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/

sudo apk add paperkey

License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: paperkey
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

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

apk95%

paperkey-doc 1.6-r2

Archive OpenPGP keys on paper (documentation)

https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/

sudo apk add paperkey-doc

License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: paperkey
normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

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

dnf95%

paperkey 1.6-19.fc45

An OpenPGP key archiver

https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/

sudo dnf install paperkey

License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: paperkey
2 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: paperkey from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/652278618dec9c023176a80c435a32a2c8154869fb0eb662c267a54df28d77d9-primary.xml.zst

pacman95%

paperkey 1.6-5

Archive OpenPGP keys on paper

https://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey/

sudo pacman -S paperkey

License: GPL-2.0
Architecture: x86_64
1 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: paperkey from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

zypper95%

paperkey 1.6-1.28

Tool to backup GnuPG secret keys on paper

http://www.jabberwocky.com/software/paperkey

sudo zypper install paperkey

License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Category: Productivity/Security
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: paperkey
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: paperkey from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/d310d5a96106e1e8872a385adf98aaa23be9db5d80937a6717314e7e7f37715065c6c748ab7ccee6475d620b46979c0fe64235fc0c46988e17edf659578fcf31-primary.xml.zst

MacPorts95%

paperkey

sudo port install paperkey

normalized package name match
Matched by: Paperkey

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: security/paperkey/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

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.

combined/paperkey.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment
pkg.so package database
pkgdb category and tag curation

Install paperkey with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: green

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Same workflow

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources