# Install chinadns-c with Homebrew Port of ChinaDNS to C: fix irregularities with DNS in China. Version 1.3.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:chinadns-c ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install chinadns-c ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:chinadns-c - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.3.2 - **Source summary:** Port of ChinaDNS to C: fix irregularities with DNS in China - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - chinadns (cli) - chinadns (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.3.2 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/shadowsocks/ChinaDNS - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage ChinaDNS-C is the packaged C implementation of ChinaDNS, a small DNS forwarder built for networks affected by DNS poisoning and CDN split-horizon behavior. ### Project history The upstream repository started in 2014 and its README describes a DNS design that queries local resolvers for Chinese domains and foreign resolvers for foreign domains, using a relatively stable Chinese IP range file instead of fast-changing domain lists. The project is closely tied to the Shadowsocks-era anti-censorship tooling ecosystem and explicitly points users toward VPN software such as ShadowVPN for IP blocking. ### Adoption history Upstream documented Linux/Unix builds, OpenWrt packaging, Tomato-router cross-compilation, and a Windows Python executable, which made the tool relevant beyond a single desktop formula. Homebrew packages the C port as chinadns-c and tracks the 1.3.2 release tarball. ### How it is used Typical use is running chinadns as a local UDP DNS server, often with dnsmasq on routers, with a chnroute.txt file generated from APNIC delegated address data and options such as DNS compression pointer mutation. ### Why package nerds care For package people, chinadns-c is a compact example of network-circumvention software moving from router firmware workflows into general-purpose package managers, with Homebrew preserving a once-active C utility from the Shadowsocks orbit. ### Timeline - 2014: First commits in the official ChinaDNS repository. - 2014: 1.0.0 tag appears shortly after the initial import. - 2015: README copyright and later 1.3.x tags show the mature C release line packaged by Homebrew. - 2026: Homebrew still exposes chinadns-c as a bottled formula at stable version 1.3.2. ### Related projects - The README names ShadowVPN as companion VPN software and dnsmasq as the recommended local DNS front end on OpenWrt. chnroute.txt generation is based on APNIC delegated address data. ### 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:** chinadns-c - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [c-ares](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/c-ares/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, dns, networking. - [bind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bind/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [ddclient](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ddclient/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [dnsmasq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dnsmasq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, dns-forwarder, networking. - [dug](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dug/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [hesiod](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hesiod/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, dns, networking. - [knot](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/knot/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [knot-resolver](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/knot-resolver/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [ctrld](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ctrld/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, dns, forwarder, networking. - [q](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/q/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, dns, networking. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/chinadns-c.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/chinadns-c.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 - cross-ecosystem install command graph