# Install gdk-pixbuf with Homebrew

Toolkit for image loading and pixel buffer manipulation. Version 2.44.7 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-28.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:gdk-pixbuf
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install gdk-pixbuf
```

  Evidence: provider-native install command

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:gdk-pixbuf
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 2.44.7
- **Source summary:** Toolkit for image loading and pixel buffer manipulation
- **Homepage:** <https://gtk.org>
- **Last updated:** 2026-06-28T04:59:43Z
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T00:40:33+00:00

## Executables

- gdk-pixbuf-csource (alias)
- gdk-pixbuf-pixdata (alias)
- gdk-pixbuf-query-loaders (alias)
- gdk-pixbuf-thumbnailer (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 2.44.7
## Project history and usage

gdk-pixbuf is the GNOME/GTK image-loading library for loading image data into pixel buffers that can be scaled, composited, modified, saved, or rendered.

### Project history

The official API reference describes GdkPixbuf 2.0 as an image loading library authored by the GTK Development Team, with source hosted in GNOME GitLab.

The upstream README says gdk-pixbuf loads image data in formats such as PNG, JPEG, TIFF, TGA, and GIF, stores it as linear buffers in memory, and allows additional loader modules in well-known locations.

### Adoption history

The README states that GTK uses gdk-pixbuf for loading graphical assets, which made it part of the common GNOME and GTK runtime stack.

The current README also warns that gdk-pixbuf should be used for trusted UI assets rather than arbitrary images and points users toward Glycin for sandboxed image loading.

### How it is used

Developers use the library through the gdk-pixbuf/gdk-pixbuf.h C headers and the gdk-pixbuf-2.0 pkg-config file; package users also get CLI tools such as gdk-pixbuf-query-loaders and gdk-pixbuf-thumbnailer.

Recent NEWS entries show a shift toward Glycin integration, optional thumbnailing, and deprecation of some older animation and XPM-related APIs.

### Why package nerds care

gdk-pixbuf is package-nerd significant because it is a small-looking library that affects desktop image loading, GTK applications, thumbnailing, loader cache generation, optional codecs, and security posture around image parsers.

Its loader-module model means packagers care about post-install loader queries, installed module locations, and which image formats are enabled.

### Timeline

- GdkPixbuf 2.0: The current API namespace is documented as the 2.0 image loading library.
- 2025: Development NEWS entries add a Glycin loader and recommend relying on Glycin for sandboxed Linux image loading.
- 2026: The API reference reports library version 2.44.6, while NEWS includes 2.44.7 changes.

### Related projects

- gdk-pixbuf is closely related to GTK, GLib/GObject, GNOME, and the Glycin sandboxed image-loading framework.
- It also intersects with image codec libraries such as libpng, libjpeg, and libtiff, which the README lists as optional build requirements depending on enabled format support.

### Sources

- <https://docs.gtk.org/gdk-pixbuf/>
- <https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gdk-pixbuf>
- <https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gdk-pixbuf/-/raw/master/NEWS>
- <https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gdk-pixbuf/-/raw/master/README.md>


## Security Notes

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

- **Geiger risk:** blue / medium
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/gdk-pixbuf.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/gdk-pixbuf.yml)


## Sources

- Nucleus package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation