macOS
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brew install kcovprovider-native install command
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Install kcov with Homebrew
Code coverage tester for compiled programs, Python, and shell scripts. Version 43 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-27.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Code coverage tester for compiled programs, Python, and shell scripts
Project links
Commands and aliases
- kcov
- kcov-system-daemon
history
Project history and usage
kcov is a code coverage tool for compiled programs, Python, and shell scripts. Its README says it began as a fork of Bcov and uses DWARF debugging information so programs can be measured without special compiler switches.
Project history
Simon Kagstrom created the GitHub repository in August 2010. From the README's account, kcov started with Bcov's idea of using debug information for coverage and then expanded into a broader coverage-reporting tool with HTML, lcov-style output, Cobertura XML, JSON output, and CI integrations.
Release history documents platform and integration work through the 2010s and 2020s, including Docker images from v31, macOS binaries in v32, FreeBSD and macOS build work in v36, AArch64 support in release 38, RISC-V and Codecov updates in v41, and Cobertura/Jenkins fixes in v43.
Adoption history
The batch input records packages in Homebrew, Debian, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, and openSUSE. Upstream docs also point to an official Docker image, making kcov available through both traditional package managers and container workflows.
How it is used
A typical invocation runs kcov with an output directory and an executable plus arguments. Users filter included or excluded paths, merge multiple coverage runs, and publish reports to CI services such as Coveralls, Codecov, Jenkins, SonarQube, GitHub Actions, and GitLab CI.
Why package nerds care
kcov is notable because it brings coverage to binaries and scripts without requiring the build to be compiled with coverage instrumentation. For distro packagers and CI maintainers, that makes it useful for testing shell-heavy or mixed-language projects where gcov-style workflows are awkward.
Timeline
- 2010-08-23: GitHub repository created.
- 2015-11-02: v29 release published.
- 2016-04-28: v31 release published; README documents official Docker images for releases since v31.
- 2018-08-23: v36 release included FreeBSD port and macOS build fixes.
- 2020-01-17: release 38 added AArch64 support.
- 2024-07-23: v43 release included Cobertura and Jenkins fixes.
Related projects
- kcov descends from Bcov and integrates with coverage-reporting services including Coveralls, Codecov, Jenkins, SonarQube, GitHub Actions, and GitLab CI.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: yellow
generalized runtime or code generation signal.
Risk classifier
yellow risk · medium confidence · runtime
Why
- generalized runtime or code generation signal
Signals
- text:shell
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
kcov | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
kcov-system-daemon | 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 version43
manager updated2026-07-27
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:kcov |
|---|---|
| Version | 43 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://simonkagstrom.github.io/kcov/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/SimonKagstrom/kcov |
| Last updated | 2026-07-27T15:44:48+02:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
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
- Nucleus package database
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation