install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install pcal

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install pcal

MacPorts ports tree · print/pcal/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install pcal

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

overview

Package summary

Generate Postscript calendars without X

Project links

Commands and aliases

pcal

history

Project history and usage

PCAL is a command-line program for generating monthly or yearly calendars, principally as PostScript but also as HTML or text for the Unix calendar utility. A plain-text date file adds events, options, and images.

Project history

Patrick Wood of Pipeline Associates wrote the original PostScript calendar code in 1987 and authorized modification and redistribution. The official manual credits later enhancements by King Ables, Tim Tessin, Joe Wood, Jeff Mogul, Mark Hanson, and others.

The project was subsequently released by Andrew W. Rogers and later hosted on SourceForge. Its maintainers expanded the original printable-calendar program with a C implementation, event files, embedded images, HTML output, localization, and numerous layout controls.

Adoption history

PCAL has remained useful in Unix environments because its calendar is driven by a plain-text date file and can be produced without a graphical display. The official site also provides shell integrations and documents interoperability with the traditional Unix calendar utility.

Its continued availability through Homebrew, Debian, MacPorts, and Ubuntu reflects the longevity of scriptable PostScript tools even after graphical calendar applications became commonplace.

How it is used

Running pcal without a date file produces an empty calendar. Users add events and directives in .calendar or the compatibility filename calendar, or select another file with -f.

The official search order checks PCAL_DIR first, then HOME; if neither variable is defined it checks the current directory. An optional build setting can add the executable directory to the search.

Why package nerds care

PCAL exemplifies durable Unix software: a small text-configured program whose output works in printing pipelines, scripts, web interfaces, and traditional calendar tooling. Its support for PostScript, HTML, and Unix calendar input makes it unusually flexible for a narrowly focused utility.

Timeline

1987: Patrick Wood wrote the original PostScript calendar code.
2007: PCAL 4.11.0 was released on December 18.
2007: The 4.11.0 release added features including title alignment, DESTDIR support, and additional scripts.

Related projects

LCAL is the companion lunar-calendar generator published on the same official site.
The traditional Unix calendar utility can consume text generated with PCAL's -c option.
PostScript is PCAL's principal printable output format.

Sources

https://pcal.sourceforge.net/
https://pcal.sourceforge.net/pcal-help.html
https://sourceforge.net/p/pcal/code/
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 12 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.

local files

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

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: .calendarcalendar

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`pcal`	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 generated2026-09-19

manager version4.11.0

manager updated2026-09-11

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://pcal.sourceforge.net/

infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://pcal.sourceforge.net/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:pcal
Version	4.11.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/pcal
Homepage	https://pcal.sourceforge.net/
Upstream docs	https://pcal.sourceforge.net/
License	LicenseRef-Homebrew-cannot-represent
Source archive	https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/pcal/pcal/pcal-4.11.0/pcal-4.11.0.tgz
Last updated	2026-09-11T18:55:28Z
Pulse	updated
Bottle	available (on arm64_big_sur, 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	pcal
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%

pcal 4.11.0-4+b1

generate Postscript calendars without X

sudo apt install pcal

Section: utils
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: pcal
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Pcal

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

Ubuntu apt95%

pcal 4.11.0-3build1

generate Postscript calendars without X

sudo apt install pcal

Section: universe/utils
Architecture: amd64
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Pcal

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

MacPorts95%

pcal

sudo port install pcal

normalized package name match
Matched by: Pcal

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

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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/pcal.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
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 pcal with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts