macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install babllocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install bablMacPorts ports tree · graphics/babl/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install babl with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Dynamic, any-to-any, pixel format translation library. Version 0.1.126 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add bablAlpine Linux edge package indexes · babl · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install gir1.2-babl-0.1Debian stable package indexes · gir1.2-babl-0.1 · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install bablFedora Rawhide package metadata · babl · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#bablnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ba/babl/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S bablArch Linux sync databases · babl · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install babl-developenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · babl-devel · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Dynamic, any-to-any, pixel format translation library
Project links
Commands and aliases
- babl
history
Project history and usage
babl is a C library and small command-line tool for pixel encoding, pixel-format introspection, and color-space conversion. It is most visible as infrastructure under GEGL and GIMP rather than as an end-user application.
Project history
The official babl site describes it as a pixel encoding and color-space conversion engine with a vocabulary for building new pixel formats from existing primitives. Its source tree is hosted by GNOME, and the site says babl releases are often made just before GEGL releases when GEGL needs significant babl improvements.
The project has grown from a format-conversion library into a portability-sensitive graphics component. Recent NEWS entries show work on ICC handling, SIMD and CPU-specific paths, lookup-table behavior, Windows/MSVC support, and a command-line tool added in the 0.1.94 release.
Adoption history
babl's adoption is mostly indirect: the official documentation states that GIMP pixel storage uses GEGL's GeglBuffer and implicit conversions using babl formats. The package appears across Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Nix, MacPorts, Alpine, and openSUSE metadata in the supplied package-manager facts.
How it is used
Most users encounter babl as a build and runtime dependency of image software. Developers use its C API to name formats, convert buffers, add color models or data types, and rely on babl's runtime profiling and cached conversion selection for fast pixel pipelines.
Why package nerds care
For package maintainers, babl is a classic small-but-central graphics dependency: it is not flashy, but version skew can affect GIMP/GEGL builds, color-management behavior, SIMD dispatch, and cross-platform packaging. Its significance is the kind dependency-graph people notice when a desktop graphics stack fails to build.
Timeline
- 2018: GNOME GitLab metadata records the babl project on gitlab.gnome.org.
- 2019: babl 0.1.62 NEWS notes initial CMYK spaces with lcms2-based ICC support.
- 2022: babl 0.1.94 NEWS notes the addition of a command-line tool.
- 2025: babl 0.1.114 NEWS notes ICC TRC cache fixes and BABL_ICC_INTENT_DEFAULT.
- 2026: babl 0.1.126 NEWS notes that building with MSVC is now possible.
Related projects
- GEGL is babl's closest companion project: the babl site explicitly links babl releases and GEGL needs. GIMP is the major downstream application named by the official docs. lcms2 is relevant for ICC profile and CMYK color-management support.
Sources
- https://gegl.org/babl
- https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/babl/-/raw/master/NEWS
- source_facts.package-manager
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
babl | 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 version0.1.126
manager updated2026-06-22
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.gegl.org/babl/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:babl |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.1.126 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/babl |
| Homepage | https://www.gegl.org/babl/ |
| Repository | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/babl |
| Upstream docs | https://gegl.org/babl |
| License | LGPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://download.gimp.org/pub/babl/0.1/babl-0.1.126.tar.xz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22T14:02:50-07:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | little-cms2 |
| Build dependencies | glib, gobject-introspection, meson, ninja, pcre2, pkgconf, vala |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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 | babl |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| 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%
gir1.2-babl-0.1 1:0.1.114-2
GObject introspection data for Babl library
sudo apt install gir1.2-babl-0.1- Section: introspection
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: babl
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
Debian apt95%
libbabl-0.1-0 1:0.1.114-2
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library
sudo apt install libbabl-0.1-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: babl
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
Debian apt95%
libbabl-dev 1:0.1.114-2
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library (development files)
sudo apt install libbabl-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: babl
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
Debian apt95%
libbabl-doc 1:0.1.114-2
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library (documentation)
sudo apt install libbabl-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: babl
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
Nix95%
babl
nix profile install nixpkgs#babl- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
Ubuntu apt95%
gir1.2-babl-0.1 1:0.1.108-1
GObject introspection data for Babl library
sudo apt install gir1.2-babl-0.1- Section: universe/introspection
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: babl
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
Ubuntu apt95%
libbabl-0.1-0 1:0.1.108-1
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library
sudo apt install libbabl-0.1-0- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: babl
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
Ubuntu apt95%
libbabl-dev 1:0.1.108-1
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library (development files)
sudo apt install libbabl-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: babl
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
Ubuntu apt95%
libbabl-doc 1:0.1.108-1
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library (documentation)
sudo apt install libbabl-doc- Section: universe/doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: babl
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
apk95%
babl 0.1.126-r0
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library
sudo apk add babl- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: babl
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
apk95%
babl-dev 0.1.126-r0
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library (development files)
sudo apk add babl-dev- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: babl
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
apk95%
babl-tools 0.1.126-r0
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library (cli tool)
sudo apk add babl-tools- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: babl
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
dnf95%
babl 0.1.126-1.fc45
A dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library
sudo dnf install babl- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: babl
- 5 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
dnf95%
babl-devel 0.1.126-1.fc45
Headers for developing programs that will use babl
sudo dnf install babl-devel- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: babl
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
dnf95%
babl-devel-docs 0.1.126-1.fc45
Documentation for developing programs that will use babl
sudo dnf install babl-devel-docs- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: babl
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
pacman95%
babl 0.1.126-1
Dynamic, any to any, pixel format conversion library
sudo pacman -S babl- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Babl
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