# Install checkstyle with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix Check Java source against a coding standard. Version 13.7.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-28. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:checkstyle ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install checkstyle ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install checkstyle ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: java/checkstyle/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install checkstyle ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: checkstyle from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#checkstyle ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ch/checkstyle/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:checkstyle - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 13.7.0 - **Source summary:** Check Java source against a coding standard - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-28T17:41:12Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-09T07:20:21+00:00 ## Executables - checkstyle (cli) - checkstyle (alias) ## Dependencies - openjdk ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on all ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-09 - Package-manager version: 13.7.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-28 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/checkstyle/checkstyle - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage Checkstyle is a long-running Java code-quality tool for checking source code against coding standards. It is one of the classic packaged Java developer tools: available as a command-line jar, Maven artifact, build-tool integration, and operating-system package. ### Project history The official site describes Checkstyle as a development tool that helps programmers write Java code adhering to a coding standard and automates checking tasks that would otherwise be manual. It is highly configurable and ships example configurations for Sun Code Conventions and Google Java Style. The current GitHub repository was created in 2013, but the official site footer and release-note history identify the project as dating back to 2001. Modern releases continue under the checkstyle/checkstyle GitHub organization, with 13.7.0 published in June 2026. ### Adoption history Checkstyle is distributed through GitHub releases and Maven Central according to the official README and website. The batch metadata also lists Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, and Nix, reflecting its role as both a Java build dependency and a standalone command-line tool. The README points users to Maven artifacts, command-line usage, configuration documentation, discussions, Stack Overflow, Google Groups, and contributor channels, evidence of a mature tool with both user and maintainer communities. ### How it is used Typical command-line usage runs java -jar checkstyle-*-all.jar with a required configuration XML file and one or more files or folders. The official docs describe plain, XML, and SARIF output and the -c option for choosing the configuration. In build systems, Checkstyle is commonly used through Maven or other Java build integrations to enforce project, company, Google, Sun, OpenJDK, or custom style rules. ### Why package nerds care Package nerds care about Checkstyle because it is a durable example of a Java quality tool that lives simultaneously in Maven Central, binary release pages, system package managers, and build plugins. It predates many modern linter ecosystems while still shipping frequent releases. Its configuration model is also historically important: a tree of modules rooted at Checker, XML DTD/XSD validation, and style configuration files made it flexible enough for many organizations before language-server and formatter-first workflows became common. ### Timeline - 2001: Checkstyle project history begins, according to the official site copyright range. - 2013: checkstyle/checkstyle GitHub repository created. - 2026: Checkstyle 13.7.0 released and official site published for version 13.7.0. ### Related projects - Maven and the Maven Checkstyle Plugin are central distribution and build-integration paths. - ANTLR, Apache Commons, Guava, and Picocli are libraries listed by the project; Google Java Style, Sun Code Conventions, and OpenJDK style are major configuration targets. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** checkstyle - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - checkstyle - 8.36.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: checkstyle from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | checks Java source against a coding standard | https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/ - Debian apt - checkstyle-doc - 8.36.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: checkstyle-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Documentation for Checkstyle | https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/ - Nix - checkstyle: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ch/checkstyle/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - checkstyle - 8.36.1-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: checkstyle from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | checks Java source against a coding standard | https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/ - Ubuntu apt - checkstyle-doc - 8.36.1-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: checkstyle-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Documentation for Checkstyle | https://checkstyle.sourceforge.io/ - MacPorts - checkstyle: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: java/checkstyle/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [openjdk](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openjdk/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [credo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/credo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-quality, developer-tools, linting, static-analysis. - [detekt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/detekt/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-quality, developer-tools, linting, static-analysis. - [hlint](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hlint/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-quality, developer-tools, linting, static-analysis. - [pmd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pmd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-quality, developer-tools, java, static-analysis. - [spotbugs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/spotbugs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-quality, developer-tools, java, static-analysis. - [wartremover](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wartremover/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-quality, developer-tools, linting, static-analysis. - [datadog-static-analyzer](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/datadog-static-analyzer/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-quality, developer-tools, static-analysis. - [eslint](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/eslint/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, code-quality, developer-tools, static-analysis. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/checkstyle.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/checkstyle.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph