brew

Install build2 with Homebrew, dnf, Nix, winget

C/C++ Build Toolchain. Version 0.18.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-27.

Install command Security notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install build2

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install bdep

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · bdep · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#build2

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/bu/build2/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Windows

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id build2.build2.MSVC -e

Windows Package Manager source index · build2.build2.MSVC · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

C/C++ Build Toolchain

Project links

Commands and aliases

b
bdep
bpkg
bx

history

Project history and usage

build2 is a cross-platform, MIT-licensed C/C++ build toolchain made of a build system, package manager, project manager, and supporting libraries.

Project history

The build2 project started in the mid-2010s with documentation copyright dating from 2014 and public toolchain tags beginning at 0.1.0. Its stated goal is to approximate Rust Cargo's convenience for C and C++ while keeping enough depth for complex real-world build requirements.

The toolchain is intentionally hierarchical: `b` is the general-purpose build system, `bpkg` handles package consumption, and `bdep` handles project development. The `build2-toolchain` repository is an amalgamation used to build and package those components together.

Adoption history

build2 has remained a specialist C/C++ toolchain rather than a default ecosystem standard like CMake, but its own community page says it is used for real development and cites customer-facing software such as ODB and XSD. The project also maintains cppget.org as its package repository.

It is packaged by Homebrew, Nix, Fedora-style `bdep` packages, and Windows winget according to the input. Upstream development happens in self-hosted git repositories on git.build2.org with GitHub mirrors for collaboration.

How it is used

Users typically create or initialize projects with `bdep`, build with `b`, and consume dependencies with `bpkg`. The documented configuration surface includes project-local `build/config.build`, `.build2/` state, `.build2/local/`, user-level `~/.build2/`, and system-level `/etc/build2/` locations.

The toolchain is aimed primarily at C/C++ and mixed-language projects involving C or C++, though the project describes a longer-term universal build-toolchain goal.

Why package nerds care

build2 is significant because it is one of the more complete attempts to give C and C++ a Cargo-like combined build, package, and project-management workflow without hiding the complexity needed by native-code builds.

For package managers, it is also recursive in an interesting way: the build2 toolchain is used for its own development, and the upstream amalgamation repository exists specifically to make source builds and binary packaging of the whole toolchain practical.

Timeline

2014: build2 documentation copyright begins, marking the early public project era.
2010s: Public 0.x toolchain tags began with 0.1.0 and evolved through the pre-1.0 series.
2018: The project pointed users to a CppCon 2018 presentation as a toolchain overview.
2020s: The community page described build2 as in the final stage of pre-1.0 development and already used in projects such as ODB and XSD.
2026: The Toolchain Introduction metadata showed version 0.18 and copyright through 2026.

Related projects

Cargo is the explicit convenience benchmark named by the build2 homepage.
CMake and Autotools are common neighboring C/C++ build-system incumbents, though build2 packages build, dependency, and project management together.
cppget.org is the build2 package repository referenced by the project community page.

Sources

https://build2.org
https://build2.org/build2-toolchain/doc/build2-toolchain-intro.xhtml
https://build2.org/community.xhtml
https://git.build2.org/cgit/build2-toolchain/plain/README.md
source_facts.package-manager

security posture

Risk level: yellow

generalized runtime or code generation signal.

Risk classifier

yellow risk · medium confidence · runtime

Why

generalized runtime or code generation signal

Signals

text:build tool

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 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.

local files

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

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: build/config.build.build2/.build2/local/~/.build2//etc/build2/

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure
`b`	cli	global executable
`bdep`	cli	global executable
`bpkg`	cli	global executable
`bx`	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 version0.18.1

manager updated2026-06-27

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://build2.org

infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://build2.orgnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:build2
Version	0.18.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/build2
Homepage	https://build2.org
Repository	https://git.build2.org/cgit/build2-toolchain
Upstream docs	https://build2.org/bdep/doc/build2-project-manager-manual.xhtml
License	MIT
Source archive	https://download.build2.org/0.18.1/build2-toolchain-0.18.1.tar.xz
Last updated	2026-06-27T13:57:07Z
Pulse	updated
Uses from macOS	curl, openssl
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	build2
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	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%

build2

nix profile install nixpkgs#build2

normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bu/build2/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

dnf95%

bdep 0.17.0-7.fc44

build2 project dependency manager

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install bdep

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: build2
12 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bdep from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

bdep-doc 0.17.0-7.fc44

bdep documentation

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install bdep-doc

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: build2
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bdep-doc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

bpkg 0.17.0-7.fc44

build2 package dependency manager

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install bpkg

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: build2
25 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bpkg from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

bpkg-doc 0.17.0-7.fc44

bpkg documentation

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install bpkg-doc

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: build2
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bpkg-doc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

build2 0.17.0-7.fc44

Cross-platform build toolchain for developing and packaging C++ code

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install build2

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: build2
14 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: build2 from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

build2-doc 0.17.0-7.fc44

build2 documentation

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install build2-doc

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: build2
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: build2-doc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

build2-rpm-macros 0.17.0-7.fc44

build2 RPM macros

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install build2-rpm-macros

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: build2
1 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: build2-rpm-macros from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libbpkg 0.17.0-7.fc44

build2 package dependency manager library

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install libbpkg

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: build2
5 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libbpkg from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libbpkg-devel 0.17.0-7.fc44

Development files for build2 package dependency manager library

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install libbpkg-devel

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: build2
3 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libbpkg-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libbuild2 0.17.0-7.fc44

build2 library

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install libbuild2

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: build2
14 dependencies
10 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libbuild2 from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libbuild2-devel 0.17.0-7.fc44

Development files for build2 library

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install libbuild2-devel

License: MIT
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: build2
3 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libbuild2-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libbutl 0.17.0-7.fc44

build2 utility library

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install libbutl

License: MIT AND BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause AND ISC AND ISC-Veillard
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: build2
9 dependencies
5 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libbutl from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libbutl-devel 0.17.0-7.fc44

Development files for build2 utility library

https://build2.org/

sudo dnf install libbutl-devel

License: MIT AND BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause AND ISC AND ISC-Veillard
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: build2
3 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libbutl-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

winget95%

build2.build2.MSVC

winget install --id build2.build2.MSVC -e

normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: build2.build2.MSVC from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

winget95%

build2.build2.MinGW

winget install --id build2.build2.MinGW -e

normalized package name match
Matched by: Build2

Windows Package Manager source index · cdn.winget.microsoft.com · Windows Package Manager source index: build2.build2.MinGW from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

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/build2.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install build2 with Homebrew, dnf, Nix, winget

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Windows

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: yellow

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Configuration and credential file locations

Configuration files

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources