brew

Install gcab with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Windows installer (.MSI) tool. Version 1.6 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

Install command Security notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install gcab

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install gcab

MacPorts ports tree · gnome/gcab/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install gcab

Debian stable package indexes · gcab · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install gcab

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · gcab · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#gcab

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/gc/gcab/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S gcab

Arch Linux sync databases · gcab · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install gcab

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · gcab · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Windows installer (.MSI) tool

Project links

Commands and aliases

gcab

history

Project history and usage

gcab is a GNOME-hosted command-line tool and GObject library for creating Microsoft Cabinet files. In package-manager culture it is usually encountered near msitools, libgsf, Wine-derived Windows Installer tooling, and cross-platform packaging workflows.

Project history

The gcab repository describes GCab as a GObject library to create cabinet files. The broader GNOME msitools project describes its tool family as programs for inspecting and building Windows Installer files, based on libmsi, which in turn is a portable subset of Wine's Windows Installer implementation.

Adoption history

Official GitLab tags show gcab releases from early 2013 through the 1.x series, with v1.0 tagged in January 2018 and v1.6 tagged in July 2023. That release pattern places gcab among the small infrastructure packages that desktop distributions carry because higher-level Windows packaging tools depend on them.

How it is used

The package provides the gcab command for cabinet archive work and the libgcab library interface. It is most relevant where Unix-like build systems need to assemble or inspect Windows installer-related artifacts without using native Windows tooling.

Why package nerds care

gcab matters to package maintainers because Cabinet files are a Windows packaging primitive, while GNOME's msitools stack makes those formats scriptable from Unix packaging pipelines. It is a small package, but it sits at the awkward boundary between Linux build systems and Windows installer formats.

Timeline

2013: Early gcab 0.x tags published in GNOME GitLab history.
2018: gcab v1.0 tagged.
2023: gcab v1.6 tagged.

Related projects

Related official GNOME projects include msitools and libgsf; msitools also documents its relationship to Wine's Windows Installer implementation and WiX-like tooling.

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

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Installs with 2 runtime dependencies.
Build metadata lists 6 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
`gcab`	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 version1.6

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://wiki.gnome.org/msitoolsnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:gcab
Version	1.6
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/gcab
Homepage	https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools
Repository	https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gcab
Upstream docs	https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools
License	LGPL-2.1-or-later
Source archive	https://download.gnome.org/sources/gcab/1.6/gcab-1.6.tar.xz
Dependencies	gettext, glib
Build dependencies	gettext, gobject-introspection, meson, ninja, pkgconf, vala
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, 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	gcab
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

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%

gcab 1.6-1+b3

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation tool

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install gcab

Section: utils
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
3 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gcab from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Debian apt95%

gir1.2-gcab-1.0 1.6-1+b3

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library - gir bindings

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install gir1.2-gcab-1.0

Section: introspection
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
4 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gir1.2-gcab-1.0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Debian apt95%

libgcab-1.0-0 1.6-1+b3

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install libgcab-1.0-0

Section: libs
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
3 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgcab-1.0-0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Debian apt95%

libgcab-dev 1.6-1+b3

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library - development files

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install libgcab-dev

Section: libdevel
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
3 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgcab-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Debian apt95%

libgcab-doc 1.6-1

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library - documentation

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install libgcab-doc

Section: doc
Architecture: all
Source Package: gcab
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgcab-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Debian apt95%

libgcab-tests 1.6-1+b3

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library - as-installed tests

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install libgcab-tests

Section: misc
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
3 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libgcab-tests from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

gcab

nix profile install nixpkgs#gcab

normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/gc/gcab/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

gcab 1.6-1build2

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation tool

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install gcab

Section: universe/utils
Architecture: amd64
3 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gcab from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

gir1.2-gcab-1.0 1.6-1build2

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library - gir bindings

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install gir1.2-gcab-1.0

Section: universe/introspection
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
4 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gir1.2-gcab-1.0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

libgcab-1.0-0 1.6-1build2

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install libgcab-1.0-0

Section: universe/libs
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
3 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgcab-1.0-0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

libgcab-dev 1.6-1build2

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library - development files

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install libgcab-dev

Section: universe/libdevel
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
3 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgcab-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

libgcab-doc 1.6-1build2

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library - documentation

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install libgcab-doc

Section: universe/doc
Architecture: all
Source Package: gcab
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgcab-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

libgcab-tests 1.6-1build2

Microsoft Cabinet file manipulation library - as-installed tests

https://wiki.gnome.org/msitools

sudo apt install libgcab-tests

Section: universe/misc
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: gcab
3 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libgcab-tests from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

dnf95%

gcab 1.6-11.fc45

Cabinet file library and tool

http://ftp.gnome.org/pub/GNOME/sources/gcab

sudo dnf install gcab

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: gcab
8 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: gcab from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libgcab1 1.6-11.fc45

Library to create Cabinet archives

http://ftp.gnome.org/pub/GNOME/sources/gcab

sudo dnf install libgcab1

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: gcab
7 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libgcab1 from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

libgcab1-devel 1.6-11.fc45

Development files to create Cabinet archives

http://ftp.gnome.org/pub/GNOME/sources/gcab

sudo dnf install libgcab1-devel

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: gcab
5 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Gcab

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libgcab1-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

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.

combined/gcab.yml

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

Install gcab with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: green

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources