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CLI Open source 1,338 installs/mo

libmagic for Mac

Implementation of the file(1) command

Quick answer: libmagic is a command-line tool for macOS. Install it with brew install libmagic. It is distributed under the BSD-2-Clause-Darwin AND BSD-2-Clause AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain licence. It has 1,338 Homebrew installs in the last 30 days.

What libmagic is

libmagic is a command-line tool for macOS: implementation of the file(1) command.

It is distributed as a Homebrew formula, which builds or pours a binary and puts it on your PATH. It is distributed under the BSD-2-Clause-Darwin AND BSD-2-Clause AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain licence.

How to install libmagic

  1. Open Terminal (press ⌘ + Space and type “Terminal”).
  2. If Homebrew is not installed yet, run the installer below once.
  3. Run brew install libmagic.

Homebrew installer, if you need it:

Prefer a graphical installer? Download it from the official site. MacPicks never hosts or mirrors binaries — the Homebrew command always pulls from the vendor's own release.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I install libmagic on Mac?

Run brew install libmagic in Terminal. This requires Homebrew; if you do not have it, install it first with the command below.

Is libmagic open source?

Yes — Homebrew distributes it under the BSD-2-Clause-Darwin AND BSD-2-Clause AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain licence.

Does libmagic run on Apple silicon?

Homebrew publishes this formula for macOS. If upstream does not ship an Apple silicon build, Rosetta 2 handles the Intel binary.

How popular is libmagic?

It was installed 1,338 times in the last 30 days according to Homebrew analytics, ranking #867 in this catalogue.

What version of libmagic is current?

The latest packaged version is 5.48.