# Install colfer with Homebrew

Schema compiler for binary data exchange. Version 1.8.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:colfer
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install colfer
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:colfer
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Package manager page:** <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/colfer>
- **Version:** 1.8.1
- **Source summary:** Schema compiler for binary data exchange
- **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>
- **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00

## Executables

- colf (cli)
- colf (alias)

## Build dependencies

- go

## 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: 1.8.1
- Local data: ok
- Upstream repository: https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer
- Upstream latest detected: v1.8.1 (current)
- info: No package-manager update timestamp was available.
## 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

- <https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer>
- <https://github.com/pascaldekloe/colfer/wiki/Spec>


## 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:** 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:** 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.
- [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata.
- [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata.
- [go](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/go/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [lcm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lcm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, serialization.
- [protobuf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/protobuf/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, serialization.
- [typical](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/typical/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, serialization.
- [avro-c](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/avro-c/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, serialization.
- [avro-cpp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/avro-cpp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, serialization.
- [avro-tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/avro-tools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, serialization.
- [mcap](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mcap/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, serialization.
- [adios2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adios2/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data.
- [cqlkit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cqlkit/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, data, format.

## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/colfer.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/colfer.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