Install solidity with Homebrew, dnf, MacPorts, scoop, Nix

Project links

• Homepage
• Repository

Commands and aliases

• solc
• yul-phaser

Project history

The official repository README describes Solidity as a statically typed, contract-oriented, high-level language for implementing smart contracts on Ethereum. The docs describe it as a curly-bracket language influenced mainly by C++, with some earlier JavaScript influence reduced from version 0.4.0.

The official changelog records the 0.1.0 release in 2015, 0.4.0 in 2016, 0.5.0 in 2018, 0.6.0 in 2019, 0.7.0 in 2020, and 0.8.0 in 2020. The project remains in the 0.x version series and the README explains that breaking changes, new features, and bug fixes arrive regularly.

Adoption history

Solidity became a core package in Ethereum developer environments because smart-contract projects need a specific compiler to match source pragmas and audit expectations. The supplied package-manager facts list Homebrew, Fedora/dnf, MacPorts, Nix, and Scoop packaging.

The official installation docs reflect this broad packaging story: they cover npm/Node.js `solcjs`, Docker images, static binaries, Homebrew, source builds, and the official compiler binary repository.

How it is used

Developers use `solc` directly for command-line compilation, often in larger contract projects or where compiler options matter, and can also use `solc --standard-json` for tool integration. The docs distinguish the full `solc` compiler from `solcjs`, whose command-line options are not compatible with `solc`.

Why package nerds care

Solidity is significant for package maintainers because compiler reproducibility is part of contract security. Old projects may require old compiler versions, current projects may need the newest bug fixes, and package managers must decide whether to ship one moving compiler, versioned formulae, static binaries, or external shims such as solc-select.

Timeline

• 2015: Solidity 0.1.0 appears in the official changelog.
• 2016: Solidity 0.4.0 is released, including version pragmas.
• 2018: Solidity 0.5.0 is released.
• 2019: Solidity 0.6.0 is released.
• 2020: Solidity 0.7.0 and 0.8.0 are released.
• 2026: Solidity 0.8.35 is recorded in the official changelog.

Related projects

• solc-js is derived from the C++ compiler via Emscripten. solc-bin provides official static compiler builds. solc-select uses Solidity's official binary distribution to switch compiler versions.

Sources

• Input package-manager facts: source_facts.package-manager
• Official README: https://github.com/argotorg/solidity
• Official changelog: https://github.com/argotorg/solidity/blob/develop/Changelog.md
• Official docs: https://docs.soliditylang.org/
• Official installing docs: https://docs.soliditylang.org/en/latest/installing-solidity.html
• Official language influences docs: https://docs.soliditylang.org/en/latest/language-influences.html