macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install cmu-pocketsphinxlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install pocketsphinxMacPorts ports tree · audio/pocketsphinx/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install cmu-pocketsphinx with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, scoop, zypper
Lightweight speech recognition engine for mobile devices. Version 5.1.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-06.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-pocketsphinxDebian stable package indexes · gstreamer1.0-pocketsphinx · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install pocketsphinxFedora Rawhide package metadata · pocketsphinx · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#pocketsphinxnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/po/pocketsphinx/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install gstreamer-plugin-pocketsphinxopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · gstreamer-plugin-pocketsphinx · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install extras/pocketsphinxScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/pocketsphinx.json · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Lightweight speech recognition engine for mobile devices
Project links
Commands and aliases
- pocketsphinx
- pocketsphinx_batch
- pocketsphinx_jsgf2fsg
- pocketsphinx_lm_convert
- pocketsphinx_lm_eval
- pocketsphinx_mdef_convert
- pocketsphinx_pitch
history
Project history and usage
PocketSphinx is a compact open source speech recognizer from the CMU Sphinx family, distributed as a C library, command-line tools, and Python package.
Project history
The official README describes PocketSphinx as one of Carnegie Mellon University's open source large-vocabulary, speaker-independent continuous speech recognition engines. It also explains that the underlying algorithms and models are old but remain useful because they are compact and efficient.
The README traces lineage to Sphinx-II and older CMU systems released as free software, and credits David Huggins-Daines with creating PocketSphinx by adding speed and memory optimizations, fixed-point computation, JSGF support, portability, and a more coherent API.
Adoption history
PocketSphinx's adoption came from being usable offline and on constrained systems long before cloud speech APIs were routine. The input package facts show packaging across Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu GStreamer integration, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, Scoop, and openSUSE, while the official Python docs document `pip install pocketsphinx`.
How it is used
The official README documents a `pocketsphinx` command that reads mono 16-bit PCM audio from standard input or files and outputs recognition results, along with subcommands for live recognition, single-utterance recognition, alignment, configuration, and sox integration. The Read the Docs site documents Python usage with `LiveSpeech`.
Why package nerds care
PocketSphinx is package-nerd significant because it packages a historically important offline speech recognizer across C, CLI, Python, audio I/O, models, and GStreamer-style integration. Its modern 5.x line also removed SphinxBase as a separate dependency, simplifying one of the classic packaging pain points.
Timeline
- 2014-04: Current GitHub repository created.
- 2022-10: v5.0.0 release published.
- 2023-12: v5.0.3 release published.
- 2025-01: v5.0.4 release published.
- 2026-06: v5.1.1 release published.
Related projects
- PocketSphinx is part of the CMU Sphinx family and is related to Sphinx-II, older CMU speech-recognition systems, GStreamer packaging, Read the Docs Python bindings, and audio tools such as sox and PortAudio.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
pocketsphinx | cli | global executable | |
pocketsphinx_batch | cli | global executable | |
pocketsphinx_jsgf2fsg | cli | global executable | |
pocketsphinx_lm_convert | cli | global executable | |
pocketsphinx_lm_eval | cli | global executable | |
pocketsphinx_mdef_convert | cli | global executable | |
pocketsphinx_pitch | 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 version5.1.1
manager updated2026-06-06
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv5.1.1
https://github.com/cmusphinx/pocketsphinx
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:cmu-pocketsphinx |
|---|---|
| Version | 5.1.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/cmu-pocketsphinx |
| Homepage | https://cmusphinx.github.io/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/cmusphinx/pocketsphinx |
| Upstream docs | https://cmusphinx.github.io/doc/pocketsphinx |
| License | BSD-2-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/cmusphinx/pocketsphinx/archive/refs/tags/v5.1.1.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-06T20:42:29Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | cmake |
| 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 | cmu-pocketsphinx |
| Aliases |
|
| 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.
MacPorts94%
pocketsphinx
sudo port install pocketsphinx- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Debian apt92%
gstreamer1.0-pocketsphinx 0.8+5prealpha+1-15+b4
Speech recognition tool - GStreamer plugin
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-pocketsphinx- Section: sound
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- 5 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Debian apt92%
libpocketsphinx-dev 0.8+5prealpha+1-15+b4
Speech recognition tool - front-end library development files
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libpocketsphinx-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Debian apt92%
libpocketsphinx3 0.8+5prealpha+1-15+b4
Speech recognition tool - front-end library
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libpocketsphinx3- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Debian apt92%
pocketsphinx 0.8+5prealpha+1-15+b4
Speech recognition tool
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install pocketsphinx- Section: sound
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Debian apt92%
pocketsphinx-en-us 0.8+5prealpha+1-15
Speech recognition tool - US English language model
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install pocketsphinx-en-us- Section: sound
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Debian apt92%
pocketsphinx-testdata 0.8+5prealpha+1-15
Speech recognition tool - test data for pocketsphinx
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install pocketsphinx-testdata- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Debian apt92%
swig-pocketsphinx 0.8+5prealpha+1-15
Speech recognition tool - pocketsphinx swig helpers
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install swig-pocketsphinx- Section: interpreters
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Nix92%
pocketsphinx
nix profile install nixpkgs#pocketsphinx- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Ubuntu apt92%
gstreamer1.0-pocketsphinx 0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5
Speech recognition tool - GStreamer plugin
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-pocketsphinx- Section: universe/sound
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- 5 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Ubuntu apt92%
libpocketsphinx-dev 0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5
Speech recognition tool - front-end library development files
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libpocketsphinx-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Ubuntu apt92%
libpocketsphinx3 0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5
Speech recognition tool - front-end library
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libpocketsphinx3- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Ubuntu apt92%
pocketsphinx 0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5
Speech recognition tool
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install pocketsphinx- Section: universe/sound
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Ubuntu apt92%
pocketsphinx-en-us 0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5
Speech recognition tool - US English language model
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install pocketsphinx-en-us- Section: universe/sound
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Ubuntu apt92%
pocketsphinx-testdata 0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5
Speech recognition tool - test data for pocketsphinx
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install pocketsphinx-testdata- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
Ubuntu apt92%
swig-pocketsphinx 0.8.0+real5prealpha+1-15ubuntu5
Speech recognition tool - pocketsphinx swig helpers
http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install swig-pocketsphinx- Section: universe/interpreters
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: pocketsphinx
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Pocketsphinx
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 package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment