# Install couchdb with Homebrew, MacPorts, pacman

Apache CouchDB database server. Version 3.5.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-20.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:couchdb
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install couchdb
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install couchdb
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: databases/couchdb/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

### Linux

- pacman (92%):

```sh
sudo pacman -S couchdb
```

  Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: couchdb from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:couchdb
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Package manager page:** <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/couchdb>
- **Version:** 3.5.2
- **Source summary:** Apache CouchDB database server
- **Homepage:** <https://couchdb.apache.org/>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/apache/couchdb>
- **Upstream docs:** <https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable>
- **License:** Apache-2.0
- **Source archive:** <https://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.lua?path=couchdb/source/3.5.2/apache-couchdb-3.5.2.tar.gz>
- **Last updated:** 2026-05-20T14:53:57-04:00
- **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00

## Executables

- couchdb (cli)
- remsh (cli)
- weatherreport (cli)
- couchdb (alias)
- remsh (alias)
- weatherreport (alias)

## Dependencies

- icu4c@78
- openssl@3

## Build dependencies

- autoconf
- autoconf-archive
- automake
- erlang@28
- libtool
- pkgconf

## Uses from macOS

- ncurses

## Install behavior

- Post-install hook: not defined
- Service: declared
- Caveats: CouchDB 3.x requires a set admin password set before startup. Add one to your $HOMEBREW_PREFIX/etc/local.ini before starting CouchDB e.g.: [admins] admin = youradminpassword
- Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-07-08
- Package-manager version: 3.5.2
- Package-manager updated: 2026-05-20
- Local data: ok
- Upstream repository: https://couchdb.apache.org/
- info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.
## Project history and usage

Apache CouchDB is an Apache document database built around JSON documents, an HTTP API, replication, and offline-first synchronization patterns.

### Project history

The Apache CouchDB site presents the database as a system for multi-primary synchronization, HTTP/JSON access, and reliability from single-node deployments to clustered installations.

The Apache GitHub repository records the modern source location for the project, with the mirror created in 2009 and active development continuing through the 3.x series.

### Adoption history

CouchDB became significant in the NoSQL era because its HTTP API and replication model made it usable directly by web, mobile, and synchronization-oriented applications. The official site points to user stories centered on replication, offline use, and reliability.

The Couch Replication Protocol is implemented by multiple projects and products, making CouchDB relevant beyond the server package itself.

### How it is used

Administrators run CouchDB as a database server and interact with it over HTTP, through cURL, client libraries, Fauxton, and bundled command-line tools such as `couchdb`, `remsh`, and `weatherreport`.

Configuration is layered through `default.ini`, `default.d`, `local.ini`, and `local.d`, with administrator credentials stored in the `[admins]` section of the loaded ini files rather than in the `_users` database.

### Why package nerds care

For package maintainers, CouchDB is more than a single executable: packaging has to account for an Erlang-based service, layered ini configuration, administrator bootstrap, local data/state directories, and platform-specific macOS application paths.

### Timeline

- 2009: Apache CouchDB GitHub repository mirror created.
- 2026: Apache CouchDB 3.5.2 listed on the official site download callout.

### Related projects

- Fauxton
- Couch Replication Protocol
- PouchDB
- Erlang/OTP

### Sources

- <https://couchdb.apache.org/>
- <https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/intro/overview.html>
- <https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/config/intro.html>
- <https://docs.couchdb.org/en/stable/config/auth.html>
- <https://github.com/apache/couchdb>
- <https://api.github.com/repos/apache/couchdb>


## Security Notes

formula declares a Homebrew service.

- **Geiger risk:** orange / medium
- formula declares a Homebrew service


## Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.


## Configuration files

- macOS: Applications/Apache CouchDB.app/Contents/Resources/couchdbx-core/etc, /Users/<your-user>/Library/Application Support/CouchDB2/etc/couchdb, /Users/<your-user>/Library/Preferences/couchdb2-local.ini
- Unix: etc/default.ini, etc/default.d/*.ini, etc/local.ini, etc/local.d/*.ini

## Credential files

- macOS: /Users/<your-user>/Library/Application Support/CouchDB2/etc/couchdb, /Users/<your-user>/Library/Preferences/couchdb2-local.ini
- Unix: etc/local.ini, etc/local.d/*.ini, /opt/couchdb/etc/local.ini, /opt/couchdb/etc/local.d/10-admins.ini
## Source Database Details

- **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API
- **Tap:** homebrew/core
- **Full Name:** couchdb
- **Version Scheme:** 0
- **Revision:** 0
- **Conflicts With:** ejabberd
- **Bottle Stable Root URL:** <https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core>
- **Deprecated:** no
- **Disabled:** no
- **Keg Only:** no
- **URL Keys:** stable

## Other Package-Manager Records

- pacman - couchdb - 3.5.2-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: couchdb from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Document-oriented database that can be queried and indexed in a MapReduce fashion using JSON | https://couchdb.apache.org
- MacPorts - couchdb: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: databases/couchdb/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/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.
- [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata.
- [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata.
- [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [autoconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/autoconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [automake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/automake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [erlang@28](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/erlang-28/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [orientdb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/orientdb/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, database, document-database, nosql.
- [dynein](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dynein/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, database, nosql.
- [immudb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/immudb/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, database, document-database.
- [automysqlbackup](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/automysqlbackup/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, database.
- [basex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/basex/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, database.
- [berkeley-db](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/berkeley-db/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, database.
- [dbxml](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dbxml/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, database.
- [derby](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/derby/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, data, database.
- [mysql](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mysql/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, data, database, icu4c, icu4c-78.
- [percona-server](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/percona-server/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, data, database, icu4c, icu4c-78.
- [tarantool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tarantool/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, data, database, icu4c, icu4c-78.

## Combined YAML source

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


## Sources

- Nucleus package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- package-page enrichment
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- 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