# Install aspell with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, zypper Spell checker with better logic than ispell. Version 0.60.8.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:aspell ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install aspell ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install aspell ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: textproc/aspell/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add aspell ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: aspell from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install aspell ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: aspell from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install aspell ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: aspell 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#aspell ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: aspell from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S aspell ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: aspell from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install aspell ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: aspell from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ### Windows - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/aspell ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/aspell.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:aspell - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.60.8.2 - **Source summary:** Spell checker with better logic than ispell - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-only - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - aspell (cli) - aspell-import (cli) - precat (cli) - preunzip (cli) - prezip (cli) - prezip-bin (cli) - pspell-config (cli) - run-with-aspell (cli) - word-list-compress (cli) - aspell (alias) - aspell-import (alias) - precat (alias) - preunzip (alias) - prezip (alias) - prezip-bin (alias) - pspell-config (alias) - run-with-aspell (alias) - word-list-compress (alias) ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## 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: 0.60.8.2 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: http://aspell.net/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage GNU Aspell is a GNU spell checker by Kevin Atkinson, designed as a replacement for Ispell and usable either as a library or as an independent command-line spell checker. Its manual emphasizes better replacement suggestions, UTF-8 document checking without special dictionaries, locale awareness, multiple dictionaries, and safer handling of personal dictionaries across concurrent processes. ### Project history The official manual identifies Aspell as a spell checker intended to eventually replace Ispell. Savannah lists GNU Aspell as official GNU software, names Kevin Atkinson as group admin, and records the project registration date as 23 November 2001. Aspell's project history is also a history of Unix spell-checker interfaces. The manual documents command-line use, an Ispell compatibility mode, integration with applications such as Emacs, XEmacs, Vim, Pine, and Enchant-based applications, plus C API and pipe-based interfaces for programs that embed or drive spell checking. The manual copyright range runs from 2000 to 2026 and the generated manual title identifies version 0.60.8.2, showing a mature maintenance line rather than a rapid-release CLI. ### Adoption history The Homebrew input records Aspell across apk, Homebrew, Debian, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, Scoop, Ubuntu, and zypper. That is broad cross-platform packaging for a traditional Unix text utility, helped by its GNU status and its use as a backend for editors and other applications. Aspell's adoption came from both interactive command-line use and library/backend use. The manual's comparison to Ispell and Hunspell positions it as part of the lineage of spell-checking engines available to editors, mail clients, and text-processing tools. ### How it is used Users can run `aspell` directly for spell-checking files, use it as an Ispell replacement, call it through a pipe protocol, or link to its C API. Companion utilities in the package handle dictionary import, compressed word lists, and prezip/preunzip workflows. Configuration can come from command-line options, global and personal configuration files, or the `ASPELL_CONF` environment variable. The manual says the personal file is normally `.aspell.conf` in `HOME`, while the global file is normally `aspell.conf` under an `etc` directory such as `/usr/etc` or `/usr/local/etc`. ### Why package nerds care Aspell is classic package-manager territory: a small CLI, a library, dictionaries and word-list tooling, editor integrations, and a global/personal configuration story. It often matters less as a visible app than as the spell-checking engine another package expects. Its continued packaging across Unix-like systems and Windows package managers makes it a useful compatibility target for scripts and editor setups that predate newer spell-checking backends. ### Timeline - 2000: Manual copyright range begins, indicating early Aspell documentation and development. - 2001-11-23: Savannah records GNU Aspell project registration. - 0.60 series: Manual documents UTF-8 handling, multiple dictionaries, personal dictionary behavior, Ispell compatibility, C API, pipe mode, and application integrations. - 2026: Manual title and copyright range show GNU Aspell 0.60.8.2 documentation maintained through 2026. ### Related projects - Aspell is directly compared with Ispell and Hunspell in its manual. - The manual documents use with Enchant-based applications, Emacs, XEmacs, Vim, and Pine. ### Sources - - - - - input.source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool 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 - Unix: ~/.aspell.conf, /usr/local/etc/aspell.conf, /usr/etc/aspell.conf ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** aspell - **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 - aspell - 0.60.8.1-4: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: aspell from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | GNU Aspell spell-checker | http://aspell.net/ - Debian apt - aspell-doc - 0.60.8.1-4: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: aspell-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Documentation for GNU Aspell spell-checker | http://aspell.net/ - Debian apt - libaspell-dev - 0.60.8.1-4: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libaspell-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Development files for applications with GNU Aspell support | http://aspell.net/ - Debian apt - libaspell15 - 0.60.8.1-4: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libaspell15 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | GNU Aspell spell-checker runtime library | http://aspell.net/ - Debian apt - libpspell-dev - 0.60.8.1-4: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libpspell-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Development files for applications with pspell support | http://aspell.net/ - Nix - aspell: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: aspell from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - Ubuntu apt - aspell - 0.60.8.1-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: aspell from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | GNU Aspell spell-checker | http://aspell.net/ - Ubuntu apt - aspell-doc - 0.60.8.1-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: aspell-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Documentation for GNU Aspell spell-checker | http://aspell.net/ - Ubuntu apt - libaspell-dev - 0.60.8.1-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libaspell-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Development files for applications with GNU Aspell support | http://aspell.net/ - Ubuntu apt - libaspell15 - 0.60.8.1-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libaspell15 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | GNU Aspell spell-checker runtime library | http://aspell.net/ - Ubuntu apt - libpspell-dev - 0.60.8.1-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libpspell-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Development files for applications with pspell support | http://aspell.net/ - apk - aspell - 0.60.8.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: aspell from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A spell checker designed to eventually replace Ispell | http://aspell.net/ - apk - aspell-compat - 0.60.8.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: aspell-compat from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | aspell compatibility scripts for ispell and unix spell | http://aspell.net/ - apk - aspell-dev - 0.60.8.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: aspell-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A spell checker designed to eventually replace Ispell (development files) | http://aspell.net/ - apk - aspell-doc - 0.60.8.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: aspell-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A spell checker designed to eventually replace Ispell (documentation) | http://aspell.net/ - apk - aspell-lang - 0.60.8.2-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: aspell-lang from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Languages for package aspell | http://aspell.net/ ## 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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [enchant](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/enchant/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [php@8.1](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/php-8-1/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [php@8.2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/php-8-2/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [php@8.3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/php-8-3/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [hspell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hspell/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dictionary, productivity, spell-checker, spell-checking. - [ispell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ispell/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, spell-checker, spell-checking, text-processing. - [nuspell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nuspell/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, spell-checker, spell-checking. - [a2ps](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/a2ps/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, gnu, productivity. - [asciidoc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/asciidoc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-processing. - [bookloupe](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bookloupe/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, productivity, text-processing. - [dict](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dict/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dictionary, productivity. - [diction](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/diction/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, gnu, productivity. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/aspell.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/aspell.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 - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph