pkg.soopen package index

brew / rank 13954

Install tweak with Homebrew, apt, dnf, Nix

Command-line, ncurses library based hex editor. Version 3.02 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install tweak.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install tweak

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install tweak

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

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install tweak

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

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#tweak

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

overview

Package summary

Command-line, ncurses library based hex editor

Commands and aliases

  • tweak

history

Project history and usage

Tweak is Simon Tatham's terminal hex editor for Unix systems. Its distinguishing historical point is not being another small hex viewer, but a hex editor built around efficient editing of large binary files.

Project history

The official Tweak page presents the tool as an ncurses-based Unix hex editor and explains why it was written: it uses a B-tree-based data structure so insertions, cut/copy/paste, and lazy loading can remain fast even for very large files such as disk or CD images.

The current public release documented on the official page is Tweak 3.02, with an online man page and a browsable development repository hosted on git.tartarus.org.

Adoption history

Tweak's adoption appears to be modest but durable: it is packaged by Homebrew and several Unix-like distributions, and its appeal is strongest for users who want a console hex editor with insert-mode editing rather than a GUI binary editor.

How it is used

Typical use is `tweak filename` in a terminal to inspect or edit exact binary file contents. The man page highlights uses such as modifying executables, editing disk or CD images, debugging binary file formats, and constructing new files from scratch with insert mode.

Why package nerds care

For package nerds, Tweak is a good example of a small, old-school Unix tool whose implementation detail is the feature: it packages a specialized data structure behind a simple curses interface for binary-file work.

It is also a reminder that package managers preserve narrow utilities long after mainstream developer tooling has moved to graphical or IDE-centered workflows.

Timeline

  • Pre-2010s: Tweak is published by Simon Tatham as a Unix ncurses hex editor.
  • Tweak 3.02: Current public release documented on the official project page.
  • 2010s-2020s: Tweak remains available through Unix package managers including Homebrew and Linux distributions.

Related projects

  • Simon Tatham's other free software, especially PuTTY and Halibut, shares the same upstream site and packaging culture.
  • Other terminal hex editors and binary editors occupy the same niche, but Tweak's official page emphasizes efficient large-file editing through its B-tree design.

Sources

  • Official man page: https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/manpage-3.02.html
  • Official project page: https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/
  • Official repository: https://git.tartarus.org/simon/tweak.git

security posture

Risk level: green

library-like package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

  • library-like package without higher-risk signals

Signals

  • metadata:library-like

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.

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.

Unix
~/.tweakrc

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
tweakexecutableindexed executableDiscovered 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 version3.02
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
  • okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:tweak
Version3.02
Package managerHomebrew
Homepagehttps://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/
Bottlenot recorded
Servicenone declared

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%

tweak 3.02-6

Efficient text-mode hex editor

https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/

sudo apt install tweak
  • Section: editors
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tweak
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: tweak from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

tweak

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

tweak 3.02-6

Efficient text-mode hex editor

https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/

sudo apt install tweak
  • Section: universe/editors
  • Architecture: amd64
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tweak
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: tweak from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
dnf95%

tweak 3.02-23.fc45

An efficient hex editor

http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/tweak/

sudo dnf install tweak
  • License: MIT
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: tweak
  • 4 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Tweak
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: tweak from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst

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.

Used sources

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