install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install beancount-language-server

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add beancount-language-server

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · beancount-language-server · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#beancount-language-server

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/be/beancount-language-server/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Language server for beancount files

Project links

Commands and aliases

beancount-language-server

history

Project history and usage

beancount-language-server is a Language Server Protocol implementation for Beancount plain-text accounting files. It brings editor features such as completions, diagnostics, formatting, rename, references, semantic highlighting, and inlay hints to a niche but technically demanding personal-finance workflow.

Project history

The public repository was created on 2020-05-19. Its README frames the project as an LSP for Beancount and documents a Rust/Cargo distribution model with optional Python/Beancount integration for validation.

The 2026 release feed shows active 1.x development, including 1.5.0 through 1.9.2 releases in January and February 2026. The README documents a default PyO3 embedded checker, fallbacks to system Python and bean-check, and performance comparisons intended to make diagnostics fast enough for editor feedback.

Adoption history

Adoption is concentrated in the Beancount and plain-text accounting community. The batch package facts show Homebrew, Alpine, and Nix packages, while the README documents Cargo install, GitHub release binaries, Homebrew, Nix, and source builds.

Repository metadata showed 238 stars and 34 forks on 2026-06-30, which is modest in absolute terms but meaningful for an editor integration aimed at Beancount users rather than a general-purpose language.

How it is used

Users install the server and configure an editor LSP client to launch beancount-language-server. The server can validate files using embedded Python, system Python, or bean-check, and it supports optional workspace settings such as journal_file for multi-file ledgers and formatting widths aligned with bean-format behavior.

The README emphasizes that all configuration is optional for simple cases: the server auto-detects the best checker method, uses project-local virtual environments when present, and can scope completions to a configured main journal for multi-ledger workspaces.

Why package nerds care

This package is notable because it packages editor intelligence for a data format, not a programming language. It shows how LSP escaped compilers and IDEs and became a general protocol for structured text domains such as accounting ledgers.

For package maintainers, it is also interesting because it bridges Rust binaries, Python ABI compatibility, the Beancount Python package, prebuilt cross-platform release artifacts, Homebrew, Nix, Alpine, and Cargo.

Timeline

2020-05-19: polarmutex/beancount-language-server repository is created.
2025-01-26: Release metadata includes version 1.3.7.
2025-07-21: Release metadata includes version 1.4.1.
2026-01-04: 1.5.0 is published.
2026-02-12: 1.9.2 is published.

Related projects

Beancount is the ledger language and Python package validated by the server.
Language Server Protocol is the editor protocol implemented by the package.
bean-check and bean-format are Beancount tools mirrored in the language server's diagnostics and formatting behavior.

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:server

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 1 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
`beancount-language-server`	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 generated2026-07-25

manager version1.9.2

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detected1.9.2

https://github.com/polarmutex/beancount-language-server

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:beancount-language-server
Version	1.9.2
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/beancount-language-server
Homepage	https://github.com/polarmutex/beancount-language-server
Repository	https://github.com/polarmutex/beancount-language-server
Upstream docs	https://github.com/polarmutex/beancount-language-server#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/polarmutex/beancount-language-server/archive/refs/tags/1.9.2.tar.gz
Build dependencies	rust
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	beancount-language-server
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	head stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

beancount-language-server

nix profile install nixpkgs#beancount-language-server

normalized package name match
Matched by: Beancount Language Server

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/be/beancount-language-server/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

apk95%

beancount-language-server 1.4.1-r0

Language server for Beancount files

https://github.com/polarmutex/beancount-language-server

sudo apk add beancount-language-server

License: MIT
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: beancount-language-server
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Beancount Language Server

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: beancount-language-server from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/testing/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/beancount-language-server.yml

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

Install beancount-language-server with Homebrew, apk, Nix