macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install checkstylelocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install checkstyleMacPorts ports tree · java/checkstyle/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew / rank 2624
Install checkstyle with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix
Check Java source against a coding standard. Version 13.9.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-27. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install checkstyle.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install checkstyleDebian stable package indexes · checkstyle · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#checkstylenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ch/checkstyle/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Check Java source against a coding standard
Project links
Commands and aliases
- checkstyle
history
Project history and usage
Checkstyle is a long-running Java code-quality tool for checking source code against coding standards. It is one of the classic packaged Java developer tools: available as a command-line jar, Maven artifact, build-tool integration, and operating-system package.
Project history
The official site describes Checkstyle as a development tool that helps programmers write Java code adhering to a coding standard and automates checking tasks that would otherwise be manual. It is highly configurable and ships example configurations for Sun Code Conventions and Google Java Style.
The current GitHub repository was created in 2013, but the official site footer and release-note history identify the project as dating back to 2001. Modern releases continue under the checkstyle/checkstyle GitHub organization, with 13.7.0 published in June 2026.
Adoption history
Checkstyle is distributed through GitHub releases and Maven Central according to the official README and website. The batch metadata also lists Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, and Nix, reflecting its role as both a Java build dependency and a standalone command-line tool.
The README points users to Maven artifacts, command-line usage, configuration documentation, discussions, Stack Overflow, Google Groups, and contributor channels, evidence of a mature tool with both user and maintainer communities.
How it is used
Typical command-line usage runs java -jar checkstyle-*-all.jar with a required configuration XML file and one or more files or folders. The official docs describe plain, XML, and SARIF output and the -c option for choosing the configuration.
In build systems, Checkstyle is commonly used through Maven or other Java build integrations to enforce project, company, Google, Sun, OpenJDK, or custom style rules.
Why package nerds care
Package nerds care about Checkstyle because it is a durable example of a Java quality tool that lives simultaneously in Maven Central, binary release pages, system package managers, and build plugins. It predates many modern linter ecosystems while still shipping frequent releases.
Its configuration model is also historically important: a tree of modules rooted at Checker, XML DTD/XSD validation, and style configuration files made it flexible enough for many organizations before language-server and formatter-first workflows became common.
Timeline
- 2001: Checkstyle project history begins, according to the official site copyright range.
- 2013: checkstyle/checkstyle GitHub repository created.
- 2026: Checkstyle 13.7.0 released and official site published for version 13.7.0.
Related projects
- Maven and the Maven Checkstyle Plugin are central distribution and build-integration paths.
- ANTLR, Apache Commons, Guava, and Picocli are libraries listed by the project; Google Java Style, Sun Code Conventions, and OpenJDK style are major configuration targets.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
checkstyle | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-08-03
manager version13.9.0
manager updated2026-07-27
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:checkstyle |
|---|---|
| Version | 13.9.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/checkstyle/checkstyle |
| Last updated | 2026-07-27T03:43:47Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
checkstyle 8.36.1-1
checks Java source against a coding standard
https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/
sudo apt install checkstyle- Section: java
- Architecture: all
- 12 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Checkstyle
Debian apt95%
checkstyle-doc 8.36.1-1
Documentation for Checkstyle
https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/
sudo apt install checkstyle-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: checkstyle
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Checkstyle
Nix95%
checkstyle
nix profile install nixpkgs#checkstyle- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Checkstyle
Ubuntu apt95%
checkstyle 8.36.1-1
checks Java source against a coding standard
https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/
sudo apt install checkstyle- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: all
- 12 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Checkstyle
Ubuntu apt95%
checkstyle-doc 8.36.1-1
Documentation for Checkstyle
https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/
sudo apt install checkstyle-doc- Section: universe/doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: checkstyle
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Checkstyle
MacPorts95%
checkstyle
sudo port install checkstyle- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Checkstyle
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation