macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install cgdblocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install cgdbMacPorts ports tree · devel/cgdb/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install cgdb with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Curses-based interface to the GNU Debugger. Version 0.8.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add cgdbAlpine Linux edge package indexes · cgdb · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install cgdbDebian stable package indexes · cgdb · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install cgdbFedora Rawhide package metadata · cgdb · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#cgdbnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/cg/cgdb/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S cgdbArch Linux sync databases · cgdb · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install cgdbopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · cgdb · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Curses-based interface to the GNU Debugger
Project links
Commands and aliases
- cgdb
history
Project history and usage
CGDB is a lightweight curses-based front end to GDB with a split source/GDB terminal interface modeled after vi.
Project history
CGDB grew as a terminal debugger interface focused on keeping the familiar GDB prompt while adding a source window, syntax highlighting, breakpoints, and vi-like navigation. The manual identifies CGDB 0.8.0 as the GNU ncurses based front end to GDB.
Adoption history
The project ships official source releases and is packaged broadly in Unix package managers. Its NEWS file shows long-running portability work across Unix variants, macOS, Cygwin, and newer GDB releases.
How it is used
Users launch cgdb as a GDB front end, pass commands through the GDB window, navigate source in CGDB mode, and configure behavior through cgdbrc files under CGDB_DIR or ~/.cgdb.
Why package nerds care
CGDB is a classic terminal-packaging example: small, curses-based, tied to readline/ncurses/GDB behavior, and useful for developers who want source-level debugging without a graphical IDE.
Timeline
- 2003: NEWS records cgdb-0.4.0.
- 2006: cgdb-0.6.0 added a new manual and tab completion support.
- 2017: cgdb-0.7.0 added vertical/horizontal splitting, assembly support, and Rust syntax highlighting.
- 2022: cgdb-0.8.0 moved to GDB/MI and implemented a virtual terminal in the GDB window.
Related projects
- CGDB is built around GNU GDB and includes gdbwire for communicating with GDB.
Sources
- https://api.github.com/repos/cgdb/cgdb
- https://github.com/cgdb/cgdb
- https://cgdb.github.io/
- https://cgdb.github.io/docs/cgdb.html
- https://cgdb.github.io/docs/cgdb.pdf
- https://formulae.brew.sh/api/formula/cgdb.json
- https://github.com/cgdb/cgdb/blob/master/NEWS
- https://github.com/cgdb/cgdb/blob/master/README.md
security posture
Risk level: red
escape, surveillance, or offensive capability signal.
Risk classifier
red risk · medium confidence · escape-surveillance-offensive
Why
- escape, surveillance, or offensive capability signal
Signals
- text:debugger
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 2 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.
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
$CGDB_DIR/cgdbrc~/.cgdb/cgdbrc
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
cgdb | 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 version0.8.0
manager updated2026-06-22
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://cgdb.github.io/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:cgdb |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.8.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/cgdb |
| Homepage | https://cgdb.github.io/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/cgdb/cgdb |
| Upstream docs | https://cgdb.github.io/docs/cgdb.html |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://cgdb.me/files/cgdb-0.8.0.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22T14:03:00-07:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | readline |
| Build dependencies | help2man, texinfo |
| Uses from macOS | ncurses |
| 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 | cgdb |
| 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%
cgdb 0.8.0-3
curses-based interface to the GNU Debugger (GDB)
sudo apt install cgdb- Section: devel
- Architecture: amd64
- 7 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
Nix95%
cgdb
nix profile install nixpkgs#cgdb- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
Ubuntu apt95%
cgdb 0.8.0-2build2
curses-based interface to the GNU Debugger (GDB)
sudo apt install cgdb- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: amd64
- 7 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
apk95%
cgdb 0.8.0-r4
The Curses Debugger
sudo apk add cgdb- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cgdb
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
apk95%
cgdb-doc 0.8.0-r4
The Curses Debugger (documentation)
sudo apk add cgdb-doc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cgdb
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
dnf95%
cgdb 0.8.0-16.fc44
CGDB is a curses-based interface to the GNU Debugger (GDB)
sudo dnf install cgdb- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cgdb
- 8 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
pacman95%
cgdb 0.8.0-2
Curses-based interface to the GNU Debugger
sudo pacman -S cgdb- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
zypper95%
cgdb 0.8.0-2.6
Curses debugger
sudo zypper install cgdb- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Development/Tools/Debuggers
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: cgdb
- 8 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
MacPorts95%
cgdb
sudo port install cgdb- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Cgdb
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment