macOS
Homebrew Caskverified · 100%
brew install --cask black-inklocal Homebrew cask metadata
cask
Install black-ink with Homebrew Cask
Download, solve, and print crossword puzzles. Version 2.4.8 via Homebrew Cask; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Download, solve, and print crossword puzzles
Project links
Commands and aliases
No executable aliases were found in the local package database.
history
Project history and usage
Black Ink is a native crossword puzzle reader, solver, downloader, and printing application developed by Red Sweater Software for Apple platforms. It began as a reworked version of MacXword and has been maintained since 2007.
Project history
Developer Daniel Jalkut acquired the MacXword crossword application in February 2007, substantially updated it, and released it as Black Ink the following month. Version 1 evolved through improvements to downloading, printing, authenticated puzzle sources, sandboxing, autosave, and document versioning.
Black Ink 2 entered public beta in 2018 and received its official release in December 2019. Later releases added Apple Silicon support, a calendar-based archive browser, richer New York Times formatting, Dark Mode, Quick Look previews, and extensive printing and solving refinements.
Adoption history
Black Ink has served the Mac crossword niche since 2007. Support for Across Lite files, downloadable puzzle sources, premium New York Times puzzles, printing, Apple Silicon, and modern macOS features allowed it to remain useful across multiple generations of the platform.
How it is used
Users open Across Lite-compatible puzzle files or retrieve puzzles from configured online sources, solve them through a customizable keyboard-oriented interface, and optionally print book-style copies. Some publisher sources require their own subscriptions or accounts.
Why package nerds care
Black Ink is notable to package users as a long-lived, independently developed Mac application whose lineage predates its Homebrew cask. Its continued support for an established interchange format, direct distribution, and native macOS conventions makes it representative of durable specialist Mac software.
Timeline
- February 2007: Red Sweater acquired MacXword.
- March 20, 2007: Black Ink 1.0 was released.
- April 7, 2014: Version 1.6 added sandboxing, autosave, and document version browsing.
- April 5, 2018: Black Ink 2 entered public beta.
- December 3, 2019: Black Ink 2 received its official public release.
- November 16, 2020: Version 2.1 added Apple Silicon improvements.
- January 17, 2025: Version 2.4 added Quick Look and expanded printing controls.
Related projects
- MacXword was the application's predecessor.
- Across Lite supplies the puzzle-file format that Black Ink opens.
- Red Sweater Software is the official developer and distributor.
Sources
- Official Black Ink 2 beta history: https://redsweater.com/blog/3311/black-ink-2-public-beta
- Official product page: https://redsweater.com/blackink/
- Official version history: https://redsweater.com/blackink/whatsnew.html
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for black-ink. Package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No executable data was present. | |||
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 generated2026-11-04
manager version2.4.8
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://redsweater.com/blackink/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://redsweater.com/blackink/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | cask:black-ink |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.4.8 |
| Package manager | Homebrew Cask |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/black-ink |
| Homepage | https://redsweater.com/blackink/ |
| Upstream docs | https://redsweater.com/blackink/ |
| Source archive | https://redsweater.com/blackink/BlackInk2.4.8.zip |
| SHA-256 | 75a2443cc34e2a2b7241023c3545bdc48250669259d82aaaa0280ff3a7638f36 |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew cask API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/cask |
| Full Token | black-ink |
| Names |
|
| Artifacts | |
| Auto Updates | yes |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
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
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkgdb category and tag curation