# Install xbee-comm with Homebrew

XBee communication libraries and utilities. Version 1.5 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-19.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:xbee-comm
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install xbee-comm
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:xbee-comm
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 1.5
- **Source summary:** XBee communication libraries and utilities
- **Homepage:** <https://github.com/guyzmo/xbee-comm>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/guyzmo/xbee-comm>
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-19T16:21:04-04:00
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- xbfwup (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 1.5
## Project history and usage

xbee-comm is a small set of XBee communication libraries and utilities. The Homebrew-facing fork is associated with Bernard Pratz's Mac OS support patches and points back to Joshua Roys's original repository.

### Project history

The upstream README identifies the project as 'xbee-comm by Joshua Roys' with 'patches for macosx support by Bernard Pratz.' GitHub metadata for Joshua Roys's repository shows it was created in February 2011, while Bernard Pratz's fork was created in May 2012 with a description noting Mac OS support.

The available first-party history is thin: the project appears to have been a practical hardware utility rather than a large documented ecosystem project. The maintained package value comes from keeping the command-line firmware utility available for users with compatible XBee hardware.

### How it is used

The README documents serial-device access for XBee modules, including /dev/ttyUSB0 permissions on Unix and /dev/cu.usb* device names on macOS. It also shows xbfwup programming a downloaded Digi firmware .ebl file and reporting upload progress until the firmware is programmed and started.

### Why package nerds care

xbee-comm is a niche hardware-support package: small, old, and useful mainly when a developer needs a Unix command-line path for talking to or updating XBee modules. Its significance is in preserving a specific embedded-radio workflow rather than broad general-purpose adoption.

### Timeline

- 2011: Joshua Roys's xbee-comm repository is created on GitHub.
- 2012: Bernard Pratz's fork is created with Mac OS support patches.
- 2012: The Mac-support fork is updated shortly after creation and later becomes the package's referenced repository.

### Related projects

- The README points users to Digi firmware downloads and to Joshua Roys's original xbee-comm repository.

### Sources

- <https://github.com/guyzmo/xbee-comm>
- <https://github.com/roysjosh/xbee-comm>
- <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/guyzmo/xbee-comm/master/README>
- <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/roysjosh/xbee-comm/master/README>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/xbee-comm.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/xbee-comm.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph