install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install readsb

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install readsb

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

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#readsb

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

overview

Package summary

ADS-B decoder swiss knife

Project links

Commands and aliases

readsb

history

Project history and usage

readsb is a Mode S and ADS-B decoder that processes aircraft transponder data from supported SDR devices or network sources and exports tracking information in several formats.

Project history

readsb belongs to a lineage beginning with antirez's dump1090, followed by work from Malcolm Robb, dump1090-mutability, and dump1090-fa.

Mictronics created readsb as a fork of dump1090-fa. Wiedehopf subsequently created the present detached fork and continues its development.

Adoption history

readsb is used in Linux and Raspberry Pi receiver stacks and is packaged by Homebrew, Debian, and Nix according to source_facts.package-manager. Its compatibility with dump1090-family network formats helps it fit established ADS-B feeder ecosystems.

The project is commonly paired with tar1090 for browser-based aircraft visualization and can operate either from local SDR hardware or network-provided receiver data.

How it is used

Users can build readsb with RTL-SDR support for direct reception or run it in network mode against another decoder's Beast stream. It exposes decoded data through network ports, JSON files, an HTTP API, and optional trace archives.

On the documented Debian-style service installation, receiver type, device, network ports, and decoder options are configured in /etc/default/readsb. The official README warns that trace-history options can create thousands of files per day.

Why package nerds care

readsb is notable among radio and self-hosting enthusiasts as a high-performance, scriptable decoder with extensive network, JSON, API, trace-history, and aircraft-database options.

Its place in the dump1090 lineage gives it compatibility with a mature ecosystem while its continued development adds richer tracking and aggregation features.

Timeline

2010: antirez released the original dump1090 lineage.
2010s: dump1090 forks added features through Malcolm Robb, mutability, and FlightAware development lines.
2010s: Mictronics forked dump1090-fa to create readsb.
2018: Wiedehopf created the current detached readsb fork.
2020s: Continued development expanded networking, API, JSON, trace-history, and aggregation capabilities.

Related projects

Related official projects include dump1090, dump1090-mutability, dump1090-fa, Mictronics/readsb, tar1090, tar1090-db, and wiedehopf's ADS-B installation and documentation repositories.

Sources

security posture

No protected-tool coverage found yet

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for readsb. Package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Installs with 3 runtime dependencies.
Build metadata lists 1 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.

Linux: /etc/default/readsb

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`readsb`	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 version3.16.16

manager updated2026-09-13

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv3.16.16

https://github.com/wiedehopf/readsb

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:readsb
Version	3.16.16
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/readsb
Homepage	https://github.com/wiedehopf/readsb
Repository	https://github.com/wiedehopf/readsb
License	GPL-3.0-or-later
Source archive	https://github.com/wiedehopf/readsb/archive/refs/tags/v3.16.16.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-09-13T05:45:36Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	librtlsdr, libusb, zstd
Build dependencies	pkgconf
Uses from macOS	ncurses
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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	readsb
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%

readsb 3.14.1630+git20240609.adc080d-1

Mode-S/ADSB/TIS decoder for RTLSDR, BladeRF, Modes-Beast and GNS5894 devices

https://github.com/adsbfi/readsb

sudo apt install readsb

Section: net
Architecture: amd64
6 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Readsb

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

Nix95%

readsb

nix profile install nixpkgs#readsb

normalized package name match
Matched by: Readsb

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/re/readsb/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/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/readsb.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 readsb with Homebrew, apt, Nix