install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install chroma

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install chroma

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

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#chroma

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

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%

scoop install main/chroma

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/chroma.json · source: api.github.com

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id Ubisoft.Chroma -e

Windows Package Manager source index · Ubisoft.Chroma · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

General purpose syntax highlighter in pure Go

Project links

Commands and aliases

chroma

history

Project history and usage

Chroma is a pure-Go general-purpose syntax highlighter, usable both as a Go library and as the `chroma` command-line tool.

Project history

The GitHub repository was created in June 2017. The README describes Chroma as converting source code and structured text into highlighted HTML, ANSI-colored text, and other output, with lexers, formatters, and styles modeled heavily on Pygments.

The project published v0.1.0 in September 2017, v2.0.0 in May 2022, and continued a fast v2 release line through 2026, with v3 alpha releases introducing Go iterator changes and a new module path.

Adoption history

Chroma's adoption is partly library-driven: it has Go package documentation, a playground, and a CLI, while static-site and documentation tooling can embed it to avoid a Python/Pygments runtime. Homebrew packages the CLI and reports stable version 2.27.0.

The supplied package-manager facts list Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Nix, and Scoop packages, showing distribution beyond the Go module ecosystem.

How it is used

Library users select a lexer, formatter, and style, or use the `quick.Highlight` helper. CLI users can run `chroma` directly and inspect available lexers with `chroma --list`.

Why package nerds care

Chroma is package-nerd interesting because it made Pygments-style highlighting available as a native Go dependency and standalone binary. That matters for self-contained Go programs, static-site generators, and container images that want syntax highlighting without a Python toolchain.

Timeline

2017: Repository created and v0.1.0 release published.
2022: v2.0.0 release published.
2025: v2 line continues with frequent releases through v2.20.0.
2026: v2.27.0 and v3.0.0-alpha releases published.

Related projects

Pygments is the explicit design ancestor; the README says Chroma is based heavily on it and includes translators for Pygments lexers and styles. Related surfaces include Go package documentation, the Chroma playground, and the `pygments2chroma_xml.py` conversion script.

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.
Build metadata lists 1 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.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`chroma`	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 version2.27.0

manager updated2026-06-17

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv2.27.0

https://github.com/alecthomas/chroma

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:chroma
Version	2.27.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/chroma
Homepage	https://github.com/alecthomas/chroma
Repository	https://github.com/alecthomas/chroma
Upstream docs	https://github.com/alecthomas/chroma#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/alecthomas/chroma/archive/refs/tags/v2.27.0.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-06-17T03:40:19Z
Pulse	updated
Build dependencies	go
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	chroma
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	head 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%

chroma 1.19-2

Abstract puzzle game - graphical version

http://level7.org.uk/chroma/

sudo apt install chroma

Section: games
Architecture: amd64
6 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

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

Debian apt95%

chroma-curses 1.19-2

Abstract puzzle game - terminal version

http://level7.org.uk/chroma/

sudo apt install chroma-curses

Section: games
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: chroma
4 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

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

Debian apt95%

chroma-data 1.19-2

Abstract puzzle game - data files

http://level7.org.uk/chroma/

sudo apt install chroma-data

Section: games
Architecture: all
Source Package: chroma
normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

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

Nix95%

chroma

nix profile install nixpkgs#chroma

normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

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

Ubuntu apt95%

chroma 1.19-1ubuntu1

Abstract puzzle game - graphical version

http://level7.org.uk/chroma/

sudo apt install chroma

Section: universe/games
Architecture: amd64
6 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

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

Ubuntu apt95%

chroma-curses 1.19-1ubuntu1

Abstract puzzle game - terminal version

http://level7.org.uk/chroma/

sudo apt install chroma-curses

Section: universe/games
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: chroma
4 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

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

Ubuntu apt95%

chroma-data 1.19-1ubuntu1

Abstract puzzle game - data files

http://level7.org.uk/chroma/

sudo apt install chroma-data

Section: universe/games
Architecture: all
Source Package: chroma
normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

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

Scoop95%

main/chroma

scoop install main/chroma

normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/chroma.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

winget95%

Ubisoft.Chroma

winget install --id Ubisoft.Chroma -e

normalized package name match
Matched by: Chroma

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

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/chroma.yml

Used sources

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

Install chroma with Homebrew, apt, Nix, scoop, 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: green

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources