macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install faad2local Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install faad2MacPorts ports tree · audio/faad2/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install faad2 with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
ISO AAC audio decoder. Version 2.11.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add faad2Alpine Linux edge package indexes · faad2 · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install faadDebian stable package indexes · faad · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install faad2Fedora Rawhide package metadata · faad2 · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#faad2nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/fa/faad2/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S faad2Arch Linux sync databases · faad2 · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install faad2openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · faad2 · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
ISO AAC audio decoder
Project links
Commands and aliases
- faad
history
Project history and usage
FAAD2 is the Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder, a GPL-licensed AAC decoder with both a library and a small command-line frontend.
Project history
The project comes from the early-2000s AAC tooling around FAAC/FAAD. Its README identifies FAAD2 as an HE, LC, MAIN, and LTP profile MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AAC decoder with SBR support, and the copyright block credits M. Bakker and Nero AG for 2003-2005 code.
Later maintenance has focused less on new user-facing features and more on keeping a mature codec implementation buildable and safe. The changelog records DAB+ support in 2.7, renewed build-system work in the 2.9 and 2.10 series, and a large 2.11.0 cleanup with CMake, Bazel, CI, fuzzers, OSS-Fuzz integration, and many crash or CVE-related decoder fixes.
Adoption history
FAAD2 became a familiar low-level dependency for Unix audio stacks because it provides a standalone AAC decoder library plus the `faad` frontend. Its adoption story is typical of codec packages: quiet, long-lived, and maintained because many media workflows need reliable decoding of older and current AAC files.
How it is used
Users normally encounter FAAD2 as the `faad` command or as libfaad linked by other media software. The source tree explicitly separates the command-line frontend, public include files, API docs, and decoder library, which is why distributions can package both executable and library use cases.
Why package nerds care
FAAD2 matters to package maintainers because it sits at the uncomfortable intersection of old multimedia standards, GPL licensing, patent warnings, and security hardening. The recent changelog entries around fuzzing and CVE fixes are exactly the sort of maintenance that keeps legacy codec packages viable.
Timeline
- 2003-2005: Core FAAD2 copyright period credited to M. Bakker and Nero AG.
- 2009: FAAD2 2.7 adds DAB+ support.
- 2019: FAAD2 2.9.0 includes build cleanup and multiple CVE fixes.
- 2023: FAAD2 2.11.0 adds CMake, Bazel, CI, fuzzers, and broad decoder hardening.
- 2025: FAAD2 2.11.2 adds a BUILD_FAAD_CLI option and additional frontend fixes.
Related projects
- FAAC is the companion AAC encoder project historically distributed from the same SourceForge project area.
- FAAD2 is commonly compared with other media codec components that provide small command-line frontends over reusable C libraries.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:audio
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 8 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 1 build 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
faad | 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 version2.11.2
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detected2.11.2
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:faad2 |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.11.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/faad2 |
| Homepage | https://sourceforge.net/projects/faac/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/knik0/faad2 |
| Upstream docs | https://sourceforge.net/projects/faac |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://github.com/knik0/faad2/archive/refs/tags/2.11.2.tar.gz |
| Build dependencies | cmake |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, 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 | faad2 |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| 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.
Debian apt95%
faad 2.11.2-1
freeware Advanced Audio Decoder player
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apt install faad- Section: sound
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: faad2
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
Debian apt95%
libfaad-dev 2.11.2-1
freeware Advanced Audio Decoder - development files
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apt install libfaad-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: faad2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
Debian apt95%
libfaad2 2.11.2-1
freeware Advanced Audio Decoder - runtime files
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apt install libfaad2- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: faad2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
Nix95%
faad2
nix profile install nixpkgs#faad2- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
Ubuntu apt95%
faad 2.11.1-1build1
freeware Advanced Audio Decoder player
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apt install faad- Section: universe/sound
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: faad2
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
Ubuntu apt95%
libfaad-dev 2.11.1-1build1
freeware Advanced Audio Decoder - development files
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apt install libfaad-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: faad2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
Ubuntu apt95%
libfaad2 2.11.1-1build1
freeware Advanced Audio Decoder - runtime files
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apt install libfaad2- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: faad2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
apk95%
faad2 2.11.2-r0
ISO AAC audio decoder
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apk add faad2- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: faad2
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
apk95%
faad2-dev 2.11.2-r0
ISO AAC audio decoder (development files)
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apk add faad2-dev- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: faad2
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
apk95%
faad2-doc 2.11.2-r0
ISO AAC audio decoder (documentation)
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apk add faad2-doc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: faad2
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
apk95%
faad2-libs 2.11.2-r0
ISO AAC audio decoder (libraries)
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apk add faad2-libs- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: faad2
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
apk95%
faad2-static 2.11.2-r0
ISO AAC audio decoder (static library)
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo apk add faad2-static- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: faad2
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
dnf95%
faad2 2.11.2-6.fc44
Library and frontend for decoding MPEG2/4 AAC
https://github.com/knik0/faad2/
sudo dnf install faad2- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: faad2
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
dnf95%
faad2-devel 2.11.2-6.fc44
Development libraries of the FAAD 2 AAC decoder
https://github.com/knik0/faad2/
sudo dnf install faad2-devel- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: faad2
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
dnf95%
faad2-libs 2.11.2-6.fc44
Shared libraries of the FAAD 2 AAC decoder
https://github.com/knik0/faad2/
sudo dnf install faad2-libs- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: faad2
- 4 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
pacman95%
faad2 2.11.2-1
Freeware Advanced Audio (AAC) Decoder
https://github.com/knik0/faad2
sudo pacman -S faad2- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Faad2
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 package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment