# Install cling with Homebrew, Nix C++ interpreter. Version 1.3 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:cling ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install cling ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#cling ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/cl/cling/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:cling - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.3 - **Source summary:** C++ interpreter - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** (LGPL-2.1-only OR NCSA) AND (Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception) - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - cling (cli) - cling (alias) ## Dependencies - zstd ## Build dependencies - cmake ## Uses from macOS - libedit - libxml2 - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.3 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/root-project/cling - Upstream latest detected: v1.3 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage Cling is an interactive C++ interpreter built on Clang and LLVM. The official README describes it as a REPL that reuses Clang diagnostics, supports interactive C++ development, and can be used from the command line or as a Jupyter kernel. ### Project history Cling emerged from the ROOT high-energy physics ecosystem as the new interpreter for ROOT 6. The official README includes a peer-reviewed CHEP 2012 citation, 'Cling - The New Interactive Interpreter for ROOT 6', and the ROOT documentation presents Cling as ROOT's C++ interpreter. ### Adoption history Cling's adoption is strongest through ROOT rather than as an isolated package. In package-manager culture, standalone formulae such as Homebrew and Nix expose it to users who want an interactive C++ REPL without installing or centering an entire ROOT workflow. ### How it is used The README documents building Cling with the matching root-project LLVM branch, running cling with inline C++ snippets or an interactive prompt, using .help, and enabling a Jupyter kernel. The ROOT manual covers prompt commands and interactive C++ usage inside ROOT. ### Why package nerds care Cling is package-nerd significant because it turns a compiled language and a large compiler infrastructure into a packaged interactive runtime. It also illustrates the maintenance burden of packaging tools that track LLVM and Clang closely, which is why distribution recipes matter for users who just want a working C++ REPL. ### Timeline - 2012: CHEP publication describes Cling as the new interactive interpreter for ROOT 6. - 2010s: Cling release tags progress from v0.4 through v1.x in the official repository tag list. - 2020s: Official README documents standalone builds, LLVM/Clang integration, Jupyter support, and ROOT manual integration. - 2026: Batch input lists Homebrew and Nix distribution. ### Related projects - Cling is directly related to ROOT, Clang, LLVM, and Jupyter. It belongs near other interactive language runtimes and C++ exploration tools, but its official lineage is ROOT and LLVM/Clang rather than a general scripting-language implementation. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes generalized runtime or code generation signal. - **Geiger risk:** yellow / medium - generalized runtime or code generation signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** cling - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - cling: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/cl/cling/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [zstd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/zstd/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cpi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cpi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cpp, interpreter, language-runtime, repl. - [brainfuck](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/brainfuck/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime. - [goawk](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/goawk/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime. - [mawk](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mawk/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime. - [picoc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/picoc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime. - [rustpython](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rustpython/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime. - [wasm3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wasm3/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime. - [yaegi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/yaegi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, interpreter, language-runtime, repl. - [julia](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/julia/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, language, language-runtime, repl, runtime. - [python-freethreading](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/python-freethreading/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, interpreter, language, language-runtime, runtime. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/cling.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/cling.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