install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install sf-pwgen

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install sf-pwgen

MacPorts ports tree · security/sf-pwgen/Portfile · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Generate passwords using SecurityFoundation framework

Project links

Commands and aliases

sf-pwgen

history

Project history and usage

sf-pwgen is a macOS command-line password generator that calls the SecurityFoundation framework used by Apple's password-assistant functionality.

Project history

Anders Bergh created sf-pwgen as a command-line frontend to macOS SecurityFoundation password generation. The repository also includes a reverse-engineered `SFPasswordAssistant.h` header for the password-assistant API used by applications such as Keychain Access.

The documented command identifies version 1.5 and supports memorable, random, letters-only, alphanumeric, and numeric generation algorithms. The README says the command runs on OS X Mountain Lion and later, while the included header targets Snow Leopard and later.

Adoption history

The supplied source_facts.package-manager field records distribution through Homebrew and MacPorts, keeping the macOS-specific utility accessible through both major Mac package collections.

How it is used

Invoke `sf-pwgen` with an algorithm, count, and desired length; by default it generates five 12-character memorable passwords. The documented language option is explicitly noted as broken.

Why package nerds care

sf-pwgen exposes a private-feeling piece of classic macOS functionality—the SecurityFoundation password assistant—as a composable terminal command. It is also a compact historical artifact of package-manager culture around otherwise GUI-oriented platform frameworks and undocumented APIs.

Timeline

Snow Leopard era: The included reverse-engineered SecurityFoundation header is documented as compatible with Snow Leopard and later.
Mountain Lion era: The sf-pwgen command is documented as running on Mountain Lion and later.
Version 1.5: Official usage text documents algorithm, count, length, and language options.

Related projects

macOS SecurityFoundation
Keychain Access Password Assistant

Sources

Official repository README: https://github.com/anders/pwgen#readme
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 10 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

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`sf-pwgen`	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 version1.5

manager updated2026-09-13

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detected1.5

https://github.com/anders/pwgen

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:sf-pwgen
Version	1.5
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/sf-pwgen
Homepage	https://github.com/anders/pwgen/
Repository	https://github.com/anders/pwgen
Upstream docs	https://github.com/anders/pwgen/
License	Zlib
Source archive	https://github.com/anders/pwgen/archive/refs/tags/1.5.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-09-13T08:22:01Z
Pulse	updated
Bottle	available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, sonoma, ventura)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	sf-pwgen
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Requirements	macos
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head 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.

MacPorts95%

sf-pwgen

sudo port install sf-pwgen

normalized package name match
Matched by: Sf Pwgen

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: security/sf-pwgen/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/sf-pwgen.yml

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

Install sf-pwgen with Homebrew, MacPorts