# Install proctools with Homebrew, MacPorts

OpenBSD and Darwin versions of pgrep, pkill, and pfind. Version 0.4pre1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-11. Also installable with macports: sudo port install proctools.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:proctools
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install proctools
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install proctools
```

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

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:proctools
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 0.4pre1
- **Source summary:** OpenBSD and Darwin versions of pgrep, pkill, and pfind
- **Homepage:** <https://proctools.sourceforge.net/>
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-11T16:46:52+09:00
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- pfind (alias)
- pgrep (alias)
- pkill (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 0.4pre1
## Project history and usage

proctools is a set of text-based process utilities providing pgrep, pkill, and pfind for OpenBSD and Darwin/Mac OS X.

### Project history

The upstream homepage describes proctools as recreating Solaris pgrep and pkill for other operating systems, with the same command-line interface plus additional features. It identifies version 0.4pre1 as current on 07 December 2003.

### Adoption history

The supplied package facts show packaging in Homebrew and MacPorts, matching the project's Darwin focus.

### How it is used

pgrep prints matching process IDs, pkill sends signals to matching processes, and pfind provides find-like syntax for more precise process matching and interactive signal control.

### Why package nerds care

proctools is relevant to package-manager history because it filled a portability gap before pgrep and pkill became common across Unix-like systems, especially for BSD and early Mac OS X users.

### Timeline

- Solaris 7: Original pgrep and pkill commands appeared.
- 2003: proctools 0.4 added pfind and Darwin support.
- 2003-12-07: Upstream homepage lists 0.4pre1 as current.

### Related projects

- Solaris pgrep
- Solaris pkill
- OpenBSD
- Darwin
- ps
- killall

### Sources

- <https://proctools.sourceforge.net/>
- <https://proctools.sourceforge.net/pgrep.html>
- <https://proctools.sourceforge.net/pkill.html>
- source_facts.package-manager


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

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

## Other Package-Manager Records

- MacPorts - proctools: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/proctools/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/proctools.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/proctools.yml)


## Sources

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