brew / rank 6504

Install gerbil-scheme with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix

Opinionated dialect of Scheme designed for Systems Programming. Version 0.18.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with macports: sudo port install gerbil.

Install command Security notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install gerbil-scheme

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install gerbil

MacPorts ports tree · science/gerbil/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#gerbil

nixpkgs package indexes · gerbil · source: raw.githubusercontent.com

overview

Package summary

Opinionated dialect of Scheme designed for Systems Programming

Project links

Commands and aliases

gerbil
gxc
gxensemble
gxensemble-test
gxhttpd
gxhttpd-ensemble-test
gxhttpd-test
gxi
gxpkg
gxprof
gxtags
gxtest

history

Project history and usage

Gerbil Scheme is an opinionated Scheme dialect for systems programming, built on the Gambit runtime and compiler. It combines a macro system, a module system, ahead-of-time compilation, and a broad standard library for developers who want a Scheme environment with practical systems tooling.

Project history

The Gerbil README traces the language to Dimitris Vyzovitis, also known as vyzo, who kept Gerbil as a private Scheme for many years. It evolved from shared macros across implementations into a PLT-style macro language for actor-oriented distributed programming before being released with a source-based bootstrap.

The public implementation standardized on Gambit because the maintainer considered it a portable, performant, low-level Scheme kernel. The repository metadata records the public GitHub project opening in 2016, while the README copyright notice covers work from 2007 through 2023.

Adoption history

Gerbil occupies a specialized place in the Scheme ecosystem: it appeals to programmers who want Scheme syntax and macros while keeping access to native compilation, FFI-oriented systems work, packages, networking libraries, and command-line tooling.

How it is used

Users interact with Gerbil through tools such as `gxi` for the interpreter and `gxc` for compilation. Practitioners build modules, compile programs ahead of time through Gambit, use the standard library, and manage Gerbil projects through the included command-line tools.

Why package nerds care

For package-manager users, Gerbil is notable because it packages an entire language stack rather than a single executable. Installing it through Homebrew, MacPorts, or Nix gives Scheme users a repeatable way to obtain the interpreter, compiler, package tooling, and supporting runtime.

Timeline

2007: The README copyright range begins for Gerbil work by Dimitris Vyzovitis and contributors.
2016: The public GitHub repository was opened.
After private development: Gerbil was released with a source-based bootstrap on Gambit.

Related projects

Gambit Scheme, Racket, Chibi, SRFI 115, SRFI 159

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:http

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
`gerbil`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxc`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxensemble`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxensemble-test`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxhttpd`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxhttpd-ensemble-test`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxhttpd-test`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxi`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxpkg`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxprof`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxtags`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`gxtest`	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 version0.18.2

manager updated

local dataunknown

upstreamnot available

latest detectednot detected

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:gerbil-scheme
Version	0.18.2
Package manager	Homebrew
Homepage	https://cons.io
Repository	https://github.com/mighty-gerbils/gerbil
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.

MacPorts94%

gerbil

sudo port install gerbil

installed executable or alias match
Matched by: Gerbil

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: science/gerbil/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Nix92%