---
name: "gpgme-tool"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libgpgme-dev"
version: "1.24.2-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gpgme-tool"
---

# gpgme-tool(1)

Assuan server exposing GnuPG Made Easy operations

## NAME

gpgme-tool - Assuan server exposing GnuPG Made Easy operations

## SYNOPSIS

**gpgme-tool** \[**--server**\|**-s**\] \[**--gpgme-binary**=*FILE*\] \[**--lib-version**\] \[**--usage**\] \[**--version**\|**-V**\] \[**--help**\|**-?**\]

## DESCRIPTION

**gpgme-tool** is a test interface that can exercise the library functionality of *GPGME*. It is not currently intended for production use, but it can be a useful way to dynamically understand and experiment with the functionality available from the library.

Running this tool in Server mode (the default mode) results in a text-based, command-driven session.  When the tool produces (on its standard output) a line beginning with **OK** or **ERR**, you can provide it with a command on its standard input.  Try the command **HELP** to see a list of available commands.  Commands are case-insensitive.

Status lines begin with an **S**, and data lines begin with a **D**.

## OPTIONS

**gpgme-tool** accepts the following options on the command line:

-

  ## OPTIONS

- **-s**,**--server**

  Server mode (default)

- **--gpg-binary**=FILE

  Use FILE for the GPG backend

- **--lib-version**

  Show library version and terminate

- **-V**,**--version**

  Print the currently installed version of *GPGME* to standard output.

- **-?**,**--help**

  Print a list of command-line options.

- **--usage**

  Print a synopsis of **gpgme-tool**'s command line.

## EXAMPLE

Below is an example interaction from a POSIX shell, with user-typed lines in *italics*, and data returned by **gpgme-tool** in **bold**:

```
user@host:~$ gpgme-tool
OK GPGME-Tool 1.7.0 ready
strerror 20
D Unknown compression algorithm <Unspecified source>
OK
version
D 1.7.0
OK
armor
S ARMOR false
OK
armor true
OK
armor
S ARMOR true
OK
bye
OK closing connection
user@host:~$
```

## AUTHORS

*The* *GPGME* *library is written by many contributors, including Werner Koch, Marcus* *Brinkmann, Andre Heinecke, Justus Winter, and Karl-Heinz Zimmer.*

*This manual page page was written by Daniel Kahn Gillmor for the* *Debian distribution (but may be used by others).*

## BUGS

*Please report bugs to \<https://bugs.gnupg.org\>.*

## COPYRIGHT

**gpgme-tool** *is Copyright © 2015-2016 g10 Code GmbH License* *GPLv2+: GNU GPL version 2 or later \<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/\>*

*This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.* *There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.*

## SEE ALSO

[**gpgme-config**(1)](/gpgme-config/1.md), **/usr/include/gpgme.h**, **info gpgme**