# Install flac with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, winget, zypper Free lossless audio codec. Version 1.5.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:flac ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install flac ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install flac ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: audio/flac/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add flac ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: flac from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install flac ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: flac from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install flac ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: flac from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#flac ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/fl/flac/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S flac ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: flac from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install flac ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: flac from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ### Windows - Chocolatey (92%): ```sh choco install flac ``` Evidence: Chocolatey community package catalog: flac from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='7.158','newfiletime' - Scoop (92%): ```sh scoop install main/flac ``` Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/flac.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - winget (92%): ```sh winget install --id Xiph.FLAC -e ``` Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: Xiph.FLAC from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:flac - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.5.0 - **Source summary:** Free lossless audio codec - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-3-Clause AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND ISC AND LGPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain AND (GPL-2.0-or-later OR LGPL-2.1-or-later) - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - flac (cli) - metaflac (cli) - flac (alias) - metaflac (alias) ## Dependencies - libogg ## Build dependencies - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.5.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://xiph.org/flac/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage FLAC, the Free Lossless Audio Codec, is the standard open lossless audio format and toolchain used for archival-quality audio compression, playback, tagging, and transcoding. ### Project history The FLAC project dates its specification document to 2000 and its long-running official pages carry Josh Coalson's early copyright followed by Xiph.Org Foundation stewardship. The project supplies both the format and the reference implementation: command-line tools, libFLAC, libFLAC++, metadata tooling, API documentation, and the formal bitstream specification. Development moved from SourceForge to Xiph.org in 2012. A 2013 1.3.0 release was described by the project as the first release in more than six years from the new Xiph.Org maintainer team, starting the modern maintenance era. The format was formally published as RFC 9639 in December 2024. The FLAC project describes this as codifying a format that already had a specification and reference implementation, making independent decoder implementations and long-term archival confidence easier. FLAC 1.5.0 followed in February 2025 with multithreaded encoding in libFLAC and the flac command-line tool. ### Adoption history The official site emphasizes FLAC's combination of open specification, patent-unencumbered design, open-source reference implementation, documented format and API, and independent implementations. It also lists support across common operating systems and notes many programs and devices that support the format. Official news items show FLAC moving from enthusiast and archival circles into broad consumer playback: Android native FLAC playback in 2011, hardware and receiver support through the early 2010s, high-resolution music stores and streaming services using FLAC in 2014, and continuing support from players, devices, and audio software. ### How it is used The Homebrew package exposes the official flac encoder/decoder and metaflac metadata editor. Typical package-manager usage is installing these tools for lossless CD ripping, audio verification, transcoding to or from WAV/AIFF-style sources, metadata inspection and editing, and scripts that need a stable codec utility. Developers use libFLAC and libFLAC++ when embedding FLAC support in applications, while format implementers use the specification, API docs, Ogg FLAC mapping, and conformance material. ### Why package nerds care FLAC is one of the packages that turns a Unix system into a serious media workstation: small command-line tools, stable libraries, strong archival semantics, and a file format that can be decoded independently decades later. For package maintainers, FLAC matters because many other media packages link against libFLAC or shell out to flac/metaflac. Its release notes track ABI versions, build-system changes, fuzzing, Windows and Unix portability, and security-hardening details that ripple across audio stacks. ### Timeline - 2000: FLAC specification document existed alongside the open-source reference implementation. - 2011: Android 3.1 added native FLAC playback. - 2012: FLAC development moved from SourceForge to Xiph.org. - 2013: FLAC 1.3.0 released by the new Xiph.Org maintainer team. - 2014: FLAC 1.3.1 released after security-triggered maintenance; FLAC also appeared in high-resolution stores and streaming announcements. - 2024: RFC 9639 formally specified the FLAC format. - 2025: FLAC 1.5.0 added multithreaded encoding in libFLAC and the flac CLI. ### Related projects - Xiph.Org, libFLAC, libFLAC++, metaflac, Ogg FLAC, RFC 9639, Hydrogenaudio, Vorbis. ### Sources - - - - - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** flac - **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 - flac - 1.5.0+ds-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: flac from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - command line tools | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Debian apt - libflac++-dev - 1.5.0+ds-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libflac++-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - C++ development library | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Debian apt - libflac++11 - 1.5.0+ds-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libflac++11 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - C++ runtime library | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Debian apt - libflac-dev - 1.5.0+ds-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libflac-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - C development library | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Debian apt - libflac-doc - 1.5.0+ds-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libflac-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - library documentation | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Debian apt - libflac14 - 1.5.0+ds-2: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libflac14 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - runtime C library | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Nix - flac: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/fl/flac/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - flac - 1.4.3+ds-2.1ubuntu2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: flac from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - command line tools | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Ubuntu apt - libflac++-dev - 1.4.3+ds-2.1ubuntu2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libflac++-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - C++ development library | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Ubuntu apt - libflac++10 - 1.4.3+ds-2.1ubuntu2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libflac++10 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - C++ runtime library | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Ubuntu apt - libflac-dev - 1.4.3+ds-2.1ubuntu2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libflac-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - C development library | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Ubuntu apt - libflac-doc - 1.4.3+ds-2.1ubuntu2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libflac-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - library documentation | https://xiph.org/flac/ - Ubuntu apt - libflac12t64 - 1.4.3+ds-2.1ubuntu2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libflac12t64 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec - runtime C library | https://xiph.org/flac/ - apk - flac - 1.4.3-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: flac from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec | https://xiph.org/flac/ - apk - flac-dev - 1.4.3-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: flac-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec (development files) | https://xiph.org/flac/ - apk - flac-doc - 1.4.3-r2: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: flac-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Free Lossless Audio Codec (documentation) | https://xiph.org/flac/ ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Archive and compression packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/archive-compression-tools/) - Matched archive or compression 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. - [abcde](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abcde/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [audacious](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/audacious/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [cmus](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmus/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [dwarfs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dwarfs/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [easy-tag](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/easy-tag/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [flac123](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flac123/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [flactag](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flactag/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [flake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flake/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, codec, flac, lossless-compression. - [taglib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/taglib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, flac, media, metadata. - [wavpack](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wavpack/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, codec, lossless-compression, media. - [id3lib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/id3lib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, metadata. - [id3v2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/id3v2/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, metadata. - [vorbis-tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vorbis-tools/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, codec, flac, libogg. - [libsndfile](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libsndfile/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, flac, libogg, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/flac.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/flac.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