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Install pcsc-lite with Homebrew, apk, dnf, zypper, apt

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API. Version 2.5.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-11. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install libpcsclite-dev.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install pcsc-lite

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add pcsc-lite

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

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install pcsc-lite

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · pcsc-lite · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install pcsc-lite

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · pcsc-lite · source: download.opensuse.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libpcsclite-dev

Debian stable package indexes · libpcsclite-dev · source: deb.debian.org

overview

Package summary

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API

Commands and aliases

  • pcsc-spy
  • pcscd

history

Project history and usage

PC/SC Lite is Unix smart-card middleware implementing the SCard/WinSCard API through the pcscd resource-manager daemon and libpcsclite client library.

Project history

David Corcoran started the pcsc-lite project in 1999 to provide a portable implementation of the PC/SC smart-card API. Ludovic Rousseau has been the main author since 2001.

The implementation evolved into a client library and server daemon communicating over IPC. Its C API emulates the Windows WinSCard interface so applications can access readers and cards through a common abstraction.

Current development is published through the maintainer's PCSC repositories on Debian Salsa and GitHub, and the project now uses Meson as its build system.

Adoption history

PC/SC Lite supplies the Windows-compatible SCard programming model on Unix-like systems and is packaged as a daemon, runtime library, and development headers by major distributions. The supplied metadata records packages in Homebrew, Alpine, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE.

The official project page documents GNU/Linux as the principal supported platform. Apple reimplemented PC/SC over CryptoTokenKit on macOS, while Solaris carries a fork and BSD support is described as possible but not routinely tested by the maintainer.

How it is used

Applications link libpcsclite and call SCard-compatible functions to discover readers, connect to cards, transmit commands, and monitor card state. pcscd brokers access to readers and cards.

Administrators commonly combine pcsc-lite with a reader driver such as libccid. pcsc-spy can trace client API activity for debugging.

The official support instructions warn that APDU debug logs can contain a smart-card PIN and recommend changing the PIN before producing such logs.

Why package nerds care

PC/SC Lite is a classic plumbing package: most users encounter it indirectly when authentication tokens, identity cards, SIM tools, or other smart-card applications need a standardized reader service.

Its split between pcscd, libpcsclite, reader drivers such as CCID, and client applications makes daemon activation and device discovery frequent packaging integration points.

Timeline

  • 1999: David Corcoran started pcsc-lite.
  • 2001: Ludovic Rousseau became the project's main author.
  • 2018: The current PCSC project was created on Debian Salsa.
  • Current releases: Meson is the documented build system.

Related projects

  • libccid provides a widely used USB CCID smart-card reader driver consumed alongside pcsc-lite.
  • The PC/SC Workgroup specification defines the cross-vendor smart-card API model.
  • Apple's CryptoTokenKit underlies the contemporary macOS PC/SC compatibility implementation.

Sources

  • Official API documentation: https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/api/index.html
  • Official project page: https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/
  • Official source repository: https://salsa.debian.org/rousseau/PCSC
  • 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 6 platform targets.
  • Build metadata lists 3 build dependencies.

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
/etc/reader.conf.d/
Windows
linux

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
pcsc-spycliglobal executable
pcscdcliglobal 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 version2.5.1
manager updated2026-09-11
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:pcsc-lite
Version2.5.1
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/pcsc-lite
Homepagehttps://pcsclite.apdu.fr/
Upstream docshttps://pcsclite.apdu.fr/
LicenseBSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND GPL-3.0-or-later AND ISC
Source archivehttps://pcsclite.apdu.fr/files/pcsc-lite-2.5.1.tar.xz
Last updated2026-09-11T18:54:12Z
Pulseupdated
Build dependenciesmeson, ninja, pkgconf
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Namepcsc-lite
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyyes
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%

libpcsclite-dev 2.3.3-1

Middleware to access a smart card using PC/SC (development files)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apt install libpcsclite-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 2 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libpcsclite-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libpcsclite1 2.3.3-1

Middleware to access a smart card using PC/SC (library)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apt install libpcsclite1
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libpcsclite1 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

pcscd 2.3.3-1

Middleware to access a smart card using PC/SC (daemon side)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apt install pcscd
  • Section: misc
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 10 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: pcscd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Ubuntu apt95%

libpcsclite-dev 2.0.3-1build1

Middleware to access a smart card using PC/SC (development files)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apt install libpcsclite-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 2 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libpcsclite-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libpcsclite1 2.0.3-1build1

Middleware to access a smart card using PC/SC (library)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apt install libpcsclite1
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libpcsclite1 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

pcscd 2.0.3-1build1

Middleware to access a smart card using PC/SC (daemon side)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apt install pcscd
  • Section: universe/misc
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 8 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: pcscd from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

pcsc-lite 2.5.1-r0

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API (PC/SC)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apk add pcsc-lite
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND ISC AND GPL-3.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: pcsc-lite from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

pcsc-lite-dev 2.5.1-r0

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API (PC/SC) (development files)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apk add pcsc-lite-dev
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND ISC
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: pcsc-lite-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

pcsc-lite-doc 2.5.1-r0

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API (PC/SC) (documentation)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apk add pcsc-lite-doc
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND ISC
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: pcsc-lite-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

pcsc-lite-libs 2.5.1-r0

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API (PC/SC) (libraries)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apk add pcsc-lite-libs
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND ISC
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: pcsc-lite-libs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

pcsc-lite-openrc 2.5.1-r0

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API (PC/SC) (OpenRC init scripts)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apk add pcsc-lite-openrc
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND ISC
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: pcsc-lite-openrc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

pcsc-lite-spy-libs 2.5.1-r0

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API (PC/SC) (log/debug/spy libraries)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apk add pcsc-lite-spy-libs
  • License: GPL-3.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: pcsc-lite-spy-libs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

pcsc-lite-static 2.5.1-r0

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API (PC/SC) (static library)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apk add pcsc-lite-static
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND ISC
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: pcsc-lite-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

pcsc-lite-systemd 2.5.1-r0

Middleware to access a smart card using SCard API (PC/SC) (systemd files)

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo apk add pcsc-lite-systemd
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND ISC
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: pcsc-lite-systemd from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

pcsc-lite 2.5.1-2.fc45

PC/SC Lite smart card framework and applications

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo dnf install pcsc-lite
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND GPL-3.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 14 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: pcsc-lite from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/652278618dec9c023176a80c435a32a2c8154869fb0eb662c267a54df28d77d9-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

pcsc-lite-devel 2.5.1-2.fc45

PC/SC Lite development files

https://pcsclite.apdu.fr/

sudo dnf install pcsc-lite-devel
  • License: BSD-3-Clause AND BSD-2-Clause AND GPL-3.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: pcsc-lite
  • 7 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Pcsc Lite
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: pcsc-lite-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/652278618dec9c023176a80c435a32a2c8154869fb0eb662c267a54df28d77d9-primary.xml.zst

package graph

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

Related tools

  • pkgconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • ninjaBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • mesonBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • sh4d0wupPopular package that depends on this formula.

Same workflow

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  • knockShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, daemon, security.
  • shibboleth-spShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, daemon, security.
  • gnupg-pkcs11-scdShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, security, smart-card.

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.

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