macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install tarsnap-guilocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 12486
Install tarsnap-gui with Homebrew
Cross-platform GUI for the Tarsnap command-line client. Version 1.0.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-18.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Cross-platform GUI for the Tarsnap command-line client
Project links
Commands and aliases
- tarsnap-gui
history
Project history and usage
Tarsnap GUI is a Qt desktop front-end for the Tarsnap backup service and command-line client. In CLI culture it is notable because it wraps a deliberately command-line-first backup tool without replacing the underlying tarsnap utilities.
Project history
The official repository describes Tarsnap GUI as an open source cross-platform front-end to Tarsnap. The README states that it uses the tarsnap command-line client utilities to communicate with the service, so the CLI tools must already be installed.
Adoption history
The official GitHub releases show public versions from v0.6 in July 2015 through v1.0.2 in August 2018. The supplied package-manager metadata shows it packaged by Homebrew, giving macOS users a package-manager route to the GUI wrapper.
How it is used
Users install Tarsnap GUI alongside the command-line client, then use the desktop application to manage Tarsnap backups through the same underlying service and client utilities. The official README points users to the GitHub wiki for details, to INSTALL for build/install instructions, and to CHANGELOG for version history.
Why package nerds care
Package nerds care because Tarsnap GUI is a thin desktop layer over an existing security-sensitive CLI. Packaging it separately keeps the trust boundary clear: the backup protocol and keys belong to tarsnap, while the GUI is an optional workflow layer for users who want a desktop interface.
Timeline
- 2015-07: v0.6 release published on GitHub.
- 2016-05: v0.9 release published.
- 2017-07: v1.0 release published.
- 2018-08: v1.0.2 release published.
Related projects
- Tarsnap, Qt, Open Iconic, tarsnap command-line utilities, Tarsnap GitHub wiki.
Sources
- GitHub releases for Tarsnap/tarsnap-gui: v0.6 through v1.0.2 dates.
- https://github.com/Tarsnap/tarsnap-gui official README: cross-platform front-end, dependency on tarsnap CLI utilities, wiki and changelog pointers.
- input source_facts.package-manager: Homebrew package entry.
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:client
Install behavior
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
tarsnap-gui | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
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 generated2026-08-03
manager version1.0.2
manager updated2026-05-18
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:tarsnap-gui |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.0.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://www.tarsnap.com/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/Tarsnap/tarsnap-gui |
| Last updated | 2026-05-18T15:21:06-04:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
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.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation