install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install cxxtest

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install cxxtest

Debian stable package indexes · cxxtest · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install cxxtest

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · cxxtest · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#cxxtest

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/cx/cxxtest/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

C++ unit testing framework similar to JUnit, CppUnit and xUnit

Project links

Commands and aliases

cxxtestgen

history

Project history and usage

CxxTest is a C++ unit testing framework in the xUnit family, positioned by its README as similar in spirit to JUnit, CppUnit, and xUnit while avoiding a precompiled testing library.

Project history

The project's own release log records CxxTest releases back to 2002, with version 2.7.0 adding embedded test suites and version 2.8.0 beginning the maintained version history in early 2003. Through the 3.x line it accumulated portability work for compilers and GUI runners, then version 4.0 in 2011 moved the scripting side from Perl to Python and refreshed the installation and user guide.

Adoption history

CxxTest's adoption niche has been C++ projects that wanted generated test runners and xUnit-style assertions without forcing a separate library build or advanced C++ features. Its package-manager presence across Homebrew, Debian, Fedora, Nix, and Ubuntu reflects a mature testing utility kept available for existing C++ build workflows.

How it is used

Typical use starts with a header declaring a CxxTest::TestSuite, then runs cxxtestgen to generate a C++ test runner that is compiled with the user's normal compiler. That generator-centric flow made it friendly to Make, SCons, and distribution packaging because the installed executable is the key tool.

Why package nerds care

For package maintainers, CxxTest is a compact example of an older C++ test framework whose packaging value is mostly in a generator script, headers, documentation, and compatibility with many C++ compilers rather than a runtime library.

Timeline

2002: Version 2.7.0 released with embedded test suites.
2003: Version 2.8.0 started the recorded version history.
2011: Version 4.0 replaced Perl scripting with Python and introduced a refreshed user guide.
2014: Version 4.4 shipped Windows, SCons, and formatter fixes.

Related projects

CxxTest presents itself alongside JUnit, CppUnit, and xUnit-style testing frameworks.

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 1 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime 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
`cxxtestgen`	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 version4.4

manager updated2026-06-28

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/CxxTest/cxxtest

infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/CxxTest/cxxtestnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:cxxtest
Version	4.4
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/cxxtest
Homepage	https://github.com/CxxTest/cxxtest
Repository	https://github.com/CxxTest/cxxtest
Upstream docs	http://cxxtest.com/
License	LGPL-3.0-only
Source archive	https://github.com/CxxTest/cxxtest/releases/download/4.4/cxxtest-4.4.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-06-28T01:06:15-04:00
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	python@3.14
Bottle	available (on all)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	cxxtest
Version Scheme	0
Revision	3
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

cxxtest 4.4+git171022-2

lightweight xUnit-like framework for C/C++ applications

https://cxxtest.com/

sudo apt install cxxtest

Section: devel
Architecture: all
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Cxxtest

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: cxxtest from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

cxxtest

nix profile install nixpkgs#cxxtest

normalized package name match
Matched by: Cxxtest

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/cx/cxxtest/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

cxxtest 4.4+git171022-2

lightweight xUnit-like framework for C/C++ applications

https://cxxtest.com/

sudo apt install cxxtest

Section: universe/devel
Architecture: all
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Cxxtest

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: cxxtest from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

dnf95%

cxxtest 4.4-43.fc45

A JUnit-like testing framework for C++

https://cxxtest.com

sudo dnf install cxxtest

License: LGPL-3.0-only
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: cxxtest
4 dependencies
4 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Cxxtest

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: cxxtest from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

cxxtest-doc 4.4-43.fc45

Documentation on how to use CxxTest

https://cxxtest.com

sudo dnf install cxxtest-doc

License: LGPL-3.0-only
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: cxxtest
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Cxxtest

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: cxxtest-doc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/cxxtest.yml

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

Install cxxtest with Homebrew, apt, dnf, Nix