# Install couchdb with Homebrew, MacPorts, pacman

Apache CouchDB database server. Version 3.5.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-20. Also installable with pacman: sudo pacman -S couchdb.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:couchdb
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install couchdb
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install couchdb
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: databases/couchdb/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

### Linux

- pacman (92%):

```sh
sudo pacman -S couchdb
```

  Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: couchdb from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:couchdb
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 3.5.2
- **Source summary:** Apache CouchDB database server
- **Homepage:** <https://couchdb.apache.org/>
- **Last updated:** 2026-05-20T14:53:57-04:00
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- couchdb (alias)
- remsh (alias)
- weatherreport (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 3.5.2
## Project history and usage

Apache CouchDB is an Apache document database built around JSON documents, an HTTP API, replication, and offline-first synchronization patterns.

### Project history

The Apache CouchDB site presents the database as a system for multi-primary synchronization, HTTP/JSON access, and reliability from single-node deployments to clustered installations.

The Apache GitHub repository records the modern source location for the project, with the mirror created in 2009 and active development continuing through the 3.x series.

### Adoption history

CouchDB became significant in the NoSQL era because its HTTP API and replication model made it usable directly by web, mobile, and synchronization-oriented applications. The official site points to user stories centered on replication, offline use, and reliability.

The Couch Replication Protocol is implemented by multiple projects and products, making CouchDB relevant beyond the server package itself.

### How it is used

Administrators run CouchDB as a database server and interact with it over HTTP, through cURL, client libraries, Fauxton, and bundled command-line tools such as `couchdb`, `remsh`, and `weatherreport`.

Configuration is layered through `default.ini`, `default.d`, `local.ini`, and `local.d`, with administrator credentials stored in the `[admins]` section of the loaded ini files rather than in the `_users` database.

### Why package nerds care

For package maintainers, CouchDB is more than a single executable: packaging has to account for an Erlang-based service, layered ini configuration, administrator bootstrap, local data/state directories, and platform-specific macOS application paths.

### Timeline

- 2009: Apache CouchDB GitHub repository mirror created.
- 2026: Apache CouchDB 3.5.2 listed on the official site download callout.

### Related projects

- Fauxton
- Couch Replication Protocol
- PouchDB
- Erlang/OTP

### Sources

- <https://couchdb.apache.org/>
- <https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/intro/overview.html>
- <https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/config/intro.html>
- <https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/config/auth.html>
- <https://github.com/apache/couchdb>
- <https://api.github.com/repos/apache/couchdb>


## Security Notes

formula declares a Homebrew service.

- **Geiger risk:** orange / medium
- formula declares a Homebrew service


## 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

- macOS: Applications/Apache CouchDB.app/Contents/Resources/couchdbx-core/etc, /Users/<your-user>/Library/Application Support/CouchDB2/etc/couchdb, /Users/<your-user>/Library/Preferences/couchdb2-local.ini
- Unix: etc/default.ini, etc/default.d/*.ini, etc/local.ini, etc/local.d/*.ini

## Credential files

- macOS: /Users/<your-user>/Library/Application Support/CouchDB2/etc/couchdb, /Users/<your-user>/Library/Preferences/couchdb2-local.ini
- Unix: etc/local.ini, etc/local.d/*.ini, /opt/couchdb/etc/local.ini, /opt/couchdb/etc/local.d/10-admins.ini
## Other Package-Manager Records

- pacman - couchdb - 3.5.2-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: couchdb from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Document-oriented database that can be queried and indexed in a MapReduce fashion using JSON | https://couchdb.apache.org
- MacPorts - couchdb: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: databases/couchdb/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/couchdb.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/couchdb.yml)


## Sources

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