wbmptopbm

Convert a WBMP file to a PBM image

$ wbmptopbm [path/to/input_file.wbpm] > [path/to/output_file.pbm]

wbmptopbm [-v] [wbmfile]

wbmfile: Optional path to the input WBMP file. If omitted, input is read from standard input.

-v
    Enables verbose output, displaying information about the WBMP file being processed, such as its dimensions and type.

wbmptopbm is a utility from the Netpbm package designed to convert images from the Wireless Bitmap (WBMP) format to the Portable Bitmap (PBM) format. WBMP is a monochrome image format primarily used in Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) applications, common in older mobile phone environments. The command reads a WBMP file from either a specified file path or standard input if no file is provided. It then processes this input and writes the resulting PBM image data to standard output.

PBM is a simple, plain-text format for black-and-white images, easily viewable and convertible to other image formats using Netpbm tools. This tool is essential for working with legacy WAP image assets or integrating them into modern image processing workflows via the flexible Netpbm suite.

WBMP is an older, monochrome image format, primarily associated with WAP and early mobile internet. wbmptopbm specifically handles this format; for other image types (like color images or more common formats like JPEG, PNG), different Netpbm conversion tools are required. The output is always a PBM (monochrome) file, as WBMP itself is a black-and-white format.

By default, wbmptopbm reads the WBMP image data from standard input (stdin) if no wbmfile argument is provided. The converted PBM image data is always written to standard output (stdout). This allows for easy piping of data between commands, for example:

curl http://example.com/image.wbmp | wbmptopbm > output.pbm

wbmptopbm is an integral part of the Netpbm project, a comprehensive suite of graphics programs designed for converting and manipulating various image formats. The Netpbm toolkit evolved from the original PBMPlus package, created by Jef Poskanzer in the late 1980s. As new image formats emerged, Netpbm adapted by adding utilities like wbmptopbm to support them. Its inclusion reflects the need to process images from specific domains, such as the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) era, ensuring that even niche or legacy formats could be integrated into the wider Linux and Unix image processing ecosystem. The command's longevity is a testament to Netpbm's modular design and its commitment to universal image format interoperability.

pbm(5), pbmtoppm(1), ppm(5), netpbm(1)