macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install dexterlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 6423
Install dexter with Homebrew, Nix
Automatic indexer for Postgres. Version 0.6.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#dexter.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#dexternixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/de/dexter/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Automatic indexer for Postgres
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dexter
history
Project history and usage
Dexter is an automatic index recommender for PostgreSQL that analyzes query sources and proposes indexes using HypoPG before optionally creating them.
Project history
The official tag history starts in 2017, and the changelog shows a steady 0.x series focused on safer index suggestions, more input sources, PostgreSQL compatibility, Docker and Linux packaging, and support for newer Ruby and PostgreSQL versions.
Adoption history
Dexter entered the PostgreSQL performance-tool niche as a command-line utility that can read pg_stat_statements, live activity, log files, SQL files, and stdin. Its README documents installation through RubyGems, Docker, Homebrew, and Linux packages.
How it is used
A typical run points Dexter at a database and a query source, such as `dexter -d dbname --pg-stat-statements`. By default it reports candidate indexes; creating indexes requires an explicit `--create` flag.
Why package nerds care
The package is notable because it bridges application-level package managers and database-server extension packaging: the CLI is easy to install, but useful operation also depends on HypoPG being present and enabled on the PostgreSQL server.
Timeline
- 2017: v0.1.0 appears in the official tag history.
- 2017: early releases add pg_stat_statements, psql-style connection options, CSV input, multicolumn indexes, and schema support.
- 2023: v0.5.0 adds normalized-query support and changes several input and HypoPG safety defaults.
- 2025: v0.6.0 adds Linux packages for Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 12 while dropping older runtime support.
Related projects
- Dexter is tightly related to PostgreSQL, pg_stat_statements, pg_stat_activity, server log analysis, pg_query, and the HypoPG extension for hypothetical indexes.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
dexter | 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 version0.6.3
manager updated2026-06-22
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:dexter |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.6.3 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://github.com/ankane/dexter |
| Repository | https://github.com/ankane/dexter |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22T14:03:09-07:00 |
| 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.
Nix95%
dexter
nix profile install nixpkgs#dexter- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Dexter
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