pkg.soopen package index

brew / rank 1047

Install potrace with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, scoop

Convert bitmaps to vector graphics. Version 1.16 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-10. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install libpotrace-dev.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install potrace

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install potrace

MacPorts ports tree · graphics/potrace/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add potrace

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

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install potrace

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

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install potrace

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

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#potrace

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S potrace

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

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install potrace

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

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/potrace

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/potrace.json · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Convert bitmaps to vector graphics

Commands and aliases

  • mkbitmap
  • potrace

history

Project history and usage

Potrace converts bitmap images into smooth vector outlines and can emit formats including SVG, PDF, EPS, and related vector representations.

Project history

Peter Selinger developed Potrace as a polygon-based algorithm for tracing bitmaps into smooth, scalable vector paths. The project separates preprocessing into `mkbitmap` and exposes the tracing engine both through the `potrace` command and a C library.

Adoption history

Potrace became a standard bitmap-tracing component in free-software graphics workflows. It is packaged across major Linux distributions, BSD-adjacent package systems, Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, Scoop, and other collections; graphics applications such as Inkscape have integrated Potrace-based tracing.

How it is used

A common pipeline uses `mkbitmap` to threshold or smooth an input image and then runs `potrace` to generate a vector file. Developers can embed the same tracer through `libpotrace`; command options control path decomposition, curve optimization, scaling, and output format.

Why package nerds care

Potrace is the archetypal small command-line converter that quietly underpins richer applications. Packagers care about its portable CLI, reusable `libpotrace` API, multiple vector backends, and the companion `mkbitmap` preprocessing stage.

Timeline

  • 2001: Copyright coverage in the official library documentation begins.
  • 2003: Peter Selinger documented the polygon-based tracing algorithm in the official technical paper.
  • 2019: The official library API documentation's stated copyright period extends through this year.
  • Current release line: The official site distributes Potrace 1.16 source archives.

Related projects

  • mkbitmap preprocesses color or grayscale images into bitmaps suitable for tracing.
  • Inkscape incorporates Potrace-derived functionality for its bitmap-tracing workflow.
  • Autotrace is a related free-software bitmap-to-vector tracer with a different implementation.

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.

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

CommandKindExposureNote
mkbitmapcliglobal executable
potracecliglobal 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 version1.16
manager updated2026-09-10
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://potrace.sourceforge.net/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:potrace
Version1.16
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/potrace
Homepagehttps://potrace.sourceforge.net/
Upstream docshttps://potrace.sourceforge.net/
LicenseGPL-2.0-or-later
Source archivehttps://potrace.sourceforge.net/download/1.16/potrace-1.16.tar.gz
Last updated2026-09-10T09:00:25Z
Pulseupdated
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 Namepotrace
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
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%

libpotrace-dev 1.16-2+b2

development files for potrace library

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libpotrace-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libpotrace-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libpotrace0 1.16-2+b2

library for tracing bitmaps

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libpotrace0
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libpotrace0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

potrace 1.16-2+b2

utility to transform bitmaps into vector graphics

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install potrace
  • Section: graphics
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: potrace from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

potrace

nix profile install nixpkgs#potrace
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/po/potrace/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

libpotrace-dev 1.16-2build1

development files for potrace library

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libpotrace-dev
  • Section: universe/libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libpotrace-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libpotrace0 1.16-2build1

library for tracing bitmaps

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install libpotrace0
  • Section: universe/libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libpotrace0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

potrace 1.16-2build1

utility to transform bitmaps into vector graphics

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apt install potrace
  • Section: universe/graphics
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: potrace from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

potrace 1.16-r2

Utility for tracing a bitmaps

https://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apk add potrace
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: potrace from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

potrace-dev 1.16-r2

Utility for tracing a bitmaps (development files)

https://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apk add potrace-dev
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: potrace-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

potrace-doc 1.16-r2

Utility for tracing a bitmaps (documentation)

https://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo apk add potrace-doc
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: potrace-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

potrace 1.16-17.fc45

Transform bitmaps into vector graphics

http://potrace.sourceforge.net

sudo dnf install potrace
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 4 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: potrace from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/652278618dec9c023176a80c435a32a2c8154869fb0eb662c267a54df28d77d9-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

potrace-devel 1.16-17.fc45

Potrace development library and headers

http://potrace.sourceforge.net

sudo dnf install potrace-devel
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 2 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: potrace-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/652278618dec9c023176a80c435a32a2c8154869fb0eb662c267a54df28d77d9-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

potrace-doc 1.16-17.fc45

Documentation on how to use the potrace library

http://potrace.sourceforge.net

sudo dnf install potrace-doc
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: noarch
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: potrace-doc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/652278618dec9c023176a80c435a32a2c8154869fb0eb662c267a54df28d77d9-primary.xml.zst
pacman95%

potrace 1.16-5

Utility for tracing a bitmap (input: PBM,PGM,PPM,BMP; output: EPS,PS,PDF,SVG,DXF,PGM,Gimppath,XFig)

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo pacman -S potrace
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: potrace from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
zypper95%

libpotrace0 1.16-2.8

Library for Tracing a Bitmap to Scalable Outline Image

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo zypper install libpotrace0
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: System/Libraries
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 3 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libpotrace0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/d310d5a96106e1e8872a385adf98aaa23be9db5d80937a6717314e7e7f37715065c6c748ab7ccee6475d620b46979c0fe64235fc0c46988e17edf659578fcf31-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

potrace 1.16-2.8

Utility for Tracing a Bitmap to Scalable Outline Image

http://potrace.sourceforge.net/

sudo zypper install potrace
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Productivity/Graphics/Convertors
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: potrace
  • 4 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Potrace
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: potrace from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/d310d5a96106e1e8872a385adf98aaa23be9db5d80937a6717314e7e7f37715065c6c748ab7ccee6475d620b46979c0fe64235fc0c46988e17edf659578fcf31-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

  • texlivePopular package that depends on this formula.
  • dvisvgmPopular package that depends on this formula.
  • mftracePopular package that depends on this formula.

Same workflow

  • cairoShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media, pdf, svg.
  • librsvgShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media, svg.
  • resvgShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media, svg.
  • plotutilsShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media, vector-graphics.
  • fig2devShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media, vector-graphics.
  • asymptoteShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, graphics, media, vector-graphics.

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 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