pinentry
« Back to VersTracker
Description:
Passphrase entry dialog utilizing the Assuan protocol
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  @gnupg  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Security
Tags: gpg security encryption cli dialog
Install: brew install pinentry
About:
Pinentry is a collection of passphrase entry dialogs that utilize the Assuan protocol, which is part of the GnuPG system. It provides secure, out-of-the-box prompts for GPG operations like signing commits or encrypting files. This tool ensures that sensitive credentials are handled securely without exposing them to the terminal or untrusted applications.
Key Features:
  • Secure out-of-the-box passphrase prompts
  • Supports multiple UI backends (ncurses, Qt, GTK)
  • Assuan protocol compliance for GnuPG integration
  • Minimal footprint and fast execution
Use Cases:
  • Unlocking GPG keys for signing Git commits
  • Providing passphrases for file encryption/decryption
  • Securely entering credentials in automated scripts
Alternatives:
  • KeePassXC – Provides a password manager with browser integration, but not a direct GPG Assuan protocol dialog replacement.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Nov 25, 2024 10:21am 1 VERSION_BUMP 19a6acd3