# Install libiodbc with Homebrew, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman
Database connectivity layer based on ODBC. (alternative to unixodbc). Version 3.52.16 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#libiodbc.
## Install
```sh
sudo av install brew:libiodbc
```
Additional install commands:
### macOS
- Homebrew (100%):
```sh
brew install libiodbc
```
Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata
- MacPorts (94%):
```sh
sudo port install libiodbc
```
Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/libiodbc/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
### Linux
- dnf (92%):
```sh
sudo dnf install libiodbc
```
Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libiodbc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst
- Nix (92%):
```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#libiodbc
```
Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libiodbc/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- pacman (92%):
```sh
sudo pacman -S libiodbc
```
Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libiodbc from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
## Package facts
- **Package key:** brew:libiodbc
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 3.52.16
- **Source summary:** Database connectivity layer based on ODBC. (alternative to unixodbc)
- **Homepage:**
- **Repository:**
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00
## Executables
- iodbc-config (alias)
- iodbctest (alias)
- iodbctestw (alias)
## Install behavior
- Bottle: not available
## Freshness
- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 3.52.16
## Project history and usage
iODBC is an open source ODBC driver manager for Unix-like systems and other platforms. In package-manager terms, libiodbc is the alternative ODBC driver-manager stack most often compared with unixODBC.
### Project history
The iODBC source tree carries copyright attribution to Ke Jin in 1995 and OpenLink Software from 1996 onward. The official FAQ says iODBC stands for Independent Open Database Connectivity, is dual-licensed under BSD and LGPL terms, and is hosted by OpenLink for the wider community as a free ODBC driver-manager component for Linux, macOS, Unix-like systems, VMS, and other platforms.
The README frames iODBC as a complete implementation of an ODBC driver manager plus the iodbctest command-line SQL interface. It also documents the Unix configuration model around ODBCINI, ~/.odbc.ini, system odbc.ini, and odbcinst.ini, which became the practical shape that packagers and administrators deal with.
### Adoption history
iODBC appears in long-running Unix and macOS packaging because many database clients and language bindings need a driver manager that can load vendor ODBC drivers. The official downloads page lists source builds, macOS SDK installers, and distro package names for Debian-family, Fedora, Gentoo, and FreeBSD systems.
### How it is used
Users install libiodbc to provide libiodbc, iodbc-config, iodbctest, and related driver-manager pieces. It is used to define DSNs, load ODBC driver shared libraries, test database connectivity, and support applications that speak the ODBC API rather than a database-specific client API.
### Why package nerds care
libiodbc matters because ODBC is a cross-language, cross-database compatibility layer, and driver managers sit at an awkward boundary between system configuration, dynamic linking, GUI setup tools, and per-driver credentials. The package is also historically interesting on macOS because Apple shipped iODBC components while package managers continued to carry OpenLink-maintained builds.
### Timeline
- 1995: The source tree records the original iODBC copyright attribution to Ke Jin.
- 1996: OpenLink Software began the copyright period recorded by the project and later became custodian and sponsor according to the official FAQ.
- 2009-09-11: iODBC 3.52.7 added the iODBC Graphical Administrator for Mac OS X and other driver-manager fixes.
- 2016-07-12: iODBC 3.52.12 added Cocoa dialogs and a 64-bit iODBC Administrator for Mac OS X workflows.
- 2023-05-02: OpenLink published the 3.52.16 release on GitHub.
### Related projects
- Related projects include unixODBC as the other common open source ODBC driver manager, OpenLink ODBC drivers, Virtuoso, language bindings such as DBD::ODBC and Ruby/ODBC, and database-specific ODBC drivers for PostgreSQL, MySQL, and commercial databases.
### Sources
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## Security Notes
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
- **Geiger risk:** blue / medium
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
## Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
## Configuration files
- Unix: $ODBCINI, ~/.odbc.ini, /etc/odbc.ini, /etc/odbcinst.ini
## Credential files
- Unix: $ODBCINI, ~/.odbc.ini, /etc/odbc.ini
## Other Package-Manager Records
- Nix - libiodbc: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libiodbc/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- dnf - libiodbc - 3.52.16-6.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libiodbc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | iODBC Driver Manager | http://www.iodbc.org/
- dnf - libiodbc-devel - 3.52.16-6.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libiodbc-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Header files and libraries for iODBC development | http://www.iodbc.org/
- pacman - libiodbc - 3.52.16-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: libiodbc from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Independent Open DataBase Connectivity for Linux | http://www.iodbc.org/dataspace/doc/iodbc/wiki/iodbcWiki/
- MacPorts - libiodbc: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: devel/libiodbc/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/libiodbc.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/libiodbc.yml)
## Sources
- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph