# Install gecode with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, apt, zypper
Toolkit for developing constraint-based systems and applications. Version 6.4.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-16. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install libgecode-dev.
## Install
```sh
sudo av install brew:gecode
```
Additional install commands:
### macOS
- Homebrew (100%):
```sh
brew install gecode
```
Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata
- MacPorts (94%):
```sh
sudo port install gecode
```
Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/gecode/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
### Linux
- Nix (92%):
```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#gecode
```
Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ge/gecode/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Debian apt (92%):
```sh
sudo apt install libgecode-dev
```
Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libgecode-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
- Ubuntu apt (92%):
```sh
sudo apt install flatzinc
```
Evidence: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: flatzinc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
- zypper (92%):
```sh
sudo zypper install gecode-devel
```
Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gecode-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst
## Package facts
- **Package key:** brew:gecode
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 6.4.0
- **Source summary:** Toolkit for developing constraint-based systems and applications
- **Homepage:**
- **Repository:**
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-16T10:35:30Z
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00
## Executables
- fzn-gecode (alias)
- mzn-gecode (alias)
## Install behavior
- Bottle: not available
## Freshness
- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 6.4.0
## Project history and usage
Gecode is the Generic Constraint Development Environment, an open source C++ toolkit for developing constraint-based systems and applications.
### Project history
The official Gecode site presents the project as a modular and extensible C++ constraint solver with support for custom constraints, branching strategies, search engines, and variable domains. Its historical changelog records Gecode 1.0.0 on 2005-12-06.
### Adoption history
Gecode's official news archive tracks its use in solver and modeling ecosystems: FlatZinc support was announced in 2007, repeated MiniZinc Challenge wins were reported from 2008 through 2012, Homebrew availability was announced in 2011, and SAP adoption for advanced variant configuration was reported in 2018.
### How it is used
Developers use Gecode as a C++ toolkit and through command-line front ends such as FlatZinc and MiniZinc-related tooling. The official documentation emphasizes tutorial and reference material for modeling, search, installation, linking, and platform-specific builds.
### Why package nerds care
Gecode is significant in package collections because it is both a library and a solver executable dependency for constraint-programming workflows, especially MiniZinc and FlatZinc users who care about solver availability, ABI compatibility, and platform packaging.
### Timeline
- 2005: Gecode 1.0.0 released.
- 2007: FlatZinc for Gecode 1.0 released.
- 2008-2012: Gecode won MiniZinc Challenge gold medals across multiple years.
- 2011: Gecode became installable on Mac OS via Homebrew.
- 2018: SAP use of Gecode for advanced variant configuration was reported.
- 2019: Gecode 6.2.0 released.
### Related projects
- MiniZinc, FlatZinc, AMPL, ECLiPSe, YAP Prolog, and SAP advanced variant configuration are named in Gecode's official site or news archive as related interfaces, uses, or integrations.
### Sources
-
-
-
## Security Notes
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
## Other Package-Manager Records
- Debian apt - libgecode-dev - 6.2.0-7: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgecode-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | generic constraint development environment | https://www.gecode.org/
- Debian apt - libgecode-doc - 6.2.0-7: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgecode-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | generic constraint development environment | https://www.gecode.org/
- Debian apt - libgecode49t64 - 6.2.0-7: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgecode49t64 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | generic constraint development environment | https://www.gecode.org/
- Debian apt - libgecodeflatzinc49t64 - 6.2.0-7: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgecodeflatzinc49t64 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Gecode support for FlatZinc modelling language | http://www.gecode.org/flatzinc.html
- Debian apt - libgecodegist49t64 - 6.2.0-7: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libgecodegist49t64 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Gecode Interactive Search Tool library | https://www.gecode.org/
- Nix - gecode: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ge/gecode/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Ubuntu apt - flatzinc - 6.2.0-5.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: flatzinc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | constraint problem modelling language | http://www.gecode.org/flatzinc.html
- Ubuntu apt - libgecode-dev - 6.2.0-5.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgecode-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | generic constraint development environment | http://www.gecode.org/
- Ubuntu apt - libgecode-doc - 6.2.0-5.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgecode-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | generic constraint development environment | http://www.gecode.org/
- Ubuntu apt - libgecode49t64 - 6.2.0-5.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgecode49t64 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | generic constraint development environment | http://www.gecode.org/
- Ubuntu apt - libgecodeflatzinc49t64 - 6.2.0-5.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgecodeflatzinc49t64 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Gecode support for FlatZinc modelling language | http://www.gecode.org/flatzinc.html
- Ubuntu apt - libgecodegist49t64 - 6.2.0-5.1build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgecodegist49t64 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Gecode Interactive Search Tool library | http://www.gecode.org/
- zypper - gecode-devel - 6.3.0~git20211208.6b09bea4-1.14: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gecode-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | C++ toolkit for developing constraint-based systems | https://www.gecode.org/
- zypper - gecode-minizinc - 6.3.0~git20211208.6b09bea4-1.14: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: gecode-minizinc from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Gecode minizinc solver | https://www.gecode.org/
- zypper - libgecode51 - 6.3.0~git20211208.6b09bea4-1.14: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libgecode51 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | C++ toolkit for developing constraint-based systems | https://www.gecode.org/
- MacPorts - gecode: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: devel/gecode/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/gecode.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/gecode.yml)
## Sources
- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph