macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install deja-gnulocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install dejagnuMacPorts ports tree · devel/dejagnu/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install deja-gnu with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Framework for testing other programs. Version 1.6.3 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with macports: sudo port install dejagnu.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add dejagnuAlpine Linux edge package indexes · dejagnu · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install dejagnuDebian stable package indexes · dejagnu · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install dejagnuFedora Rawhide package metadata · dejagnu · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#dejagnunixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/de/dejagnu/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S dejagnuArch Linux sync databases · dejagnu · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install dejagnuopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · dejagnu · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Framework for testing other programs
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dejagnu
- runtest
history
Project history and usage
DejaGnu is GNU's test framework for exercising command-line programs through Expect and Tcl. It is best known in toolchain circles because it lets a single testsuite drive local, remote, embedded, and simulator targets with the same runtest interface.
Project history
DejaGnu became a GNU package to solve a very GNU problem: testing compilers, debuggers, binutils, and other portable development tools across many hosts and targets. Its Savannah project page identifies the official GNU project and source repository, while the GNU manual documents the runtest harness, board files, site configuration, and per-user startup file used by the framework.
The GNU FTP archive shows DejaGnu releases dating back to the 1.3 series in 1996, followed by long-lived 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 release lines. That release pattern mirrors its role as infrastructure: the tool changes slowly, but it remains important wherever old and new toolchains need repeatable test results.
Adoption history
DejaGnu's adoption is tied to the GNU toolchain rather than to application development fashion. Projects that need to run the same tests against native binaries, cross targets, simulators, or remote boards use DejaGnu because its abstraction is old, boring, and understood by compiler and embedded developers.
The package is widely shipped by Unix-like package managers because it is a build and test dependency for other low-level software. Homebrew packages it as deja-gnu, while GNU distributes canonical source tarballs through ftp.gnu.org.
How it is used
Users normally invoke the runtest command from a package testsuite. Site-wide and user-specific configuration can tune board definitions, tool paths, and target behavior through site.exp and ~/.dejagnurc.
DejaGnu matters most when tests must be portable across machines rather than just run locally. The same test description can talk to a native program, a remote target, or a simulator through Expect-driven interactions.
Why package nerds care
For package maintainers, DejaGnu is one of the classic pieces of GNU release machinery: not glamorous, but deeply embedded in the way compilers and binary tools prove they still work.
Its presence in dependency graphs often signals that a formula or distribution package is running upstream's real tests instead of a smoke test. That makes it an important clue when auditing build quality for toolchain packages.
Timeline
- 1996: DejaGnu 1.3 appears in the GNU FTP archive.
- 2001: The 1.4 release line is distributed through GNU FTP.
- 2011: DejaGnu 1.5 is released after a long 1.4 maintenance period.
- 2016: DejaGnu 1.6 is released.
- 2021: DejaGnu 1.6.3 is published in the GNU FTP archive.
Related projects
- Expect and Tcl provide the interaction layer DejaGnu uses to drive programs under test.
- GCC, GDB, and Binutils are representative GNU toolchain projects whose testing culture overlaps with DejaGnu.
- Autotest and Automake are adjacent GNU testing and build tools, but DejaGnu specializes in target-oriented test execution.
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.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
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
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
~/.dejagnurcsite.exp
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
dejagnu | cli | global executable | |
runtest | 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 generated2026-07-25
manager version1.6.3
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:deja-gnu |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.6.3 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/deja-gnu |
| Homepage | https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/ |
| Repository | https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/dejagnu.git |
| Upstream docs | https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/gnu/dejagnu/dejagnu-1.6.3.tar.gz |
| Uses from macOS | expect |
| 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 | deja-gnu |
| Aliases |
|
| 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 database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
MacPorts94%
dejagnu
sudo port install dejagnu- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
Debian apt92%
dejagnu 1.6.3-1.1
framework for running test suites on software tools
sudo apt install dejagnu- Section: devel
- Architecture: all
- 1 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
Nix92%
dejagnu
nix profile install nixpkgs#dejagnu- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
Ubuntu apt92%
dejagnu 1.6.3-1
framework for running test suites on software tools
sudo apt install dejagnu- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: all
- 3 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
apk92%
dejagnu 1.6.3-r1
A framework for testing other programs
https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/
sudo apk add dejagnu- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dejagnu
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
apk92%
dejagnu-dev 1.6.3-r1
A framework for testing other programs (development files)
https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/
sudo apk add dejagnu-dev- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dejagnu
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
apk92%
dejagnu-doc 1.6.3-r1
A framework for testing other programs (documentation)
https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/
sudo apk add dejagnu-doc- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: dejagnu
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
dnf92%
dejagnu 1.6.3-18.fc45
A front end for testing other programs
http://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/
sudo dnf install dejagnu- License: GPL-3.0-or-later AND GFDL-1.3-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: dejagnu
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
pacman92%
dejagnu 1.6.3-17
Framework for testing other programs
https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/
sudo pacman -S dejagnu- License: GPL
- Architecture: any
- 2 dependencies
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
zypper92%
dejagnu 1.6.3-2.4
Framework for Running Test Suites on Software Tools
https://www.gnu.org/software/dejagnu/
sudo zypper install dejagnu- License: GPL-3.0-or-later
- Category: Development/Tools/Building
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: dejagnu
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Dejagnu
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment