# Install aarch64-elf-gdb with Homebrew GNU debugger for aarch64-elf cross development. Version 17.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-26. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:aarch64-elf-gdb ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install aarch64-elf-gdb ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:aarch64-elf-gdb - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 17.2 - **Source summary:** GNU debugger for aarch64-elf cross development - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-05-26T23:37:45-04:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - aarch64-elf-gdb (cli) - aarch64-elf-gdb-add-index (cli) - aarch64-elf-gstack (cli) - aarch64-elf-gdb (alias) - aarch64-elf-gdb-add-index (alias) - aarch64-elf-gstack (alias) ## Dependencies - gmp - mpfr - ncurses - python@3.14 - readline - xz - zstd ## Build dependencies - pkgconf - texinfo ## Uses from macOS - expat ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 17.2 - Package-manager updated: 2026-05-26 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage aarch64-elf-gdb is Homebrew's target-prefixed packaging of GDB, the GNU Project debugger, for AArch64 ELF cross development. It provides aarch64-elf-gdb and related helper executables for debugging target programs rather than host-native programs. ### Project history The official GDB download page identifies GDB as the GNU Project Debugger and says releases go back to the 2.4/2.8 timeframe in 1988. Sourceware hosts the current documentation, release schedule, and the combined binutils-gdb.git source repository. The Sourceware git summary publishes the official HTTPS repository URL and describes the repository as gdb and binutils. The GDB schedule page tracks modern release history, including GDB 17.2 in 2026. ### Adoption history GDB became the standard debugger companion for GNU compiler and Binutils toolchains, and package managers often publish target-prefixed GDB builds for embedded or cross-development workflows. Homebrew's formula is one of those target-specific packages for aarch64-elf. Official Homebrew analytics show the formula is specialized but actively used, matching the narrower audience for cross-debugging compared with host-native debugging. ### How it is used Users install aarch64-elf-gdb to debug AArch64 ELF programs, often alongside aarch64-elf-gcc and aarch64-elf-binutils. In cross workflows it is commonly used with remote targets, simulators, emulators, or debug stubs rather than running the target binary directly on the host. GDB reads early and general initialization files at startup. The official manual documents different home-directory locations for non-macOS and macOS hosts, plus a local .gdbinit loaded from the current working directory. ### Why package nerds care This package matters because debugger target triples are as important as compiler target triples: the wrong GDB can misunderstand registers, ABI details, executable formats, or remote target expectations. For package nerds, aarch64-elf-gdb completes the familiar GNU cross-toolchain set: Binutils for object manipulation, GCC for compilation, and GDB for debug sessions. ### Timeline - 1988: The official GDB download page says old releases go back to the 2.4/2.8 timeframe. - 2025: The GDB schedule page lists the GDB 17 branch date as June 21, 2025. - 2026: Sourceware git tags list GDB 17.2 as a release. - 2026: Homebrew's aarch64-elf-gdb formula packages GDB 17.2 for aarch64-elf cross development. ### Related projects - GNU Binutils shares the binutils-gdb.git repository and supplies lower-level binary utilities used in GNU toolchains. - GCC is the compiler commonly paired with GDB for source-level debugging of GNU-built programs. - The aarch64-elf-binutils and aarch64-elf-gcc Homebrew formulae are target-matched companions. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes escape, surveillance, or offensive capability signal. - **Geiger risk:** red / medium - escape, surveillance, or offensive capability 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 - Linux: $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gdb/gdbearlyinit, ~/.config/gdb/gdbearlyinit, ~/.gdbearlyinit, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gdb/gdbinit, ~/.config/gdb/gdbinit, ~/.gdbinit, .gdbinit - macOS: ~/Library/Preferences/gdb/gdbearlyinit, ~/.gdbearlyinit, ~/Library/Preferences/gdb/gdbinit, ~/.gdbinit, .gdbinit ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** aarch64-elf-gdb - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [ncurses](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ncurses/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [python@3.14](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/python-3-14/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [xz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xz/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [zstd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/zstd/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [texinfo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/texinfo/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [arm-none-eabi-gdb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/arm-none-eabi-gdb/) - Shares the same upstream homepage. - [gdb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gdb/) - Shares the same upstream homepage. - [i386-elf-gdb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/i386-elf-gdb/) - Shares the same upstream homepage. - [riscv64-elf-gdb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/riscv64-elf-gdb/) - Shares the same upstream homepage. - [x86_64-elf-gdb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/x86-64-elf-gdb/) - Shares the same upstream homepage. - [cgdb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cgdb/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugger, debuggers, developer-tools, gdb. - [ddd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ddd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugger, developer-tools, gdb. - [gdbgui](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gdbgui/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugger, developer-tools, gdb. - [aarch64-elf-binutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aarch64-elf-binutils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: aarch64, cli, developer-tools. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/aarch64-elf-gdb.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/aarch64-elf-gdb.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - cross-ecosystem install command graph