macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install pngcrushlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install pngcrushMacPorts ports tree · graphics/pngcrush/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew / rank 2929
Install pngcrush with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, scoop
Optimizer for PNG files. Version 1.8.13 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-11. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install pngcrush.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add pngcrushAlpine Linux edge package indexes · pngcrush · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install pngcrushDebian stable package indexes · pngcrush · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install pngcrushFedora Rawhide package metadata · pngcrush · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#pngcrushnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pn/pngcrush/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S pngcrushArch Linux sync databases · pngcrush · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install pngcrushopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · pngcrush · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/pngcrushScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/pngcrush.json · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Optimizer for PNG files
Project links
Commands and aliases
- pngcrush
history
Project history and usage
Pngcrush is a command-line optimizer that losslessly reduces PNG files by trying combinations of PNG filters and zlib compression settings; it can also remove, preserve, or add ancillary chunks.
Project history
Glenn Randers-Pehrson created pngcrush as a command-line PNG optimizer in the PNG and MNG Tools project. Its central design repeatedly compresses image data using different PNG filters and zlib settings, retaining the smallest valid result.
The early 1.x line moved from registration-gated distribution to an open-source license and expanded from recompression into chunk editing, metadata operations, recovery of some malformed files, color reductions, and platform portability.
Adoption history
pngcrush became part of the classic Unix PNG-optimization toolkit and has been packaged across numerous Linux, BSD, macOS, and Windows-oriented package collections. Its portability and scriptable interface make it suitable for build, publishing, and asset pipelines.
Its continued maintenance has followed libpng and zlib closely, incorporating new chunks, parser fixes, architecture optimizations, and changes needed to build against different library generations.
How it is used
Users run pngcrush on an input and output PNG, optionally selecting a compression method or a wider search. The default workflow preserves image pixels while seeking a smaller IDAT stream.
Additional options can remove unwanted ancillary chunks, add or rewrite metadata, repair certain CRC and structural errors, preserve timestamps, or overwrite through a temporary output file.
Why package nerds care
pngcrush exposes the search space behind lossless PNG compression: filters, Deflate levels, strategies, chunk handling, and optional brute-force trials. It appeals to package and release engineers who need deterministic pixel preservation and detailed control over the output datastream.
The project also illustrates the maintenance burden of long-lived native image tools, including bundled-versus-system libraries, format extensions, security fixes, and architecture-specific optimization.
Timeline
- Early 1.x era: pngcrush began as Glenn Randers-Pehrson's PNG recompression utility.
- Version 1.2.0: Registration was removed and the project adopted an open-source license.
- Version 1.4.5: Recovery and color-analysis capabilities expanded.
- Version 1.7.0: Limited animated-PNG chunk preservation was added.
- Version 1.8: Performance controls and additional architecture optimizations were introduced.
Related projects
- OptiPNG was inspired by pngcrush and explores a similar lossless filter-and-compression search space with a different in-memory design and preset model.
- libpng and zlib are the core PNG and Deflate implementations maintained alongside or used by pngcrush.
- pngnq's official workflow recommends pngcrush as a second-stage lossless compressor after palette quantization.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 7 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
pngcrush | cli | global executable |
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 generated2026-11-04
manager version1.8.13
manager updated2026-09-11
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://pmt.sourceforge.io/pngcrush/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://pmt.sourceforge.io/pngcrush/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:pngcrush |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.8.13 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/pngcrush |
| Homepage | https://pmt.sourceforge.io/pngcrush/ |
| Upstream docs | https://pmt.sourceforge.io/pngcrush/ |
| License | LicenseRef-Homebrew-cannot-represent |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/pmt/pngcrush/1.8.13/pngcrush-1.8.13-nolib.tar.xz |
| Last updated | 2026-09-11T13:19:04Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | libpng |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_golden_gate, arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | pngcrush |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
pngcrush 1.8.13-1+b1
optimizes PNG (Portable Network Graphics) files
http://pmt.sourceforge.net/pngcrush/
sudo apt install pngcrush- Section: graphics
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pngcrush
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
Nix95%
pngcrush
nix profile install nixpkgs#pngcrush- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
Ubuntu apt95%
pngcrush 1.8.13-1build2
optimizes PNG (Portable Network Graphics) files
http://pmt.sourceforge.net/pngcrush/
sudo apt install pngcrush- Section: universe/graphics
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
apk95%
pngcrush 1.8.13-r2
PNG recompression utility
https://pmt.sourceforge.net/pngcrush/
sudo apk add pngcrush- License: Zlib
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: pngcrush
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
dnf95%
pngcrush 1.8.13-27.fc45
Optimizer for PNG (Portable Network Graphics) files
http://pmt.sourceforge.net/pngcrush/
sudo dnf install pngcrush- License: Zlib
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: pngcrush
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
pacman95%
pngcrush 1.8.13-4
Tool for optimizing the compression of PNG files
http://pmt.sourceforge.net/pngcrush
sudo pacman -S pngcrush- License: custom
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
zypper95%
pngcrush 1.8.13-2.9
Optimizer for PNG Files that can also insert or delete specified Chunks
https://pmt.sourceforge.io/pngcrush/
sudo zypper install pngcrush- License: Zlib
- Category: Productivity/Graphics/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: pngcrush
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
MacPorts95%
pngcrush
sudo port install pngcrush- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
Scoop95%
main/pngcrush
scoop install main/pngcrush- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pngcrush
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
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation