# Install appstream with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Tools and libraries to work with AppStream metadata. Version 1.1.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-20. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:appstream ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install appstream ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install appstream ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: gnome/appstream/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add appstream ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: appstream from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install appstream ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: appstream from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install appstream ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: appstream from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#appstream ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: appstream from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S appstream ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: appstream from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install AppStream ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: AppStream from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:appstream - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.1.3 - **Source summary:** Tools and libraries to work with AppStream metadata - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-20T07:48:06Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - appstreamcli (cli) - appstreamcli (alias) ## Dependencies - gettext - glib - libfyaml - libxmlb - zstd ## Build dependencies - gobject-introspection - gtk-doc - itstool - meson - ninja - pkgconf - vala ## Uses from macOS - curl - libxml2 ## 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: 1.1.3 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-20 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/ximion/appstream - Upstream latest detected: v1.1.3 (current) ## Project history and usage AppStream is the freedesktop.org specification, reference implementation, and CLI/tooling for distro-agnostic software component metadata. It standardizes MetaInfo XML, catalog XML/YAML, validation, metadata composition, and query tooling used by Linux software centers and repositories. ### Project history The freedesktop.org project page describes AppStream as a cross-distribution effort to standardize software component metadata and provide the foundation for software-center applications. It points to the specification, mailing list, release tarballs, and the GitHub development repository. The official documentation credits Matthias Klumpp as author and lists Michael Vogt, Richard Hughes, and Vincent Untz as contributors. It says the documentation covers a C/GLib reference implementation of the full specification and tooling such as `appstreamcli`. The upstream NEWS file records AppStream 0.1.0 in October 2012. The freedesktop wiki notes an initial AppStream meeting in 2011 in its attic, which places the effort in the early Linux software-center era. ### Adoption history AppStream adoption followed the need for application-centric package metadata in Linux distributions. Traditional package metadata tells a package manager what files and dependencies exist; AppStream adds names, summaries, screenshots, icons, release data, content metadata, firmware and driver component metadata, and a normalized view for graphical software catalogs. The project became important to distributions, Flatpak-like ecosystems, upstream application authors, and desktop software centers because it gives them a shared metadata language rather than one distro-specific app-store format. The README describes AppStream as part of freedesktop.org and lists tools for validation, data verification, diagnostics, and catalog composition. That made the CLI useful both in distro build infrastructure and in upstream CI checks for MetaInfo files. ### How it is used Upstream projects write MetaInfo XML files for applications, fonts, codecs, firmware, drivers, add-ons, and other components. Distributions package or compose those files into AppStream catalog metadata in XML or YAML. Maintainers commonly use `appstreamcli validate --pedantic /path/to/metadata.xml` to check metadata and `appstreamcli compose` to build catalogs from directory trees. Consumers such as software centers query the resulting metadata through libappstream. ### Why package nerds care AppStream is package metadata with UX consequences. It is why distro repositories can feed graphical app stores with screenshots, localized descriptions, component IDs, content ratings, release notes, and installable firmware/driver metadata without each frontend inventing a private database. For package nerds, the interesting part is that AppStream sits between upstream source releases, distro package builds, repository metadata, and desktop UX. A broken AppStream ID or invalid MetaInfo file can affect discoverability even when the package itself installs correctly. ### Timeline - 2011: freedesktop wiki references initial AppStream meeting materials in the project attic. - 2012: upstream NEWS records AppStream 0.1.0. - 2013: freedesktop wiki page creation date appears in the page metadata. - 2015: NEWS records 0.8.x releases during early distribution adoption. - 2026: official documentation identifies AppStream 1.0 documentation published in June 2026. ### Related projects - appstream-glib is the older GLib helper library and builder toolchain now in maintenance mode. - appstream-generator is listed by upstream as a distribution metadata generator using libappstream-compose internally. - DEP-11 is the Debian-derived YAML catalog metadata format described by the AppStream specification. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** appstream - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - appstream - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: appstream from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Software component metadata management | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - appstream-compose - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: appstream-compose from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Compose metadata catalogs from directory trees | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - appstream-doc - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: appstream-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Developer documentation for AppStream | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - apt-config-icons - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: apt-config-icons from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | APT configuration snippet to enable icon downloads | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - apt-config-icons-hidpi - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: apt-config-icons-hidpi from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | APT configuration snippet to enable HiDPI icon downloads | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - apt-config-icons-large - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: apt-config-icons-large from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | APT configuration snippet to enable large icon downloads | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - apt-config-icons-large-hidpi - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: apt-config-icons-large-hidpi from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | APT configuration snippet to enable large HiDPI icon downloads | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - gir1.2-appstream-1.0 - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: gir1.2-appstream-1.0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Library to access AppStream services (introspection data) | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - gir1.2-appstreamcompose-1.0 - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: gir1.2-appstreamcompose-1.0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Building blocks to compose AppStream metadata (introspection data) | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - libappstream-compose-dev - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libappstream-compose-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Building blocks to compose AppStream metadata (development files) | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - libappstream-compose0 - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libappstream-compose0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Building blocks to compose AppStream metadata | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - libappstream-dev - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libappstream-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Library to access AppStream services (development files) | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - libappstream5 - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libappstream5 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Library to access AppStream services | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - libappstreamqt-dev - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libappstreamqt-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Qt6 library to access AppStream services (development files) | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - libappstreamqt3 - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libappstreamqt3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Qt6 library to access AppStream services | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ - Debian apt - libappstreamqt5-3 - 1.0.5-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libappstreamqt5-3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Qt5 library to access AppStream services | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Distributions/AppStream/ ## 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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Documentation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/documentation-tools/) - Matched documentation, manual, or publishing metadata. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libfyaml](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libfyaml/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libxmlb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libxmlb/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [zstd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/zstd/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gobject-introspection](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gobject-introspection/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gtk-doc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gtk-doc/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [itstool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/itstool/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [meson](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/meson/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libadwaita](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libadwaita/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [appstream-glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/appstream-glib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, metadata, system. - [desktop-file-utils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/desktop-file-utils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, freedesktop, system. - [gtrash](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gtrash/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, freedesktop, system. - [libosinfo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libosinfo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, metadata, system. - [osinfo-db-tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/osinfo-db-tools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, metadata, system. - [shared-mime-info](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/shared-mime-info/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, freedesktop, system. - [tag](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tag/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, metadata, system. - [fwupd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fwupd/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, gettext, glib, libxmlb, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/appstream.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/appstream.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph