install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install cdecl

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install cdecl

MacPorts ports tree · devel/cdecl/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install cdecl

Debian stable package indexes · cdecl · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install cdecl

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

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#cdecl

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

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install cdecl

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · cdecl · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Turn English phrases to C or C++ declarations

Project links

Commands and aliases

c++decl
cdecl

history

Project history and usage

cdecl is a classic command-line helper for translating between C or C++ declarations and pseudo-English descriptions. The current maintained version also helps develop and debug C preprocessor macros.

Project history

The upstream README says cdecl was originally written by Graham Ross sometime in the mid-1980s, and that Tony Hansen posted source with his changes to comp.sources.unix in 1988. The AUTHORS file records a long chain of contributors who added ANSI C, C++ declarations, GNU readline support, Apple blocks, and modern C/C++ language support.

Paul J. Lucas's maintained codebase was created on GitHub in 2017. The README says this codebase fixes deficiencies in earlier versions and adds many features, including Autotools, long options, modern C and C++ language distinctions through C23/C++26, macro expansion, better diagnostics, and extensive type support.

Adoption history

cdecl is one of those small developer tools that survives because C declarator syntax remains hard to read. The Homebrew input records packages in Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, and openSUSE-family packaging, matching its role as a long-running Unix developer aid.

How it is used

Users can run cdecl interactively, pass declarations on the command line, read standard input, or invoke it as c++decl. It explains declarations such as pointers to arrays and emits declarations from English-like commands. The current version also expands macros step by step for preprocessor debugging.

Why package nerds care

cdecl is package-nerd catnip because it carries living Unix history: mid-1980s origins, 1988 Usenet distribution, unclear inherited source licensing, and modern maintenance that teaches new C and C++ standards to an old interface. It is tiny, weird, useful, and exactly the sort of program distributions keep around.

Timeline

Mid-1980s: Original cdecl written by Graham Ross, according to the upstream README.
1988: Tony Hansen posted source with changes to comp.sources.unix.
2017: Paul J. Lucas's current GitHub repository created.
2018-2026: NEWS records maintained user-visible changes in the modern series.
2026: NEWS for Cdecl 18.8 records updated XDG configuration paths.

Related projects

The program includes cdecl and c++decl entry points and is historically related to explain, cast, and declare-style links mentioned in the AUTHORS file. Its modern feature set tracks C and C++ language standards rather than depending on a large plugin ecosystem.

Sources

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 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: ~/.cdeclrc$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/cdecl/cdeclrc~/.config/cdecl/cdeclrc$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/*/cdecl/cdeclrc/etc/xdg/cdecl/cdeclrc

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`c++decl`	cli	global executable
`cdecl`	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 version18.7.2

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/paul-j-lucas/cdecl

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/paul-j-lucas/cdeclnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:cdecl
Version	18.7.2
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/cdecl
Homepage	https://github.com/paul-j-lucas/cdecl
Repository	https://github.com/paul-j-lucas/cdecl
Upstream docs	https://github.com/paul-j-lucas/cdecl#readme
License	GPL-3.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain
Source archive	https://github.com/paul-j-lucas/cdecl/releases/download/cdecl-18.7.2/cdecl-18.7.2.tar.gz
Uses from macOS	ncurses
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	cdecl
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.

Debian apt95%

cdecl 2.5-15+b1

Turn English phrases to C or C++ declarations

sudo apt install cdecl

Section: devel
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: cdecl
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Cdecl

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: cdecl from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

cdecl

nix profile install nixpkgs#cdecl

normalized package name match
Matched by: Cdecl

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

Ubuntu apt95%

cdecl 2.5-13.1build2

Turn English phrases to C or C++ declarations

sudo apt install cdecl

Section: universe/devel
Architecture: amd64
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Cdecl

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: cdecl from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

dnf95%

cdecl 18.7.2-1.fc45

Translator for C gibberish

https://github.com/paul-j-lucas/cdecl/

sudo dnf install cdecl

License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later AND LicenseRef-Fedora-PublicDomain
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: cdecl
4 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Cdecl

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

zypper95%

cdecl 18.7.2-1.2

C/C++ function declaration translator

https://github.com/paul-j-lucas/cdecl/

sudo zypper install cdecl

License: GPL-3.0-or-later
Category: Development/Languages/C and C++
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: cdecl
3 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Cdecl

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: cdecl from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

MacPorts95%

cdecl

sudo port install cdecl

normalized package name match
Matched by: Cdecl

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: devel/cdecl/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

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/cdecl.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 cdecl with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

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: green

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