# Install execline with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts Interpreter-less scripting language. Version 2.9.8.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:execline ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install execline ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install execline ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: lang/execline/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add execline ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: execline from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install execline ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: execline from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:execline - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.9.8.1 - **Source summary:** Interpreter-less scripting language - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** ISC - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-22T14:03:17-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - background (cli) - backtick (cli) - case (cli) - cd (cli) - dollarat (cli) - elgetopt (cli) - elgetpositionals (cli) - elglob (cli) - eltest (cli) - emptyenv (cli) - envfile (cli) - exec (cli) - execline-cd (cli) - execline-umask (cli) - execlineb (cli) - exit (cli) - export (cli) - export-array (cli) - fdblock (cli) - fdclose (cli) - fdmove (cli) - fdreserve (cli) - fdswap (cli) - forbacktickx (cli) - foreground (cli) - forstdin (cli) - forx (cli) - getcwd (cli) - getpid (cli) - heredoc (cli) - homeof (cli) - if (cli) - ifelse (cli) - ifte (cli) - ifthenelse (cli) - importas (cli) - loopwhilex (cli) - multidefine (cli) - multisubstitute (cli) - pipeline (cli) - piperw (cli) - posix-cd (cli) - posix-umask (cli) - redirfd (cli) - runblock (cli) - shift (cli) - trap (cli) - tryexec (cli) - umask (cli) - unexport (cli) - wait (cli) - withstdinas (cli) - background (alias) - backtick (alias) - case (alias) - cd (alias) - dollarat (alias) - elgetopt (alias) - elgetpositionals (alias) - elglob (alias) - eltest (alias) - emptyenv (alias) - envfile (alias) - exec (alias) - execline-cd (alias) - execline-umask (alias) - execlineb (alias) - exit (alias) - export (alias) - export-array (alias) - fdblock (alias) - fdclose (alias) - fdmove (alias) - fdreserve (alias) - fdswap (alias) - forbacktickx (alias) - foreground (alias) - forstdin (alias) - forx (alias) - getcwd (alias) - getpid (alias) - heredoc (alias) - homeof (alias) - if (alias) - ifelse (alias) - ifte (alias) - ifthenelse (alias) - importas (alias) - loopwhilex (alias) - multidefine (alias) - multisubstitute (alias) - pipeline (alias) - piperw (alias) - posix-cd (alias) - posix-umask (alias) - redirfd (alias) - runblock (alias) - shift (alias) - trap (alias) - tryexec (alias) - umask (alias) - unexport (alias) - wait (alias) - withstdinas (alias) ## Dependencies - skalibs ## Build dependencies - pkgconf ## 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: 2.9.8.1 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-22 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage execline is a small non-interactive scripting language from skarnet.org, designed as a predictable shell alternative for process supervision, startup scripts, and command chaining. ### Project history The official page describes execline as a scripting language like sh, but with substantially different syntax. Its design goal is predictable grammar and avoidance of shell-style security issues while retaining shell-level power through conditionals, loops, option handling, globbing, environment management, and process-control commands. The public git tag list shows the 2.x series beginning with v2.0.0.0 about twelve years before June 2026. The upgrade notes record a major build-system change in 2.0.0.0 and continuing incremental additions through 2.9.x, including envfile, posix-cd, posix-umask, eltest, multicall support, and macOS shared-library support. ### Adoption history execline is part of the wider skarnet.org software ecosystem and depends on skalibs. It is packaged across Unix-like distributions and package managers, including Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Alpine, MacPorts, and others in the supplied package facts. Its adoption is strongest among users of s6, runit-like supervision ideas, and minimal Unix service-management stacks, where explicit process state, file descriptor handling, and environment manipulation matter more than interactive shell convenience. ### How it is used Users write execlineb scripts or compose the provided commands directly. The command set covers parser/launcher behavior, process state control, environment files, fd operations, redirection, pipelines, foreground/background blocks, conditionals, loops, positional parameters, and option parsing. The homepage includes example .profile replacement scripts and documents each command with consistent exit behavior: temporary errors exit 111, permanent misuse-style errors exit 100, failed exec lookup exits 127, and other exec failures exit 126. ### Why package nerds care execline is package-nerd significant because it decomposes shell behavior into many small binaries with explicit process semantics. It fits the skarnet tradition of small composable tools for supervision and init-adjacent systems. It is also a good example of a package where the binary list is the product: installing execline adds a vocabulary of tiny command primitives rather than one large interactive shell. ### Timeline - 2.0.0.0: Build system changed to the standard configure, make, install flow. - 2.5.1.0: envfile command added. - 2.5.3.0: posix-cd added and wait made POSIX-compliant. - 2.9.1.0: eltest added. - 2.9.2.0: Experimental multicall feature added. - 2.9.8.0: Shared libraries supported on macOS. - 2026: v2.9.9.1 tagged in the official git repository. ### Related projects - skalibs is execline's required support library. - The homepage lists official mirrors on Codeberg, GitHub, and SourceHut, and points users to skaware mailing-list discussion. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for execline. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL. ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** execline - **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 - Debian apt - execline - 2.9.6.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: execline from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | small and non-interactive scripting language | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - Debian apt - execline-doc - 2.9.6.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: execline-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | small and non-interactive scripting language (documentation) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - Debian apt - libexecline-dev - 2.9.6.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libexecline-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | small and non-interactive scripting language (development files) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - Debian apt - libexecline2.9 - 2.9.6.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libexecline2.9 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | small and non-interactive scripting language (shared library) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - Ubuntu apt - execline - 2.9.4.0-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: execline from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | small and non-interactive scripting language | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - Ubuntu apt - execline-doc - 2.9.4.0-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: execline-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | small and non-interactive scripting language (documentation) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - Ubuntu apt - libexecline-dev - 2.9.4.0-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libexecline-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | small and non-interactive scripting language (development files) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - Ubuntu apt - libexecline2.9 - 2.9.4.0-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libexecline2.9 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | small and non-interactive scripting language (shared library) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - apk - execline - 2.9.9.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: execline from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A small scripting language, to be used in place of a shell in non-interactive scripts. | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - apk - execline-dev - 2.9.9.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: execline-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A small scripting language, to be used in place of a shell in non-interactive scripts. (development files) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - apk - execline-doc - 2.9.9.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: execline-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A small scripting language, to be used in place of a shell in non-interactive scripts. (documentation) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - apk - execline-libs - 2.9.9.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: execline-libs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A small scripting language, to be used in place of a shell in non-interactive scripts. (libraries) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - apk - execline-static - 2.9.9.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: execline-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A small scripting language, to be used in place of a shell in non-interactive scripts. (static library) | https://skarnet.org/software/execline/ - MacPorts - execline: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: lang/execline/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - python-case-doc - 1.5.3+dfsg-5: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: python-case-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Python unittest Utilities (documentation) | https://github.com/celery/case - Ubuntu apt - python3-case - 1.5.3+dfsg-5: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: python3-case from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Python unittest Utilities (Python3 version) | https://github.com/celery/case ## Related links - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [s6](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/s6/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [s6-rc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/s6-rc/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [envfile](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/npm/envfile/) - Executable or command metadata overlaps with this package. Shared terms: envfile. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/execline.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/execline.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - 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