genext2fs ☆

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Description:
Generates an ext2 filesystem as a normal (non-root) user

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: filesystem ext2 embedded development linux utilities

Install: brew install genext2fs

About:
Genext2fs is a utility that generates ext2 filesystem images without requiring root privileges or kernel modules. It allows developers to create, populate, and customize Linux filesystems for embedded devices or testing environments directly from user space. This tool is essential for building system images on build servers or development machines where root access is restricted.

Key Features:

Creates ext2 filesystem images without root access
Supports customizing permissions, ownership, and device nodes
Allows populating filesystems from a directory tree
Generates filesystems compatible with Linux kernel drivers

Use Cases:

Building filesystem images for embedded Linux devices
Creating test fixtures for filesystem-related software
Generating bootable images on CI/CD servers without root privileges

Alternatives:

genimage – More modern, supports multiple filesystem types, but has different configuration syntax
mke2fs – Standard tool but requires root privileges or loop device access

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 11, 2025 12:43pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	6d044c56
Sep 13, 2024 8:26am		0	VERSION_BUMP	5be887d6