macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install bisonlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install bisonMacPorts ports tree · devel/bison/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install bison with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, zypper
Parser generator. Version 3.8.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-13.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add bisonAlpine Linux edge package indexes · bison · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install bisonDebian stable package indexes · bison · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install bisonFedora Rawhide package metadata · bison · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#bisonnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/bi/bison/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S bisonArch Linux sync databases · bison · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install bisonopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · bison · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/bisonScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/bison.json · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Parser generator
Project links
Commands and aliases
- bison
- yacc
history
Project history and usage
GNU Bison is GNU's parser generator: a source-compatible successor to the classic Unix yacc workflow that reads a grammar and produces parser code. In package-manager culture it is one of the canonical build-time tools that appears quietly in dependency graphs for compilers, shells, interpreters, database tools, and other software with real grammars.
Project history
Bison began as a GNU replacement for yacc, the parser generator associated with early Unix compiler construction. The GNU manual credits Robert Corbett's public-domain parser generator as the starting point and Richard Stallman with making it into Bison, with later development by GNU maintainers including Wilfred Hansen, Tom Tromey, Akim Demaille, Paul Eggert, and others.
The project kept yacc compatibility as a central design goal while adding GNU extensions, better diagnostics, multiple parser skeletons, GLR parsing support, internationalized diagnostics, and support for modern C and C++ parser workflows. That combination made it both a historical compatibility tool and an actively maintained compiler-construction utility.
Adoption history
Bison was adopted because it let free software projects build yacc-style parsers without relying on proprietary Unix yacc implementations. Autoconf-era source packages commonly checked for bison or yacc, and many distributions install Bison as part of their developer-tool stack.
The package metadata in this batch shows Bison available through Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, MacPorts, Nix, Scoop, and openSUSE. That breadth reflects its role as infrastructure: many users never invoke bison directly, but their package builds do.
How it is used
Bison is usually run during a build or release process: a maintainer writes a grammar file, Bison generates parser source, and the generated code is compiled into the consuming program. It is also installed as yacc on some systems or used through a yacc-compatible wrapper for software that expects the historical command name.
Its common neighbors are Flex or lex for tokenization, Autotools for build orchestration, and compilers such as GCC or Clang for the generated parser code. Packagers care about whether projects ship generated parsers in release tarballs or require Bison at build time.
Why package nerds care
Bison is package-nerd bedrock because it explains a surprisingly large class of build failures: wrong Bison version, missing yacc compatibility, regenerated parser files changing generated C, or release tarballs that assume maintainers have GNU parser tools installed.
It is also a living link between early Unix language tooling and modern reproducible builds. A package can depend on it for one generated file, but that file may define the grammar of a shell, language, configuration format, or SQL dialect.
Timeline
- 1970s: yacc establishes the parser-generator workflow in Unix compiler tooling.
- 1980s: GNU Bison is created as a free yacc-compatible parser generator based on Robert Corbett's public-domain work and GNU development.
- 1990s-2000s: Bison becomes a routine dependency in Autotools-based free software builds.
- 2000s-2010s: Bison adds modern parser features such as stronger diagnostics, C++ support, and GLR parsing.
- 2020s: Bison remains packaged across Unix-like distributions and Homebrew as a core compiler-construction tool.
Related projects
- yacc is the historical Unix parser generator whose interface Bison intentionally follows.
- Berkeley Yacc and byacc are alternative yacc-compatible parser generators.
- Flex and lex are the usual scanner-generator companions to Bison grammars.
- Autoconf and Automake often discover or invoke Bison in source-package build systems.
Sources
- https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/bison.git
- https://www.gnu.org/software/bison
- https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/manual
- input.json source_facts.package-manager
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
bison | cli | global executable | |
yacc | 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 version3.8.2
manager updated2026-06-13
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:bison |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.8.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/bison |
| Homepage | https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/ |
| Repository | https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/bison.git |
| Upstream docs | https://www.gnu.org/software/bison |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/gnu/bison/bison-3.8.2.tar.xz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-13T01:03:19+02:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Uses from macOS | m4 |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, 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 | bison |
| Aliases |
|
| Version Scheme | 1 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | yes |
| 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%
bison 2:3.8.2+dfsg-1+b2
YACC-compatible parser generator
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
sudo apt install bison- Section: devel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: bison
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
Debian apt95%
bison++ 1.21.11-5+b1
Generate a parser in c or c++ from BNF notation
sudo apt install bison++- Section: devel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: bison++
- 3 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
Debian apt95%
libbison-dev 2:3.8.2+dfsg-1+b2
YACC-compatible parser generator - development library
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
sudo apt install libbison-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: bison
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
Nix95%
bison
nix profile install nixpkgs#bison- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
Ubuntu apt95%
bison 2:3.8.2+dfsg-1build2
YACC-compatible parser generator
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
sudo apt install bison- Section: devel
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
Ubuntu apt95%
bison++ 1.21.11-5
Generate a parser in c or c++ from BNF notation
sudo apt install bison++- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
Ubuntu apt95%
libbison-dev 2:3.8.2+dfsg-1build2
YACC-compatible parser generator - development library
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
sudo apt install libbison-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: bison
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
apk95%
bison 3.8.2-r3
The GNU general-purpose parser generator
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/bison.html
sudo apk add bison- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bison
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
apk95%
bison-doc 3.8.2-r3
The GNU general-purpose parser generator (documentation)
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/bison.html
sudo apk add bison-doc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bison
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
dnf95%
bison 3.8.2-15.fc44
GNU general-purpose parser generator
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
sudo dnf install bison- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later WITH Autoconf-exception-generic-3.0 AND GPL-3.0-or-later WITH Bison-exception-2.2 AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bison
- 3 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
dnf95%
bison-devel 3.8.2-15.fc44
-ly library for development using Bison-generated parsers
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
sudo dnf install bison-devel- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later WITH Autoconf-exception-generic-3.0 AND GPL-3.0-or-later WITH Bison-exception-2.2 AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: bison
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
dnf95%
bison-runtime 3.8.2-15.fc44
Runtime support files used by Bison-generated parsers
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/
sudo dnf install bison-runtime- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND GPL-3.0-or-later WITH Autoconf-exception-generic-3.0 AND GPL-3.0-or-later WITH Bison-exception-2.2 AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bison
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
pacman95%
bison 3.8.2-8
The GNU general-purpose parser generator
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/bison.html
sudo pacman -S bison- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
zypper95%
bison 3.8.2-3.12
The GNU Parser Generator
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/bison.html
sudo zypper install bison- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Development/Languages/C and C++
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bison
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
zypper95%
bison-32bit 3.8.2-3.12
The GNU Parser Generator
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/bison.html
sudo zypper install bison-32bit- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Development/Languages/C and C++
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bison
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
zypper95%
bison-lang 3.8.2-3.12
Translations for package bison
https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/bison.html
sudo zypper install bison-lang- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: System/Localization
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: bison
- 1 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bison
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