> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/lucasgelfond/zerobrew/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# zb info

> Display detailed information about an installed package

Shows detailed metadata about a specific package installed by zerobrew, including version, store key, and installation time.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
zb info <FORMULA>
```

## Arguments

<ParamField path="FORMULA" type="string" required>
  The name of the formula to get information about. The formula must be currently installed.

  Example: `jq`, `wget`, `git`
</ParamField>

## Options

<ParamField path="--root" type="path">
  Environment: `ZEROBREW_ROOT`

  Override the root directory for zerobrew's content-addressable store.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--prefix" type="path">
  Environment: `ZEROBREW_PREFIX`

  Override the prefix directory where packages are linked.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--concurrency" type="number">
  Default: `20`

  Number of concurrent operations to perform.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--auto-init" type="boolean">
  Alias: `--yes`

  Environment: `ZEROBREW_AUTO_INIT`

  Automatically initialize zerobrew if not already set up.
</ParamField>

## Output Fields

The command displays the following information:

<ResponseField name="Name" type="string">
  The formula name (bold formatting)
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="Version" type="string">
  The installed version number
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="Store key" type="string">
  The first 12 characters of the content-addressable hash used to identify this package in the store. This key is based on the formula's contents and metadata.
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="Installed" type="timestamp">
  When the package was installed, shown in local time with a relative timestamp.

  Format examples:

  * Recent: `14:32 (15 minutes ago)`
  * Today: `2024-03-15 09:20 (5 hours ago)`
  * Older: `2024-03-10 (5 days ago)`
</ResponseField>

## Examples

### Get info for an installed package

```bash theme={null}
zb info jq
```

```
Name:       jq
Version:    1.7.1
Store key:  a3f5d8c9b2e1
Installed:  2024-03-15 14:32 (15 minutes ago)
```

### Package installed days ago

```bash theme={null}
zb info git
```

```
Name:       git
Version:    2.44.0
Store key:  7c2b9a1d4e6f
Installed:  2024-03-10 (5 days ago)
```

### Package installed hours ago

```bash theme={null}
zb info wget
```

```
Name:       wget
Version:    1.21.4
Store key:  e8d7c6b5a4f3
Installed:  2024-03-15 09:20 (5 hours ago)
```

### Package not installed

```bash theme={null}
zb info nonexistent
```

```
Formula 'nonexistent' is not installed.
```

## Use Cases

### Check installation time

Find out when a package was installed:

```bash theme={null}
zb info node
```

### Verify package version

Confirm which version of a package is installed:

```bash theme={null}
zb info python@3.11
```

### Debug installation issues

The store key can help identify whether a package is correctly installed in the content-addressable store:

```bash theme={null}
zb info problematic-package
```

If the package appears in `zb list` but not in `zb info`, there may be a database inconsistency.

### Script integration

Check if a package is installed and get its version:

```bash theme={null}
if zb info jq &>/dev/null; then
  echo "jq is installed"
  zb info jq | grep Version:
else
  echo "jq is not installed"
  zb install jq
fi
```

## Understanding Store Keys

The store key is the first 12 characters of the SHA-256 hash that identifies the package in zerobrew's content-addressable store.

**Key properties:**

* **Content-addressable**: The same package with the same version and dependencies will always have the same store key
* **Deduplication**: Multiple formulas that depend on the same package share the same store entry
* **Integrity**: The store key ensures package integrity

**Store location:**

```bash theme={null}
$ZEROBREW_ROOT/store/objects/<full-hash>/
```

The full 64-character hash is stored in zerobrew's database, but only the first 12 characters are displayed for readability.

## Comparison with Homebrew

| Feature                 | zerobrew            | Homebrew                             |
| ----------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Package info            | `zb info <formula>` | `brew info <formula>`                |
| Shows installed version | Yes                 | Yes                                  |
| Shows available version | No                  | Yes                                  |
| Shows dependencies      | No                  | Yes                                  |
| Shows installation time | Yes                 | No (requires `brew list --versions`) |
| Shows store location    | Via store key       | Via `brew --prefix <formula>`        |

For more comprehensive package information (including available updates), Homebrew's `brew info` provides additional details like homepage, description, and dependencies. zerobrew's `info` focuses on installation metadata.

## Related Commands

* [`zb list`](/commands/list) - List all installed packages
* [`zb install`](/commands/install) - Install a package
* [`zb uninstall`](/commands/uninstall) - Uninstall a package
* [`zb outdated`](/commands/outdated) - Check for package updates