macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install appstream-gliblocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install appstream-glibMacPorts ports tree · devel/appstream-glib/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install appstream-glib with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, dnf
Helper library for reading and writing AppStream metadata. Version 0.8.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add appstream-glibAlpine Linux edge package indexes · appstream-glib · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install appstream-glib-docDebian stable package indexes · appstream-glib-doc · source: deb.debian.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#appstream-glibnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ap/appstream-glib/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S appstream-glibArch Linux sync databases · appstream-glib · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install appstream-glibopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · appstream-glib · source: download.opensuse.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install appstream-composeFedora Rawhide package metadata · appstream-compose · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
overview
Package summary
Helper library for reading and writing AppStream metadata
Project links
Commands and aliases
- appstream-compose
- appstream-util
history
Project history and usage
AppStream-Glib is a GLib/GObject library and tool suite for reading, writing, validating, and composing AppStream metadata. It historically provided appstream-util, appstream-compose, and appstream-builder workflows used by Linux software-center metadata pipelines.
Project history
The upstream NEWS file records AppStream-Glib 0.1.0 in March 2014. The README describes a library for compressed AppStream XML, Debian DEP-11 YAML, application-store search, screenshot and release metadata, and locale-aware application data.
The repository now warns that appstream-glib is in heavy maintenance mode and recommends using the AppStream reference implementation instead. That warning captures the project's historical role: important infrastructure while AppStream metadata practices were settling, but no longer the preferred new dependency.
Adoption history
AppStream-Glib was closely tied to GNOME Software and Fedora-style metadata generation. Its appstream-builder documentation describes extracting application metadata from package trees, writing XML archives and icon tarballs, and injecting that data into repository metadata with modifyrepo.
The tool was adopted by Linux distributions because software centers needed app-centric metadata that traditional package metadata did not provide: icons, screenshots, localized descriptions, release notes, content ratings, and validation rules.
How it is used
Packagers and distribution maintainers used appstream-util for validation/conversion and appstream-builder or appstream-compose-style flows to generate repository metadata from packages and upstream AppData/MetaInfo files.
The README's builder example shows a package-directory scan producing AppStream XML, failed/ignored metadata reports, and icon archives that can be installed into repository metadata so software-center applications can display richer package information.
Why package nerds care
AppStream-Glib is one of the utilities that made package repositories feel less like file indexes and more like app stores. It matters to package nerds because it bridges distro package metadata, desktop files, AppData/MetaInfo XML, screenshots, icons, and software-center UX.
Its maintenance-mode status is also significant: modern packagers should usually prefer the main AppStream project, but historical build scripts and distribution metadata pipelines may still contain appstream-glib commands.
Timeline
- 2014: NEWS records AppStream-Glib 0.1.0.
- 2015: 0.5.x releases show rapid development around metadata and builder behavior.
- 2022: 0.8.0 ports from libsoup to libcurl and continues validation updates.
- 2024: 0.8.3 release continues maintenance fixes.
Related projects
- AppStream is the specification and current reference implementation recommended by upstream.
- GNOME Software and distribution software centers are primary consumers of the metadata AppStream-Glib helped generate.
- DEP-11 is the Debian-style YAML metadata format the README says appstream-glib can read.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:stream
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 10 platform targets.
- Installs with 5 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 6 build 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
appstream-compose | cli | global executable | |
appstream-util | 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 generated2026-07-08
manager version0.8.3
manager updated2026-06-22
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glibnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:appstream-glib |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.8.3 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/appstream-glib |
| Homepage | https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib |
| Repository | https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib#readme |
| License | LGPL-2.1-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib/archive/refs/tags/appstream_glib_0_8_3.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22T14:02:44-07:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | gdk-pixbuf, gettext, glib, json-glib, libarchive |
| Build dependencies | docbook, docbook-xsl, gobject-introspection, meson, ninja, pkgconf |
| Uses from macOS | curl |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, 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 | appstream-glib |
| 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%
appstream-glib-doc 0.8.3-1
Developer documentation for the libappstream-glib library
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install appstream-glib-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Debian apt95%
appstream-util 0.8.3-1
Utility to work with AppStream metadata
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install appstream-util- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Debian apt95%
gir1.2-appstreamglib-1.0 0.8.3-1
GObject introspection data for the libappstream-glib library
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install gir1.2-appstreamglib-1.0- Section: introspection
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Debian apt95%
libappstream-glib-dev 0.8.3-1
GNOME library to access AppStream services (development files)
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install libappstream-glib-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 10 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Debian apt95%
libappstream-glib8 0.8.3-1
GNOME library to access AppStream services
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install libappstream-glib8- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 7 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Nix95%
appstream-glib
nix profile install nixpkgs#appstream-glib- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Ubuntu apt95%
appstream-glib-doc 0.8.2-1.1build1
Developer documentation for the libappstream-glib library
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install appstream-glib-doc- Section: universe/doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Ubuntu apt95%
appstream-util 0.8.2-1.1build1
Utility to work with AppStream metadata
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install appstream-util- Section: universe/admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Ubuntu apt95%
gir1.2-appstreamglib-1.0 0.8.2-1.1build1
GObject introspection data for the libappstream-glib library
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install gir1.2-appstreamglib-1.0- Section: universe/introspection
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Ubuntu apt95%
libappstream-glib-dev 0.8.2-1.1build1
GNOME library to access AppStream services (development files)
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install libappstream-glib-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 10 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
Ubuntu apt95%
libappstream-glib8 0.8.2-1.1build1
GNOME library to access AppStream services
https://github.com/hughsie/appstream-glib
sudo apt install libappstream-glib8- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 8 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
apk95%
appstream-glib 0.8.3-r0
Library for AppStream metadata
https://people.freedesktop.org/~hughsient/appstream-glib/
sudo apk add appstream-glib- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
apk95%
appstream-glib-bash-completion 0.8.3-r0
Bash completions for appstream-glib
https://people.freedesktop.org/~hughsient/appstream-glib/
sudo apk add appstream-glib-bash-completion- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
apk95%
appstream-glib-builder 0.8.3-r0
Library and command line tools for building AppStream metadata
https://people.freedesktop.org/~hughsient/appstream-glib/
sudo apk add appstream-glib-builder- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
apk95%
appstream-glib-dbg 0.8.3-r0
Library for AppStream metadata (debug symbols)
https://people.freedesktop.org/~hughsient/appstream-glib/
sudo apk add appstream-glib-dbg- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
apk95%
appstream-glib-dev 0.8.3-r0
Library for AppStream metadata (development files)
https://people.freedesktop.org/~hughsient/appstream-glib/
sudo apk add appstream-glib-dev- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: appstream-glib
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Appstream Glib
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
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment