macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install fontconfiglocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install fontconfigMacPorts ports tree · graphics/fontconfig/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install fontconfig with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
XML-based font configuration API for X Windows. Version 2.18.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-29.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add fontconfigAlpine Linux edge package indexes · fontconfig · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install fontconfigDebian stable package indexes · fontconfig · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install fontconfigFedora Rawhide package metadata · fontconfig · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#fontconfignixpkgs package indexes · fontconfig · source: raw.githubusercontent.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S fontconfigArch Linux sync databases · fontconfig · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install fontconfigopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · fontconfig · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
XML-based font configuration API for X Windows
Project links
Commands and aliases
- fc-cache
- fc-cat
- fc-conflist
- fc-genconf
- fc-list
- fc-match
- fc-pattern
- fc-query
- fc-scan
- fc-validate
history
Project history and usage
fontconfig is the freedesktop.org font discovery, matching, and configuration library used by Unix-like desktop and application stacks to centralize font access.
Project history
The freedesktop project page describes fontconfig as a library for configuring and customizing font access. Its README and user documentation emphasize automatic font discovery, font-name substitution, language coverage matching, XML configuration, and cooperation with FreeType and the X Render Extension.
The user documentation explains the core architecture: a configuration module builds internal state from XML files, while a matching module accepts font patterns and returns the nearest matching font. The design goal was to centralize font installation and customization so applications would not each invent private font configuration systems.
Adoption history
fontconfig became infrastructure rather than an end-user application. Its value came from being shared by many applications and toolkits, independent of the X Window System, with command-line utilities such as `fc-cache`, `fc-list`, `fc-match`, `fc-query`, and related inspection tools.
The release directory and tag history show a long-running 2.x series, from early `fcpackage` and 2.2-era releases through current stable releases documented on the freedesktop project page.
How it is used
Administrators and users configure fontconfig through XML files such as `/etc/fonts/fonts.conf`, `/etc/fonts/conf.d`, `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/fontconfig/fonts.conf`, and per-user legacy files. Applications use the library to locate fonts, substitute missing families, and obtain file and rendering metadata.
The command-line tools form a practical maintenance layer: `fc-cache` refreshes caches, `fc-list` enumerates fonts, `fc-match` shows matching decisions, and `fc-query` or `fc-scan` inspect font files.
Why package nerds care
fontconfig is one of the packages that makes desktop Linux font behavior feel coherent. Package maintainers care about it because bad cache handling, misplaced config snippets, or mismatched defaults can affect text rendering across a whole system.
Timeline
- 2000s: Early fontconfig 2.x and `fcpackage` tags appear in the freedesktop release history.
- 2012: The release directory lists fontconfig 2.10.0.
- 2018: The release directory lists fontconfig 2.13.0.
- 2025: The release directory lists fontconfig 2.16.0.
- 2026: The project page identifies the current stable series as 2.17.1, while repository tags show later 2.18.x tags.
Related projects
- fontconfig is explicitly related to FreeType and the X Render Extension, and it sits alongside freedesktop.org desktop plumbing used by font-aware applications and toolkits.
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
- Homebrew declares a post-install hook for this formula.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 2 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 4 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.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/fonts/fonts.conf/etc/fonts/conf.d$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/fontconfig/fonts.conf$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/fontconfig/conf.d~/.fonts.conf~/.fonts.conf.d
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
fc-cache | cli | global executable | |
fc-cat | cli | global executable | |
fc-conflist | cli | global executable | |
fc-genconf | cli | global executable | |
fc-list | cli | global executable | |
fc-match | cli | global executable | |
fc-pattern | cli | global executable | |
fc-query | cli | global executable | |
fc-scan | cli | global executable | |
fc-validate | 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 version2.18.1
manager updated2026-06-29
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/fontconfig/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/fontconfig/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:fontconfig |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.18.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/fontconfig |
| Homepage | https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/fontconfig/ |
| Repository | https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/fontconfig/fontconfig |
| Upstream docs | https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/fontconfig |
| License | HPND-sell-variant AND Unicode-3.0 AND MIT-Modern-Variant AND MIT AND LicenseRef-Homebrew-public-domain |
| Source archive | https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/fontconfig/fontconfig/-/archive/2.18.1/fontconfig-2.18.1.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-29T14:07:21Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | freetype, gettext |
| Build dependencies | gettext, meson, ninja, pkgconf |
| Uses from macOS | expat |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | fontconfig |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| 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%
fontconfig 2.15.0-2.3
generic font configuration library - support binaries
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install fontconfig- Section: fonts
- Architecture: amd64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Debian apt95%
fontconfig-config 2.15.0-2.3
generic font configuration library - configuration
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install fontconfig-config- Section: fonts
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 10 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Debian apt95%
libfontconfig-dev 2.15.0-2.3
generic font configuration library - development
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install libfontconfig-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Debian apt95%
libfontconfig-doc 2.15.0-2.3
generic font configuration library - documentation
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install libfontconfig-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: fontconfig
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Debian apt95%
libfontconfig1 2.15.0-2.3
generic font configuration library - runtime
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install libfontconfig1- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Debian apt95%
libfontconfig1-dev 2.15.0-2.3
generic font configuration library - dummy package
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install libfontconfig1-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Nix95%
fontconfig
nix profile install nixpkgs#fontconfig- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Ubuntu apt95%
fontconfig 2.15.0-1.1ubuntu2
generic font configuration library - support binaries
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install fontconfig- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Ubuntu apt95%
fontconfig-config 2.15.0-1.1ubuntu2
generic font configuration library - configuration
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install fontconfig-config- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 8 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Ubuntu apt95%
libfontconfig-dev 2.15.0-1.1ubuntu2
generic font configuration library - development
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install libfontconfig-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Ubuntu apt95%
libfontconfig-doc 2.15.0-1.1ubuntu2
generic font configuration library - documentation
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install libfontconfig-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: fontconfig
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Ubuntu apt95%
libfontconfig1 2.15.0-1.1ubuntu2
generic font configuration library - runtime
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install libfontconfig1- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
Ubuntu apt95%
libfontconfig1-dev 2.15.0-1.1ubuntu2
generic font configuration library - dummy package
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig/
sudo apt install libfontconfig1-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
apk95%
fontconfig 2.17.1-r1
Library for configuring and customizing font access
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig
sudo apk add fontconfig- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
apk95%
fontconfig-dev 2.17.1-r1
Library for configuring and customizing font access (development files)
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig
sudo apk add fontconfig-dev- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
apk95%
fontconfig-doc 2.17.1-r1
Library for configuring and customizing font access (documentation)
https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/fontconfig
sudo apk add fontconfig-doc- License: MIT
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: fontconfig
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Fontconfig
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment