install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install core-lightning

local Homebrew formula metadata

overview

Package summary

Lightning Network implementation focusing on spec compliance and performance

Project links

Homepage

Commands and aliases

lightning-cli
lightning-hsmtool
lightningd
reckless

history

Project history and usage

Core Lightning is a C implementation of the Lightning Network protocol that focuses on specification compliance, performance, modularity, and node-operator control. It was formerly known as c-lightning and remains one of the main Lightning node implementations used by technically inclined Bitcoin operators.

Project history

The ElementsProject/lightning repository was created in 2015, during the early implementation period for the Lightning Network. The official README describes Core Lightning, previously c-lightning, as a lightweight, highly customizable, standard-compliant Lightning Network implementation.

The project reached production use on Bitcoin mainnet in early 2018 with the launch of Blockstream Store. Its documentation later standardized on the Core Lightning and CLN names while keeping the same implementation lineage.

Adoption history

Core Lightning adoption has been strongest among node operators, protocol developers, and businesses that want a scriptable daemon, JSON-RPC interface, plugin system, and close tracking of Lightning Network specifications. Its support for plugins and multiple API surfaces makes it especially common in custom node infrastructure.

How it is used

A normal installation runs lightningd alongside a synchronized bitcoind node, then controls it with lightning-cli, JSON-RPC, plugins, or newer API surfaces. Configuration is conventionally stored under ~/.lightning, with network-specific config directories, and the hsm_secret file is the critical wallet-secret material.

Why package nerds care

For package maintainers, Core Lightning is more than a CLI: it ships a daemon, client tools, helper tools, plugins, manpage-style docs, and sensitive runtime state expectations. Packaging has to respect platform support, Bitcoin Core integration, database choices, and key material locations.

Timeline

2015: ElementsProject/lightning repository created.
2018: c-lightning/Core Lightning in production use on Bitcoin mainnet with Blockstream Store.
2020s: Documentation and README use the Core Lightning and CLN names for the former c-lightning project.
2026: v26.06.x releases show continued active upstream maintenance.

Related projects

Core Lightning is related to Bitcoin Core, the Lightning Network specifications, other Lightning implementations such as LND and Eclair, and CLN's plugin and RPC ecosystem.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

text:network

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.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: ~/.lightning/config~/.lightning/bitcoin/config

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix: $LIGHTNINGDIR/hsm_secret

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`lightning-cli`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lightning-hsmtool`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lightningd`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`reckless`	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 version26.06.6

manager updated2026-07-27

local dataunknown

upstreamnot available

latest detectednot detected

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:core-lightning
Version	26.06.6
Package manager	Homebrew
Homepage	https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning
Repository	https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning
Last updated	2026-07-27T15:30:01+02:00
Pulse	updated
Bottle	not recorded
Service	none declared

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/core-lightning.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
pkg.so package database
pkgdb category and tag curation

Install core-lightning with Homebrew