install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install dexter

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#dexter

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

overview

Package summary

Automatic indexer for Postgres

Project links

Commands and aliases

dexter

history

Project history and usage

Dexter is an automatic index recommender for PostgreSQL that analyzes query sources and proposes indexes using HypoPG before optionally creating them.

Project history

The official tag history starts in 2017, and the changelog shows a steady 0.x series focused on safer index suggestions, more input sources, PostgreSQL compatibility, Docker and Linux packaging, and support for newer Ruby and PostgreSQL versions.

Adoption history

Dexter entered the PostgreSQL performance-tool niche as a command-line utility that can read pg_stat_statements, live activity, log files, SQL files, and stdin. Its README documents installation through RubyGems, Docker, Homebrew, and Linux packages.

How it is used

A typical run points Dexter at a database and a query source, such as `dexter -d dbname --pg-stat-statements`. By default it reports candidate indexes; creating indexes requires an explicit `--create` flag.

Why package nerds care

The package is notable because it bridges application-level package managers and database-server extension packaging: the CLI is easy to install, but useful operation also depends on HypoPG being present and enabled on the PostgreSQL server.

Timeline

2017: v0.1.0 appears in the official tag history.
2017: early releases add pg_stat_statements, psql-style connection options, CSV input, multicolumn indexes, and schema support.
2023: v0.5.0 adds normalized-query support and changes several input and HypoPG safety defaults.
2025: v0.6.0 adds Linux packages for Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 12 while dropping older runtime support.

Related projects

Dexter is tightly related to PostgreSQL, pg_stat_statements, pg_stat_activity, server log analysis, pg_query, and the HypoPG extension for hypothetical indexes.

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 6 platform targets.
Installs with 2 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
`dexter`	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 version0.6.3

manager updated2026-06-22

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv0.6.3

https://github.com/ankane/dexter

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:dexter
Version	0.6.3
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/dexter
Homepage	https://github.com/ankane/dexter
Repository	https://github.com/ankane/dexter
Upstream docs	https://github.com/ankane/dexter#readme
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/ankane/dexter/archive/refs/tags/v0.6.3.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-06-22T14:03:09-07:00
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	libpq, ruby
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	dexter
Version Scheme	0
Revision	1
Conflicts With	dexter-lsp
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.

Nix95%

dexter

nix profile install nixpkgs#dexter

normalized package name match
Matched by: Dexter

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

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/dexter.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 dexter with Homebrew, Nix