# Install dmalloc with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix Debug versions of system memory management routines. Version 5.6.5 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:dmalloc ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install dmalloc ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install dmalloc ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/dmalloc/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install libdmalloc-dev ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libdmalloc-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#dmalloc ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/dm/dmalloc/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:dmalloc - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 5.6.5 - **Source summary:** Debug versions of system memory management routines - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** ISC - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - dmalloc (cli) - dmalloc (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 5.6.5 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://dmalloc.com/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Dmalloc is Gray Watson's debug memory allocation library, designed as a drop-in replacement for malloc, realloc, calloc, free, and related routines while adding runtime-configurable memory debugging. ### Project history The manual carries copyright years from 1992 to 2020 and identifies version 5.6.5 as a December 2020 release. Its feature set reflects a long-lived C debugging niche: leak tracking, fence-post write detection, file and line reporting, statistics logging, and threaded-program support. ### Adoption history Dmalloc's official documentation lists successful use across a wide range of Unix and non-Unix systems, including AIX, the BSDs, GNU/Hurd, HP-UX, IRIX, Linux, macOS, NeXT, OSF/DUX, SCO, Solaris, Ultrix, UnixWare, Windows, and Unicos on a Cray T3E. ### How it is used Typical use links the dmalloc library into a C or C++ program, optionally includes dmalloc.h for file and line reporting, and uses the dmalloc utility plus the DMALLOC_OPTIONS environment variable to enable checks such as leak logging, heap verification, and abort-on-error behavior. ### Why package nerds care Dmalloc is historically interesting because it predates many modern sanitizers yet remains a compact, portable package-manager answer for C heap debugging. Its shell integration, runtime token model, and static-library workflow make it feel like classic Unix debugging infrastructure. ### Timeline - 1992: Earliest copyright year in the official manual. - 2020-12: Dmalloc manual identifies version 5.6.5. ### Related projects - Dmalloc sits in the same practical debugging space as allocator wrappers, leak checkers, and compiler/runtime sanitizers, but its official documentation focuses on replacing the standard allocation routines directly. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** dmalloc - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - libdmalloc-dev - 5.5.2-14+b3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libdmalloc-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | debug memory allocation library (development files and doc) | http://dmalloc.com/ - Debian apt - libdmalloc5 - 5.5.2-14+b3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libdmalloc5 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | debug memory allocation library | http://dmalloc.com/ - Nix - dmalloc: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/dm/dmalloc/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - libdmalloc-dev - 5.5.2-14build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libdmalloc-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | debug memory allocation library (development files and doc) | http://dmalloc.com/ - Ubuntu apt - libdmalloc5 - 5.5.2-14build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libdmalloc5 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | debug memory allocation library | http://dmalloc.com/ - MacPorts - dmalloc: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: devel/dmalloc/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [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. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [valgrind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/valgrind/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, debugging, developer-tools, memory-debugging. - [cargo-careful](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cargo-careful/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugging, developer-tools. - [cdebug](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cdebug/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugging, developer-tools. - [chdig](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chdig/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugging, developer-tools. - [crash](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/crash/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugging, developer-tools. - [ddd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ddd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugging, developer-tools. - [delve](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/delve/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugging, developer-tools. - [demumble](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/demumble/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, debugging, developer-tools. - [docker-debug](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/docker-debug/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, debug, debugging, developer, developer-tools. - [dwarfutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dwarfutils/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, debug, debugging, developer, developer-tools. - [gebug](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gebug/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, debug, debugging, developer, developer-tools. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/dmalloc.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/dmalloc.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - 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