# Install crosstool-ng with Homebrew, apk, pacman, zypper Tool for building toolchains. Version 1.28.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:crosstool-ng ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install crosstool-ng ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add crosstool-ng ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: crosstool-ng from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S crosstool-ng ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: crosstool-ng from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install crosstool-ng ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: crosstool-ng from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:crosstool-ng - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.28.0 - **Source summary:** Tool for building toolchains - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-only - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-22T14:03:06-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - ct-ng (cli) - ct-ng (alias) ## Dependencies - autoconf - automake - bash - binutils - bison - coreutils - flex - gawk - gettext - gnu-sed - grep - libtool - lzip - m4 - make - ncurses - python@3.14 - xz ## Build dependencies - help2man - texinfo ## 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: 1.28.0 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-22 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/crosstool-ng/crosstool-ng - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage crosstool-NG is a configurable toolchain builder focused on producing cross-compilation toolchains. It is a package-nerd staple because it automates the otherwise tedious assembly of binutils, GCC, C libraries, kernel headers, debuggers, and target-specific patches. ### Project history The project traces its lineage to Dan Kegel's original crosstool scripts, patch repository, and prepared configuration files. Yann E. Morin later reorganized that work, added uClibc and menu-driven configuration support, and released the new implementation as crosstool-NG, short for crosstool Next Generation. The official documentation says Yann Morin became busy with Buildroot and other projects in late 2014, after which Bryan Hundven became the new maintainer. The GitHub README also records older Mercurial repositories as read-only and points current development to GitHub. ### Adoption history crosstool-NG grew around embedded Linux and cross-compilation communities, where prebuilt toolchains are often either too generic, too old, or mismatched to a target. Its documentation keeps a direct connection to the crossgcc mailing list and to projects such as Buildroot, ptxdist, and OpenEmbedded. ### How it is used Users configure crosstool-NG through a Linux-kernel-style menuconfig flow, producing a `.config` file that controls target architecture, component versions, installation prefix, samples, and options. Typical workflows start from a sample tuple, run `ct-ng menuconfig`, and then build a native, cross, cross-native, or Canadian Cross toolchain. Because `ct-ng` is implemented as a make script, the project is familiar to source-based packaging users: it downloads and builds upstream components, applies version-specific patches, and installs an isolated toolchain such as under `/opt/x-tools/${CT_TARGET}`. ### Why package nerds care crosstool-NG matters in package history because it turns a compiler stack into a reproducible configurable artifact. It sits between full root filesystem builders and ad hoc compiler builds: unlike Buildroot or OpenEmbedded, its stated target is only the toolchain, leaving the resulting compiler usable by other build systems and package workflows. ### Timeline - 2000s: Dan Kegel's crosstool provides the precursor scripts and patches - 2000s: Yann E. Morin releases crosstool-NG with uClibc and menu-driven configuration support - 2014: Bryan Hundven becomes maintainer - 2025: crosstool-ng 1.28.0 release ### Related projects - The documentation compares crosstool-NG with Buildroot, ptxdist, and OpenEmbedded, and credits the original crosstool project as its direct ancestor. ### Sources - - - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## 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 - Unix: .config ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** crosstool-ng - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - apk - crosstool-ng - 1.28.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: crosstool-ng from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Versatile tool for building (cross-)toolchains | https://crosstool-ng.github.io/ - apk - crosstool-ng-bash-completion - 1.28.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: crosstool-ng-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Bash completions for crosstool-ng | https://crosstool-ng.github.io/ - apk - crosstool-ng-doc - 1.28.0-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: crosstool-ng-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Versatile tool for building (cross-)toolchains (documentation) | https://crosstool-ng.github.io/ - pacman - crosstool-ng - 1.28.0-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: crosstool-ng from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A versatile (cross-)toolchain generator | https://crosstool-ng.github.io/ - zypper - crosstool-ng - 1.25.0-1.11: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: crosstool-ng from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Toolchain building framework | http://crosstool-ng.org ## 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. - [autoconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/autoconf/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [automake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/automake/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [bash](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bash/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [binutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/binutils/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [bison](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bison/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [coreutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/coreutils/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [flex](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flex/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gawk](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gawk/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [help2man](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/help2man/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [texinfo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/texinfo/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [aarch64-elf-binutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aarch64-elf-binutils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build-tools, cli, cross-compilation, developer-tools. - [colormake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/colormake/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build-tools, cli, developer-tools. - [compiledb](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/compiledb/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build-tools, cli, developer-tools. - [i686-elf-binutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/i686-elf-binutils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, cross-compilation, developer-tools. - [i686-elf-gcc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/i686-elf-gcc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compilers, cross-compilation, developer-tools. - [lazymake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lazymake/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build-tools, cli, developer-tools. - [mingw-w64](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mingw-w64/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, compilers, cross-compilation, developer-tools. - [pkg-config-wrapper](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkg-config-wrapper/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: build-tools, cli, developer-tools. - [distcc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/distcc/) - Both packages touch the same language runtime or ecosystem. Shared terms: build, build-tools, cli, compilation, developer. - [fobis](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fobis/) - Both packages touch the same language runtime or ecosystem. Shared terms: build, build-tools, building, cli, developer. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/crosstool-ng.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/crosstool-ng.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