# Install glib with Homebrew, apk, dnf, Nix, zypper Core application library for C. Version 2.88.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-08-02. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#glib. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:glib ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install glib ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add glib ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: glib from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install glib ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: glib from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/210a2053c8e007daf9ae39c2a21daaed9b2ddd07d63ecffa597050361e73650c-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#glib ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gl/glib/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install libgio-2_0-0 ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libgio-2_0-0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:glib - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.88.3 - **Source summary:** Core application library for C - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-08-02T22:58:43-04:00 - **Generated:** 2026-08-04T22:13:35+00:00 ## Executables - gapplication (cli) - gdbus (cli) - gdbus-codegen (cli) - gi-compile-repository (cli) - gi-decompile-typelib (cli) - gi-inspect-typelib (cli) - gio (cli) - gio-querymodules (cli) - glib-compile-resources (cli) - glib-compile-schemas (cli) - glib-genmarshal (cli) - glib-gettextize (cli) - glib-mkenums (cli) - gobject-query (cli) - gresource (cli) - gsettings (cli) - gtester (cli) - gtester-report (cli) - gapplication (alias) - gdbus (alias) - gdbus-codegen (alias) - gi-compile-repository (alias) - gi-decompile-typelib (alias) - gi-inspect-typelib (alias) - gio (alias) - gio-querymodules (alias) - glib-compile-resources (alias) - glib-compile-schemas (alias) - glib-genmarshal (alias) - glib-gettextize (alias) - glib-mkenums (alias) - gobject-query (alias) - gresource (alias) - gsettings (alias) - gtester (alias) - gtester-report (alias) ## Dependencies - gettext - pcre2 ## Build dependencies - bison - gettext - meson - ninja - pkgconf - python-setuptools - python@3.14 ## Uses from macOS - libffi - python ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-08-04 - Package-manager version: 2.88.3 - Package-manager updated: 2026-08-02 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://docs.gtk.org/glib/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage GLib is the low-level C foundation used by GTK and GNOME, providing portable data structures, strings, file utilities, process helpers, main-loop primitives, dynamic modules, object typing, I/O, IPC, networking, settings, and system integration APIs. ### Project history GLib emerged as the shared utility layer beneath GTK-era C applications, and GNOME's release archive shows stable 1.2 releases in 1999 before the 2.0 line began in 2002. The 2.x API family established the long-lived GLib, GObject, GModule, and GIO split documented by GTK and GNOME. Over time, GLib expanded from basic C convenience routines into a broad application substrate. GObject supplied an object and type system for C, GModule abstracted dynamic loading, and GIO added higher-level APIs for streaming I/O, files, D-Bus, networking, resources, settings, and application integration. The project moved its source and issue workflow to GNOME's GitLab, while release archives remained available from GNOME download infrastructure. Its documentation moved to gi-docgen-generated API pages under docs.gtk.org, reflecting GLib's role as an introspection-friendly base library for language bindings. ### Adoption history GLib's adoption followed GTK and GNOME but spread beyond graphical applications because it offered portable C building blocks without requiring a GUI. Projects use it for event loops, data containers, structured error handling, Unicode and string helpers, command-line option parsing, tests, and cross-platform runtime glue. The library is a dependency root in Linux desktop stacks: installing GTK, GNOME services, GStreamer components, and many C libraries often brings GLib along. Its ABI stability and regular release train make it one of the packages that distribution maintainers track carefully during desktop, toolchain, and security updates. ### How it is used Practitioners use GLib through headers such as `glib.h` and pkg-config modules such as `glib-2.0`. Application code commonly uses `GList`, `GHashTable`, `GError`, `GMainLoop`, `GOptionContext`, `GKeyFile`, and automatic cleanup helpers to write portable C with fewer platform-specific branches. The Homebrew package also exposes developer utilities such as `glib-compile-resources`, `glib-compile-schemas`, `gdbus`, `gio`, `gsettings`, `glib-genmarshal`, and `glib-mkenums`. These tools generate resources, schemas, marshalling code, enum metadata, and D-Bus helpers used by GTK and GNOME-style applications. ### Why package nerds care GLib is package-manager infrastructure by gravity: it is small enough to be a library dependency but central enough that ABI, introspection data, and helper binaries affect large parts of a desktop stack. Packagers care about its Meson build, gir data, schema/resource tools, and tight relationship with GTK release cycles. Because GLib abstracts platform details while staying in C, it also acts as a compatibility layer between Unix-like systems, Windows ports, language bindings, and higher-level GNOME libraries. ### Timeline - 1999: GLib 1.2.0 release archive published by GNOME. - 2002: GLib 2.0.0 release archive published by GNOME. - 2010s: GIO, D-Bus, settings, resources, and introspection workflows made GLib a broader application framework base. - 2020s: gi-docgen API references and GitLab-hosted development became the normal documentation and contribution path. ### Related projects - GLib underpins GTK and GNOME, and is closely related to GObject, GModule, GIO, GdkPixbuf, Pango, GStreamer, D-Bus, Meson, and GObject Introspection. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes library-like package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - library-like package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** glib - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - glib: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gl/glib/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - apk - glib - 2.88.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: glib from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Low-level core library that forms the basis for projects such as GTK and GNOME | https://developer.gnome.org/glib/ - apk - glib-bash-completion - 2.88.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: glib-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Bash completions for glib | https://developer.gnome.org/glib/ - apk - glib-dbg - 2.88.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: glib-dbg from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Low-level core library that forms the basis for projects such as GTK and GNOME (debug symbols) | https://developer.gnome.org/glib/ - apk - glib-dev - 2.88.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: glib-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Low-level core library that forms the basis for projects such as GTK and GNOME (development files) | https://developer.gnome.org/glib/ - apk - glib-doc - 2.88.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: glib-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Low-level core library that forms the basis for projects such as GTK and GNOME (documentation) | https://developer.gnome.org/glib/ - apk - glib-lang - 2.88.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: glib-lang from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Languages for package glib | https://developer.gnome.org/glib/ - apk - glib-static - 2.88.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: glib-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Low-level core library that forms the basis for projects such as GTK and GNOME (static library) | https://developer.gnome.org/glib/ - dnf - glib - 1.2.10-78.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: glib from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/210a2053c8e007daf9ae39c2a21daaed9b2ddd07d63ecffa597050361e73650c-primary.xml.zst | A library of handy utility functions | http://www.gtk.org/ - dnf - glib-devel - 1.2.10-78.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: glib-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/210a2053c8e007daf9ae39c2a21daaed9b2ddd07d63ecffa597050361e73650c-primary.xml.zst | Libraries and header files for glib development | http://www.gtk.org/ - zypper - libgio-2_0-0 - 2.88.3-1.1: installed executable or alias match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libgio-2_0-0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | A virtual file system library API | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/glib/ ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://pkg.so/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://pkg.so/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://pkg.so/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://pkg.so/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [pcre2](https://pkg.so/brew/pcre2/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gettext](https://pkg.so/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [python@3.14](https://pkg.so/brew/python-3-14/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://pkg.so/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [ninja](https://pkg.so/brew/ninja/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [harfbuzz](https://pkg.so/brew/harfbuzz/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [pango](https://pkg.so/brew/pango/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [cairo](https://pkg.so/brew/cairo/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [poppler](https://pkg.so/brew/poppler/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [tesseract](https://pkg.so/brew/tesseract/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gdk-pixbuf](https://pkg.so/brew/gdk-pixbuf/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [librsvg](https://pkg.so/brew/librsvg/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [graphviz](https://pkg.so/brew/graphviz/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [json-glib](https://pkg.so/brew/json-glib/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools, gnome, library. - [vte3](https://pkg.so/brew/vte3/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gnome, gtk, library. - [gspell](https://pkg.so/brew/gspell/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gnome, gtk, library. - [gtk-doc](https://pkg.so/brew/gtk-doc/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools, gnome, gtk. - [libdazzle](https://pkg.so/brew/libdazzle/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, gnome, gtk, library. - [libdeflate](https://pkg.so/brew/libdeflate/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools, library. - [libdatrie](https://pkg.so/brew/libdatrie/) - Shares pkgdb curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools, library. - [gtk+3](https://pkg.so/brew/gtk-3/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, core, developer, developer-tools, gettext. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/glib.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/glib.yml) ## Sources - pkg.so package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - pkgdb category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph