macOS
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brew install whatmp3local Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 15093
Install whatmp3 with Homebrew
Small script to create mp3 torrents out of FLACs. Version 3.9 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Small script to create mp3 torrents out of FLACs
Project links
Commands and aliases
- whatmp3
history
Project history and usage
whatmp3 is a niche Python command-line tool for transcoding FLAC directories into lossy audio formats and optionally creating torrent files for the results. The README describes it as a tool that takes top-level directories of FLAC files, creates new directories for the requested formats, and can create torrents with mktorrent.
Project history
The GitHub repository was created in January 2010, placing whatmp3 in the era when private music trackers and local lossless libraries commonly used FLAC as the archival source while distributing additional lossy encodes for compatibility.
Release metadata shows tagged versions 3.6 in 2015, 3.7 and 3.8 in 2016, and 3.9 in January 2025. The long gap and narrow README scope suggest a specialized workflow tool maintained for users who already understand the FLAC-to-torrent release process.
Adoption history
whatmp3's adoption appears concentrated in a small music-archiving and tracker-adjacent niche rather than broad media conversion. Its source-backed usage model specifically mentions zeropadded track numbers, ReplayGain, mktorrent, and private tracker torrent creation, all of which point to reproducible release preparation rather than casual one-off conversion.
How it is used
Users pass one or more FLAC album directories and request target formats such as MP3 or Ogg Vorbis. whatmp3 detects CPU cores for simultaneous transcoding by default, can apply ReplayGain, writes output directories named for the source and format, and can create private torrents using a supplied announce URL.
The README notes that most behavior is controlled by command-line options, while adding new formats requires editing the script itself. That makes it more of a purpose-built release-preparation script than a general media-transcoding framework.
Why package nerds care
whatmp3 is package-nerd significant because it captures a very particular Unix media workflow in one command: start with archival FLAC, generate distribution encodes, preserve metadata, and emit torrent artifacts. It is not trying to replace ffmpeg or a full tag editor; it glues the established command-line tools together for a community-specific job.
Timeline
- 2010-01-17: The GitHub repository is created.
- 2015-06-28: GitHub release metadata records version 3.6.
- 2016-03-08: GitHub release metadata records version 3.7.
- 2016-12-12: GitHub release metadata records version 3.8.
- 2025-01-15: GitHub release metadata records version 3.9.
Related projects
- FLAC and metaflac provide the lossless input and metadata tooling.
- Encoders such as lame and oggenc provide lossy output formats.
- mktorrent is used when whatmp3 creates torrent files.
Sources
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
whatmp3 | 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 version3.9
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:whatmp3 |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.9 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://github.com/RecursiveForest/whatmp3 |
| Repository | https://github.com/RecursiveForest/whatmp3 |
| 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