macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install colferlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install colfer with Homebrew
Schema compiler for binary data exchange. Version 1.8.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Schema compiler for binary data exchange
Project links
Commands and aliases
- colf
history
Project history and usage
Colfer is a binary serialization format and schema compiler optimized for speed and size.
Project history
The official README describes Colfer as inspired by Protocol Buffers and centered on the colf compiler, which reads schema definitions and generates source code for marshaling and unmarshaling data structures.
Adoption history
Official packaging notes mention prebuilt compiler releases and Homebrew installation, indicating a distribution model aimed at command-line compiler use rather than only library embedding.
How it is used
The colf command generates C, Go, Java, or JavaScript output from .colf schema files. The README recommends committing generated source code to version control to preserve build consistency and reduce compiler installation requirements.
Why package nerds care
Colfer is notable as a small schema compiler package with no runtime configuration and a source-generation workflow similar to other IDL and serialization compilers.
Timeline
- 2015: Official GitHub repository is created.
- 2010s: README documents C, Go, Java, and JavaScript code generation support.
- 2020s: README continues to document Homebrew installation and prebuilt compiler releases.
Related projects
- The official manual lists protoc and flatc as related tools, placing Colfer in the same package-manager neighborhood as Protocol Buffers and FlatBuffers compilers.
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 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
colf | 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 version1.8.1
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv1.8.1
https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:colfer |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.8.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/colfer |
| Homepage | https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer |
| Repository | https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer#readme |
| License | CC0-1.0 |
| Source archive | https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer/archive/refs/tags/v1.8.1.tar.gz |
| Build dependencies | go |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, 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 | colfer |
| 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 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
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment